Kansas District (LCMS)
Encyclopedia
The Kansas District is one of the 35 districts
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
(LCMS), and comprises the state of Kansas
; one congregation near the state's northern border is in the Nebraska District
. The Kansas District includes approximately 166 congregations and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits
, as well as 36 preschools and 16 elementary schools
. Baptized
membership in district congregations is over 60,000.
The Kansas District was formed in 1888 out of the Western District, and at various times included territory in Colorado
, Oklahoma
and New Mexico
; portions of the district were separated into the Colorado District
(later renamed the Rocky Mountain District) and the Oklahoma District
in 1921 and 1924 respectively, and the New Mexico areas were later transferred to the Colorado District in 1941-42. Kansas District offices are located in Topeka, Kansas
; the Rev. Keith Kohlmeier has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected to a third term in 2009. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years to elect the district president, vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers; the last convention was held in 2009, and the next will be held in June 7-9, 2012 in Topeka, KS.
Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is organized into 35 districts, 33 of which are defined along geographic lines. Each district has a president who oversees the congregations in his district, which are further subdivided into local circuits...
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
(LCMS), and comprises the state of Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
; one congregation near the state's northern border is in the Nebraska District
Nebraska District (LCMS)
The Nebraska District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and comprises the state of Nebraska with the exception of its Panhandle, which is in the Wyoming District; the district also includes one congregation in Kansas...
. The Kansas District includes approximately 166 congregations and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits
Circuit (LCMS)
A circuit, in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , is a local grouping of congregations within one of the Synod's 35 districts. Circuits typically include 8 to 12 congregations...
, as well as 36 preschools and 16 elementary schools
Lutheran school
Lutheran schools and education were a priority for Lutherans who emigrated to the United States and Australia from Germany and Scandinavia. One of the first things they did was to create schools for their children. This strong educational tradition was handed down from Martin Luther himself. The...
. Baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
membership in district congregations is over 60,000.
The Kansas District was formed in 1888 out of the Western District, and at various times included territory in Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
, Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
; portions of the district were separated into the Colorado District
Rocky Mountain District (LCMS)
The Rocky Mountain District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod . It encompasses the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, as well as El Paso County, Texas; the rest of Texas constitutes the Texas District, and one Colorado congregation is in the Wyoming District...
(later renamed the Rocky Mountain District) and the Oklahoma District
Oklahoma District (LCMS)
The Oklahoma District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and comprises the state of Oklahoma. It includes approximately 80 congregations and missions, subdivided into 9 circuits, as well as 18 preschools, 9 elementary schools and 1 high school...
in 1921 and 1924 respectively, and the New Mexico areas were later transferred to the Colorado District in 1941-42. Kansas District offices are located in Topeka, Kansas
Topeka, Kansas
Topeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
; the Rev. Keith Kohlmeier has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected to a third term in 2009. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years to elect the district president, vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers; the last convention was held in 2009, and the next will be held in June 7-9, 2012 in Topeka, KS.
Presidents
- Rev. Friedrich Pennekamp, 1888–94
- Rev. Carl (Karl/Charles) Hafner, 1894–1906
- Rev. Friedrich Christoph Droegemueller, 1906–12
- Rev. Theodore H. Juengel, 1912–19
- Rev. Carl Frederick Lehenbauer, 1919–32 (died in office)
- Rev. William Mahler, 1932–39
- Rev. Walter H. Meyer, 1939–60
- Rev. Arlen J. Bruns, 1960–78
- Rev. George J. Bruening, 1978-85
- Rev. Eugene E. Schmidt, 1985-94
- Rev. Howard J. Patten, 1994-2003
- Rev. Keith E. Kohlmeier, 2003-present
Oldest congregations
- 1861 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Herington, KansasHerington, KansasHerington is a city in Dickinson and Morris counties in the U.S. state of Kansas. Named after its founder, Monroe Davis Herington. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,526.-19th century:...
- 1861 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Junction City, KansasJunction City, KansasJunction City is a city in and the county seat of Geary County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 23,353. Fort Riley, a major U.S. Army post, is nearby...
- 1862 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, KansasLeavenworth, KansasLeavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
- 1863 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Humboldt, KansasHumboldt, KansasHumboldt is a city situated along the Neosho River in the southwest part of Allen County, located in southeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 1,953.-History:...
- 1866 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Atchison, KansasAtchison, KansasAtchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
- 1868 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Paola, KansasPaola, KansasPaola is a city in and the county seat of Miami County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 5,602.-History:...
- 1869 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bremen, KansasBremen, KansasBremen is an unincorporated community in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. Bremen is east of Hanover. Bremen has a post office with ZIP code 66412....
- 1870 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Alma, KansasAlma, KansasAlma is a city in and the county seat of Wabaunsee County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 832. Alma is part of the Topeka, Kansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
- 1872 - Zion Lutheran Church, Independence, KansasIndependence, KansasIndependence is a city in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 9,483.-Geography:...
- 1874 - First St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, KansasKensington, KansasKensington is a city in Smith County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 473.-Geography:Kensington is located at...
- 1874 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Topeka, KansasTopeka, KansasTopeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
- 1875 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Duluth, Kansas
- 1876 - Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, KansasPittsburg, KansasPittsburg is a city in Crawford County, in southeastern Kansas, United States. It is the most populous city in Crawford County and in southeastern Kansas. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 20,233.-History:...
- 1877 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellinwood, KansasEllinwood, KansasEllinwood is a city in the southeast corner of Barton County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 2,131.-History:...
- 1877 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lincolnville, KansasLincolnville, KansasLincolnville is a city in Marion County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 203.-19th century:For millennia, the land that is currently Kansas was inhabited by Native Americans. In 1803, most of modern Kansas was secured by the United States as part of the...
- 1878 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Canton, KansasCanton, KansasCanton is a city in McPherson County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 748.-19th century:As early as 1875, city leaders of Marion held a meeting to consider a branch railroad from Florence. In 1878, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway and parties from Marion...
- 1878 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Palmer, KansasPalmer, KansasPalmer is a city in Washington County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 111.-Geography:Palmer is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 108...
- 1878 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, KansasEllsworth, KansasEllsworth is a city in and the county seat of Ellsworth County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,120.-19th century:...
- 1878 - Zion Lutheran Church, Offerle, KansasOfferle, KansasOfferle is a city in Edwards County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 199.-Geography:Offerle is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 220...
- 1879 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hepler, KansasHepler, KansasHepler is a city in Crawford County, Kansas, United States. The population was 132 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hepler is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1881 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Kansas
Largest congregations
- Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
- 3228- Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, KansasOverland Park, Kansas-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
- 2117- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wichita, KansasWichita, KansasWichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
- 1773- Faith Lutheran Church, Topeka, KansasTopeka, KansasTopeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
- 1617- Ascension Lutheran Church, Wichita, KansasWichita, KansasWichita is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas.As of the 2010 census, the city population was 382,368. Located in south-central Kansas on the Arkansas River, Wichita is the county seat of Sedgwick County and the principal city of the Wichita metropolitan area...
- 1509- Christ Lutheran Church, Overland Park, KansasOverland Park, Kansas-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 149,080 people, 59,703 households, and 39,702 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,627.0 people per square mile . There were 62,586 housing units at an average density of 1,102.9 per square mile...
- 1344- Trinity Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, KansasLeavenworth, KansasLeavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
- 1254- Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission, KansasMission, KansasMission is a city in Johnson County, Kansas, United States. The population was 9,727 at the 2000 census. The city is a first-tier suburb in the Kansas City Metro. In 2003, Mission absorbed the neighboring city of Countryside.- History :...
- 1229- Trinity Lutheran Church, Atchison, KansasAtchison, KansasAtchison is a city situated along the Missouri River in the eastern part of Atchison County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 11,021. It is the county seat and most populous city of Atchison County...
- 1137- Hope Lutheran Church, Shawnee, KansasShawnee, KansasShawnee is a city located in northwest Johnson County, Kansas, United States and is a western suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 62,209. Shawnee's fur trading and pioneering heritage blends histories of these Kansas Territory townships: Monticello and...
- 1084- Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olathe, KansasOlathe, KansasOlathe is a city in and the county seat of Johnson County, Kansas, United States. Located in northeastern Kansas, it is also the fifth most populous city in the state, with a population of 125,872 at the 2010 census. As a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri, Olathe is the fourth-largest city in the...
- 1037- Trinity Lutheran Church, Salina, KansasSalina, KansasSalina is a city in and the county seat of Saline County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 47,707. Located in one of the world's largest wheat-producing areas, Salina is a regional trade center for north-central Kansas...
- 939- Saint John Lutheran Church, Topeka, KansasTopeka, KansasTopeka |Kansa]]: Tó Pee Kuh) is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County. It is situated along the Kansas River in the central part of Shawnee County, located in northeast Kansas, in the Central United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
- 895- Messiah Lutheran Church, Emporia, KansasEmporia, KansasEmporia is a city in and the county seat of Lyon County, Kansas, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 24,916. Emporia lies between Topeka and Wichita at the intersection of U.S. Route 50 with Interstates 335 and 35 on the Kansas Turnpike...
- 890- Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, KansasHutchinson, KansasHutchinson is the largest city in and the county seat of Reno County, Kansas, United States, northwest of Wichita, on the Arkansas River. It has been home to salt mines since 1887, thus its nickname of "Salt City", but locals call it "Hutch"...
- 878- Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Manhattan, KansasManhattan, KansasManhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
- 3228- Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas