Southern District (LCMS)
Encyclopedia
The Southern District is one of the 35 districts
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
(LCMS), and encompasses the states of Louisiana
, Mississippi
and Alabama
, as well as the Florida
Panhandle
; the Florida peninsula is part of the Florida-Georgia District
. The Southern District includes approximately 171 congregations and missions, subdivided into 15 circuits
, as well as 20 preschools, 17 elementary schools
and 1 high school. Baptized
membership in Southern District congregations is approximately 35,000; the average congregation size of 205 members is the lowest of any LCMS district.
The Southern District was formed on February 8, 1882 out of the Western District; portions of the district were separated into the Texas District
and the Florida-Georgia District in 1906 and 1948 respectively. In 1963, 54 black congregations which were part of the Synodical Conference Mission Program were merged into the Southern District; 33 such congregations in central Alabama were consolidated into 10 congregations shortly thereafter. About 40 existing congregations are historically black congregations, and most of the black pastors and teachers in the LCMS originated in this area http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=7465.
District offices are located in Slidell, Louisiana
; the Rev. Kurtis Schultz has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected 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 June 14-16, 2012 in Metarie LA.
Concordia College, Selma
, founded in 1922 as part of the Synodical Conference Mission Program and now part of the LCMS' Concordia University System
, is located within the district.
Largest in Mississippi: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Clinton, Mississippi
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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 encompasses the states of Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, as well as the Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Panhandle
Florida Panhandle
The Florida Panhandle, an informal, unofficial term for the northwestern part of Florida, is a strip of land roughly 200 miles long and 50 to 100 miles wide , lying between Alabama on the north and the west, Georgia also on the north, and the Gulf of Mexico to the south. Its eastern boundary is...
; the Florida peninsula is part of the Florida-Georgia District
Florida-Georgia District (LCMS)
The Florida-Georgia District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and encompasses the states of Georgia and Florida, with the exception of the Florida Panhandle which is part of the Southern District; in addition, four Florida congregations and three Georgia...
. The Southern District includes approximately 171 congregations and missions, subdivided into 15 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 20 preschools, 17 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 1 high school. 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 Southern District congregations is approximately 35,000; the average congregation size of 205 members is the lowest of any LCMS district.
The Southern District was formed on February 8, 1882 out of the Western District; portions of the district were separated into the Texas District
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...
and the Florida-Georgia District in 1906 and 1948 respectively. In 1963, 54 black congregations which were part of the Synodical Conference Mission Program were merged into the Southern District; 33 such congregations in central Alabama were consolidated into 10 congregations shortly thereafter. About 40 existing congregations are historically black congregations, and most of the black pastors and teachers in the LCMS originated in this area http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=7465.
District offices are located in Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell, Louisiana
Slidell is a city situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 25,695 at the 2000 census. The Greater Slidell Community has a population of about 90,000...
; the Rev. Kurtis Schultz has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected 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 June 14-16, 2012 in Metarie LA.
Concordia College, Selma
Concordia College, Selma
Concordia College, Selma is a college of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod's Concordia University System, located in Selma, Alabama, in the United States. It is the only historically black college in the Concordia System.-History:...
, founded in 1922 as part of the Synodical Conference Mission Program and now part of the LCMS' Concordia University System
Concordia University System
The Concordia University System is an organization of ten colleges and universities throughout the United States operated by the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod . All ten institutions are named "Concordia" and all include professional church work programs as part of their curricula. The CUS was...
, is located within the district.
Presidents
- Rev. Timotheus Stiemke, 1882–88
- Rev. Gotthilf Heinrich Wilhelm Birkmann, 1888–91
- Rev. Gottfried Johann Wegener, 1891–1927
- Rev. Martin W. H. Holls, 1927–54
- Rev. Paul W. Streufert, 1954–57
- Rev. Edgar W. Homrighausen, 1957-69
- Rev. Lothar Kleinhans, 1969–70
- Rev. John E. Ellermann, 1970-78
- Rev. Richard H. Meyer, 1978-88
- Rev. Orval D. Mueller, 1988-2003
- Rev. Kurtis D. Schultz, 2003-present
Oldest congregations
- 1840 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bywater, New Orleans, LouisianaBywater, New OrleansBywater is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Bywater District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: Florida Avenue to the north, the Industrial Canal to the east, the Mississippi River to the south and Franklin Avenue Street to the west...
- 1847 - Zion Lutheran Church, Lower Garden District, New Orleans, LouisianaLower Garden District, New OrleansLower Garden District is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. A subdistrict of the Central City/Garden District Area, its boundaries as defined by the City Planning Commission are: St...
- 1852 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 1867 - Grace Lutheran Church, Mobile, AlabamaMobile, AlabamaMobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
- 1871 - Salem Lutheran Church, Gretna, LouisianaGretna, LouisianaThe city of Gretna is the parish seat of Jefferson Parish, in the US state of Louisiana. Gretna is on the west bank of the Mississippi River, just east and across the river from uptown New Orleans. It is part of the New Orleans–Metairie–Kenner Metropolitan Statistical Area...
- 1875 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Algiers Point, New Orleans, LouisianaAlgiers PointAlgiers Point is a location on the Lower Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. In river pilotage, Algiers Point is simply one of the many points of land around which the river flows—albeit a significant one...
- 1878 - Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Central City, New Orleans, LouisianaCentral City, New OrleansCentral City is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. It is located at the lower end of Uptown, just above the New Orleans Central Business District, on the "lakeside" of St. Charles Avenue...
- 1881 - Saint Paul NE Lutheran Church, Seventh Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana7th Ward of New OrleansThe 7th Ward is a section of New Orleans, Louisiana. It is geographically the second largest of the 17 Wards of New Orleans, after the 9th Ward.-Boundaries and geography:...
- 1885 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pensacola, FloridaPensacola, FloridaPensacola is the westernmost city in the Florida Panhandle and the county seat of Escambia County, Florida, United States of America. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 56,255 and as of 2009, the estimated population was 53,752...
- 1885 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Cullman, AlabamaCullman, AlabamaCullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
- 1885 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanceville, AlabamaHanceville, AlabamaHanceville is a city in Cullman County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 2,951.-Geography:Hanceville is located at .According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1887 - First Lutheran Church, Birmingham, AlabamaBirmingham, AlabamaBirmingham is the largest city in Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to the 2010 United States Census, Birmingham had a population of 212,237. The Birmingham-Hoover Metropolitan Area, in estimate by the U.S...
- 1888 - Christ Lutheran Church, Pascagoula, MississippiPascagoula, MississippiPascagoula is a city in Jackson County, Mississippi, United States. It is the principal city of the Pascagoula, Mississippi Metropolitan Statistical Area, as a part of the Gulfport–Biloxi–Pascagoula, Mississippi Combined Statistical Area. The population was 26,200 at the 2000 census...
- 1888 - First English Lutheran Church, Metairie, LouisianaMetairie, LouisianaMetairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
- 1888 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lake Charles, LouisianaLake Charles, LouisianaLake Charles is the fifth-largest incorporated city in the U.S. state of Louisiana, located on Lake Charles, Prien Lake, and the Calcasieu River. Located in Calcasieu Parish, a major cultural, industrial, and educational center in the southwest region of the state, and one of the most important in...
- 1892 - Zion Lutheran Church, Clinton, LouisianaClinton, LouisianaClinton is a town in and the parish seat of East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, United States. The town was named for New York Governor DeWitt Clinton. The population was 1,998 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Baton Rouge Metropolitan Statistical Area....
- 1893 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hammond, LouisianaHammond, LouisianaHammond is the largest city in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 20,049 at the 2009 census. It is home to Southeastern Louisiana University...
- 1894 - First Lutheran Church, Crowley, LouisianaCrowley, LouisianaCrowley is a city in and the parish seat of Acadia Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 14,225 at the 2000 census. The city is noted for its annual International Rice Festival. Crowley has the nickname of "Rice Capital of America", because at one time it was a major center for...
- 1895 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jennings, LouisianaJennings, LouisianaJennings is a small city in and the parish seat of Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana, United States, near Lake Charles. The population was 10,986 at the 2000 census....
- 1898 - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, AlabamaDecatur, AlabamaDecatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
- 1898 - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Mansura, LouisianaMansura, LouisianaMansura is a town in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,573 at the 2000 census.Mansura is home to the , and is the Cochon de Lait Capital of the world.Legendary Avoyelles Parish Sheriff F.O...
Largest congregations
- Membership totals are c. 2006.
- 1255 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge, LouisianaBaton Rouge is the capital of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It is located in East Baton Rouge Parish and is the second-largest city in the state.Baton Rouge is a major industrial, petrochemical, medical, and research center of the American South...
- 1035 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Covington, LouisianaCovington, LouisianaCovington is a city in and the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 8,483 at the 2000 census. It is located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte River....
- 1013 - Atonement Lutheran Church, Metairie, LouisianaMetairie, LouisianaMetairie is a census-designated place in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, United States and is a major part of the New Orleans Metropolitan Area. Metairie is the largest community in Jefferson Parish. It is an unincorporated area that would be larger than most of the state's cities if it were...
- 1005 - Bethany Lutheran Church, Slidell, LouisianaSlidell, LouisianaSlidell is a city situated on the northeast shore of Lake Pontchartrain in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 25,695 at the 2000 census. The Greater Slidell Community has a population of about 90,000...
- 965 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Cullman, AlabamaCullman, AlabamaCullman is a city in Cullman County, State of Alabama. Cullman is located along Interstate 65, about north of Birmingham, and about south of Huntsville. According to the U.S...
- 751 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Callaway, FloridaCallaway, FloridaCallaway is a city in Bay County, Florida, United States. The population was 14,405 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Panama City–Lynn Haven–Panama City Beach Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Callaway is located at ....
- 721 - Grace Lutheran Church, Destin, FloridaDestin, FloridaDestin is a city located in Okaloosa County, Florida. It is a principal city of the Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.Located on Florida's Emerald Coast, Destin is known for its white beaches and emerald green waters...
- 703 - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, AlabamaDecatur, AlabamaDecatur is a city in Limestone and Morgan Counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The city, affectionately known as "The River City", is located in Northern Alabama on the banks of Wheeler Lake, along the Tennessee River. It is the largest city and county seat of Morgan County...
- 640 - St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Elberta, AlabamaElberta, AlabamaElberta is a town in Baldwin County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 552. It is part of the Daphne–Fairhope–Foley Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
- 550 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, LouisianaLower Ninth WardLower Ninth Ward is a neighborhood of the city of New Orleans. As the name implies, it is part of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans. The Lower Ninth Ward is often thought of as the entire area within New Orleans downriver of the Industrial Canal; however, the City Planning Commission divides this...
- 1255 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Largest in Mississippi: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Clinton, Mississippi
Clinton, Mississippi
Clinton is a city in Hinds County, Mississippi, United States. Situated in the Jackson metropolitan area, it is the tenth largest city in Mississippi. The population was 23,347 at the 2000 United States Census.-History:...
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External links
- Southern District web site
- LCMS: Southern Districtand congregation directory
- Erster Synodal-Bricht des Südlichen Distrikts der deutschen evang.-luth. Synode von Missouri Ohio u. a. Staaten Anno domini 1882-1895
- Berhandlunger der eslsten Jahresversammlung des Südlichen Distrikts der deutschen evang.-lutherischen Synode von Missouri, Ohio, und anderen Staaten (1897-1910)