Missouri District (LCMS)
Encyclopedia
The Missouri District is one of the 35 districts
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
(LCMS), and comprises the state of Missouri
. Six Missouri congregations are in the non-geographic English District
, and one congregation in St. Louis
is in the SELC District
. The Missouri District is home to the Synod's headquarters as well as Concordia Seminary
, both of which are located in or just outside St. Louis. The district includes approximately 300 congregations and missions, subdivided into 29 circuits
, as well as 52 preschools, 61 elementary schools
and 8 high schools. Baptized
membership in district congregations is approximately 140,000. It is the third largest district of the LCMS, both in number of congregations (trailing the Michigan
and Texas
Districts) and in total membership (behind the Michigan and Northern Illinois
Districts).
The Missouri District was formed in 1966 when the Western District was divided, also creating the Mid-South District
. District offices are located in St. Louis. The Rev. Ray Mirly became the district president in March 2006. 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 June 3-5, 2012 in Springfield, MO.
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 Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. Six Missouri congregations are in the non-geographic English District
English District (LCMS)
The English District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod . It is one of the Synod's two non-geographical districts, along with the SELC District, and has its origins in the congregations of the former English Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which merged with the LCMS in...
, and one congregation in St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
is in the SELC District
SELC District (LCMS)
The SELC District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod . It is one of the Synod's two non-geographical districts, along with the English District, and has its origins in the congregations of the former Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church, which merged with the LCMS in...
. The Missouri District is home to the Synod's headquarters as well as Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary
Concordia Seminary is located in Clayton, Missouri, an inner-ring suburb on the western border of St. Louis, Missouri. The institution's primary mission is to train pastors, deaconesses, missionaries, chaplains, and church leaders for the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . The current president of...
, both of which are located in or just outside St. Louis. The district includes approximately 300 congregations and missions, subdivided into 29 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 52 preschools, 61 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...
and 8 high schools. 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 approximately 140,000. It is the third largest district of the LCMS, both in number of congregations (trailing the Michigan
Michigan District (LCMS)
The Michigan District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and comprises the U.S. state of Michigan with the exception of the western half of the Upper Peninsula, which is in the North Wisconsin District. In addition, eighteen Michigan congregations are in the...
and Texas
Texas District (LCMS)
The Texas District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and comprises the state of Texas with the exception of El Paso County, which is in the Rocky Mountain District...
Districts) and in total membership (behind the Michigan and Northern Illinois
Northern Illinois District (LCMS)
The Northern Illinois District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and covers the northern third of the state of Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area; the rest of the state is divided between the Central Illinois District and the Southern Illinois...
Districts).
The Missouri District was formed in 1966 when the Western District was divided, also creating the Mid-South District
Mid-South District (LCMS)
The Mid-South District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and encompasses the states of Arkansas and Tennessee, as well as the southwestern edge of Kentucky; the rest of Kentucky is divided between the Indiana District and the Ohio District...
. District offices are located in St. Louis. The Rev. Ray Mirly became the district president in March 2006. 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 June 3-5, 2012 in Springfield, MO.
Presidents
- Rev. Herman C. Scherer, 1966–78
- Rev. Paul Ph. Spitz, 1978-91
- Rev. James W. Kalthoff, 1991-2006
- Rev. Ray G. Mirly, 2006-present
Oldest congregations
- 1839 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Frohna, MissouriFrohna, MissouriFrohna is a city in Perry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 192 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Frohna is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1839 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Altenburg, MissouriAltenburg, MissouriAltenburg is a city in Perry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 309 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Altenburg is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1839 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Soulard, St. Louis, MissouriSoulard, St. LouisSoulard is a historic French neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri. It is named after Antoine Soulard, who first began to develop the land...
- 1840 - Grace Lutheran Church, Uniontown, MissouriUniontown, MissouriUniontown is an unincorporated community in southeastern Perry County, Missouri. It is located on U.S. Route 61 ten miles southeast of Perryville. The community was founded in 1870. It was originally called Paitzdorf, and named after Paitzdorf, Germany where many settlers were from....
- 1840 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Concordia, MissouriConcordia, MissouriConcordia is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,360 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Concordia 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 2,360...
- 1842 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Cole Camp, MissouriCole Camp, MissouriCole Camp is a small city in Benton County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,028 at the 2000 census.The town is known for the annual street fair in September...
- 1844 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olivette, MissouriOlivette, MissouriOlivette is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 7,737 at the 2010 census.-History:...
- 1844 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Prairie Home, MissouriPrairie Home, MissouriPrairie Home is a town, with legal status as a city, in Cooper County, Missouri, United States. The population was 220 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
- 1844 - Saint Paul Lutheran ChurchSt. Paul's Church (New Melle, Missouri)St. Paul's Church also known as St.Paul's Lutheran Church and Day School and St. Peter's Luthera is a historic church in New Melle, Missouri built in 1860 by A. Carl Schlottmann. St. Paul's Lutheran Church was founded by German immigrants in 1844 and was the first Lutheran Church in St. Charles...
, New Melle, MissouriNew Melle, MissouriNew Melle is a small country community in St. Charles County, Missouri, United States. It is located about 37 miles west of St. Louis. The population was 235 as of the 2007 census... - 1846 - Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Leslie, MissouriLeslie, MissouriLeslie is a village in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 87 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Leslie is located at ....
- 1846 - Hanover Lutheran ChurchHanover Lutheran ChurchHanover Lutheran Church is a Lutheran congregation located in Cape Girardeau, Missouri which is a member of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The congregation's original organization came about in 1846 as a result of the heavy German immigration to Missouri in the 19th century...
, Cape Girardeau, MissouriCape Girardeau, MissouriCape Girardeau is a city located in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in Southeast Missouri in the United States. It is located approximately southeast of St. Louis and north of Memphis. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 37,941. A college town, it is the home of Southeast Missouri... - 1846 - Trinity Lutheran Church, New Haven, MissouriNew Haven, MissouriNew Haven is a city in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 1,867 at the 2000 census. The city was founded in 1856. It was originally called Miller's Landing after Philip Miller, an early settler....
- 1847 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, MissouriSaint Charles, MissouriSt. Charles is a city in, and the county seat of, St. Charles County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 65,794, making St. Charles the 2nd largest city in St. Charles County. It lies just to the northwest of St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River, and, for a time,...
- 1847 - Zion Lutheran Church, Palmyra, MissouriPalmyra, MissouriPalmyra is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.- Geography :Palmyra is located at...
- 1848 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Arnold, MissouriArnold, MissouriArnold is the largest city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated to be 20,603 in 2008, slightly more than the 19,965 number reported in the 2000 census.-Geography:Arnold is located at...
- 1848 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Friedheim, MissouriFriedheim, MissouriFriedheim is an unincorporated community in northwestern Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. It is located twenty miles northwest of Cape Girardeau and is part of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The community was founded in 1887. Its name is...
- 1849 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Hyde Park, St. Louis, MissouriHyde Park, St. LouisHyde Park is a neighborhood of St. Louis, Missouri. A historic North St. Louis neighborhood, Hyde Park is bound by Ferry to the North, I-70 to the East, Palm Street and Natural Bridge Avenue to the South, and Glasgow to the West....
- 1849 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Des Peres, MissouriDes Peres, MissouriDes Peres is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,373 at the 2010 census.-History:The first inhabitants of Des Peres were the Cahokia, the Kaskaskia, the Michigamea, the Moingwena, and the Tamaora Native American tribes....
- 1849 - Salem Lutheran Church, Black Jack, MissouriBlack Jack, MissouriBlack Jack is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in northern St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 6,929 at the 2010 census...
- 1851 - Eisleben Lutheran Church, Scott City, MissouriScott City, MissouriScott City is a city in Cape Girardeau and Scott counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 4,591 at the 2000 census.The Scott County portion of Scott City is part of the Sikeston Micropolitan Statistical Area, while the Cape Girardeau County portion is part of the Cape...
- 1851 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, MissouriEllisville, MissouriEllisville is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,133 at the 2010 census.In 2009, Money magazine ranked Ellisville #25 on the annual Best Places to Live in America list.- History :...
Largest congregations
- Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
- 6058 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, MissouriEllisville, MissouriEllisville is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 9,133 at the 2010 census.In 2009, Money magazine ranked Ellisville #25 on the annual Best Places to Live in America list.- History :...
- 3460 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, MissouriSaint Charles, MissouriSt. Charles is a city in, and the county seat of, St. Charles County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 65,794, making St. Charles the 2nd largest city in St. Charles County. It lies just to the northwest of St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River, and, for a time,...
- 3275 - Zion Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, MissouriSaint Charles, MissouriSt. Charles is a city in, and the county seat of, St. Charles County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 65,794, making St. Charles the 2nd largest city in St. Charles County. It lies just to the northwest of St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River, and, for a time,...
- 3194 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Kirkwood, MissouriKirkwood, MissouriKirkwood is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 27,540. Founded in 1853, the city is named for James Pugh Kirkwood, builder of the Pacific Railroad through that town. It was the first planned suburb located west...
- 2509 - Faith Lutheran Church, Oakville, MissouriOakville, MissouriOakville is a census-designated place in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 36,143 at the 2010 census. Oakville is south of the city of St. Louis and borders the Mississippi and Meramec rivers; the area is part of "South County" .-Geography:Oakville is located at...
- 2509 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Des Peres, MissouriDes Peres, MissouriDes Peres is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 8,373 at the 2010 census.-History:The first inhabitants of Des Peres were the Cahokia, the Kaskaskia, the Michigamea, the Moingwena, and the Tamaora Native American tribes....
- 2498 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Jackson, MissouriJackson, MissouriJackson is a city in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,758 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cape Girardeau County. Jackson is named for U.S. President Andrew Jackson. It is a principal city of the Cape Girardeau–Jackson, MO-IL Metropolitan...
- 2485 - Salem Lutheran Church, Affton, MissouriAffton, MissouriAffton is an unincorporated inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, USA. As of the 2010 census, the community had a total population of 20,307.-Geography:...
- 2214 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Perryville, MissouriPerryville, MissouriPerryville is a city in Perry County, Missouri, United States. The population was 7,667 at the 2000 census. The 2008 estimated population is 8,172. It is the county seat of Perry County.-Governance:...
- 2166 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Springfield, MissouriSpringfield, MissouriSpringfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. According to the 2010 census data, the population was 159,498, an increase of 5.2% since the 2000 census. The Springfield Metropolitan Area, population 436,712, includes the counties of...
- 2145 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Saint Charles, MissouriSaint Charles, MissouriSt. Charles is a city in, and the county seat of, St. Charles County, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 65,794, making St. Charles the 2nd largest city in St. Charles County. It lies just to the northwest of St. Louis, Missouri on the Missouri River, and, for a time,...
- 2050 - Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, Saint Louis, Missouri
- 1702 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Concordia, MissouriConcordia, MissouriConcordia is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The population was 2,360 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Concordia 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 2,360...
- 1656 - Peace Lutheran Church, St. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County, MissouriSt. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
- 1635 - Webster Gardens Lutheran Church, Webster Groves, MissouriWebster Groves, MissouriWebster Groves is an inner-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 22,995 at the 2010 census. The city is named after New England politician Daniel Webster....
- 1504 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Jefferson City, MissouriJefferson City, MissouriJefferson City is the capital of the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Cole County. Located in Callaway and Cole counties, it is the principal city of the Jefferson City metropolitan area, which encompasses the entirety of both counties. As of the 2010 census, the population was 43,079...
- 1350 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Washington, MissouriWashington, MissouriWashington is a city on the Missouri River in Franklin County, Missouri, United States. The population was 13,243 at the 2000 census. It is the corn cob pipe capital of the world, with Missouri Meerschaum located in Washington.-Geography:...
- 1286 - Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, Eureka, MissouriEureka, MissouriEureka is a city located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, between St. Louis and Pacific, Missouri, along Interstate 44. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 10,189. The city is west of the former site of Times Beach, the site of dioxin contamination discovered in...
- 1477 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Arnold, MissouriArnold, MissouriArnold is the largest city in Jefferson County, Missouri, United States. The population was estimated to be 20,603 in 2008, slightly more than the 19,965 number reported in the 2000 census.-Geography:Arnold is located at...
- 1313 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Fenton, MissouriFenton, MissouriFenton is a city in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States, and a suburb of St. Louis. The population was 4,022 at the 2010 census.-History:Due to its proximity to fertile land and the Meramec River, the Fenton area has been inhabited for over 1,000 years...
- 6058 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellisville, Missouri