English District (LCMS)

The English District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). It is one of the Synod's two non-geographical districts, along with the SELC District, and has its origins in the of the former English Evangelical Lutheran Synod, which merged with the LCMS in 1911. The English Synod had been formed in 1888 as the General English (Evangelical) Lutheran Conference of Missouri and Other States; it had its roots in an 1872 conference which was advised by then LCMS president C. F. W. Walther. The conference applied for admission to the LCMS as a district in 1887, but was advised to instead form a separate synod at that time [http://www.lcms.org/ca/www/cyclopedia/02/display.asp?t1=m&word=MISSOURIANDOTHERSTATES.THEENGLISHEVANGELICALLUTHERANSYNODOF] . It was named the English Synod due to its churches using that language in their services; at that time, the congregations of the LCMS were still using the German language. The English Synod ultimately joined the LCMS in 1911 because of a shared doctrinal stance, but wanting to maintain its identity, it was accepted as a non-geographical district. Despite the transition of the LCMS to English, the English District has continued as a separate district.

The district now includes approximately 156 congregations and missions in 17 U.S. states and the Canadian province of Ontario, subdivided into 25 circuits, as well as 42 preschools, 16 elementary schools and 1 high school. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 60,000.

English District offices are located in Farmington, Michigan; the Rev. David Stechholz became the district president in September 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10129] . 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 on June 22-24, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

The district publishes its newsletter, "English Channels," 10 times a year.

Bishops/Presidents

*Rev. Henry Philip Eckhardt, 1911–12
*Rev. M. S. Sommer, 1912–15
*Rev. John Adam Detzer, 1915–18
*Rev. O. C. Kreinheder, 1918–27
*Rev. Guido R. Schuessler, 1927–36
*Rev. Paul Lindemann, 1936–38
*Rev. M. F. Walker, 1938–45
*Rev. Herman William Bartels, 1945–51
*Rev. Hugo G. Kleiner, 1951–63
*Rev. Bertwin L. Frey, 1963–70
*Rev. John H. Baumgaertner, 1970–74
*Rev. Harold L. Hecht, 1974-76
*Rev. George W. Bornemann, 1976-84
*Rev. Donald F. Jung, 1984-86
*Rev. Roger D. Pittelko, 1986-97
*Rev. David H. Ritt, 1997-2006
*Rev. David P. Stechholz, 2006-present

Hecht was one of four district presidents who were removed from office by Synod President J. A. O. Preus on April 2 1976 for non-compliance with synodical directives on the ordination and placement of improperly endorsed ministerial candidates from Seminex [http://chi.lcms.org/history/tih0402.htm] .

Oldest congregations

*1848 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Springfield, Pennsylvania
*1853 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
*1860 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Hannibal, Missouri
*1862 - Grace Lutheran Church, Mitchell, Ontario
*1881 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Erie, Pennsylvania
*1882 - Zion Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan
*1891 - Calvary Lutheran Church, Amherst, New York
*1891 - Christ English Lutheran Church, Austin, Chicago, Illinois
*1891 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pembroke, Ontario
*1892 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakdale, Fort Wayne, Indiana
*1894 - Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Silver City, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
*1897 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
*1899 - Calvary Lutheran Church, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
*1900 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakmont, Pennsylvania
*1904 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Akron, Ohio
*1904 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Lititz, Pennsylvania
*1905 - Bethany Lutheran Church, Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois
*1907 - Grace Lutheran Church, Elyria, Ohio
*1908 - Layton Park Lutheran Church, Layton Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
*1909 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Bloorcourt Village, Toronto, Ontario
*1911 - Faith Lutheran Church, Auburn Gresham, Chicago, Illinois

Only congregation in Nebraska: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1917
Oldest in New Jersey: Grace Lutheran Church, Palisades Park, New Jersey, 1919
Oldest in California: Highland Park Lutheran Church, Highland Park, Los Angeles, California, 1922
Oldest in Arizona: Faith Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona, 1949
Oldest in Georgia: Ascension Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia, 1955
Oldest in Minnesota: Messiah Lutheran Church, Forest Lake, Minnesota, 1972
Oldest in Florida: Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida, 1985
Only congregation in Utah: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Saint George, Utah, 1994
Only congregation in Virginia: Faith Lutheran Church, Chesapeake, Virginia, 1995

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*7358 - Hales Corners Lutheran Church, Hales Corners, Wisconsin (largest congregation in the Missouri Synod)
*2304 - Christ Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona
*1502 - Grace Lutheran Church, Redford Township, Michigan
*1424 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Westmoor, Fort Wayne, Indiana
*1420 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hartland, Michigan
*1289 - Ascension Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
*1258 - Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis County, Missouri
*1120 - Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, Saint Peters, Missouri
*1111 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
*1044 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska
*939 - Ascension Lutheran Church, North Olmsted, Ohio
*905 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pembroke, Ontario
*845 - West Portal Lutheran Church, West Portal, San Francisco, California
*839 - Trinity Lutheran Church, New Lenox, Illinois

Largest in Florida: Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida, 696
Largest in Georgia: Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Georgia, 518
Largest in New Jersey: Martin Luther Chapel Lutheran Church, Pennsauken, New Jersey, 466
Largest in New York: Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York, 235
Largest in Minnesota: Hope Lutheran Church, Hastings, Minnesota, 107
Only congregation in Utah: Our Savior Lutheran Church, Saint George, Utah, 42
Only congregation in Virginia: Faith Lutheran Church, Chesapeake, Virginia, 34

Congregations and missions

:"Congregations established prior to 1930, or having 600 or more members, are noted (membership figures are c. 2006); in the absence of one or both of these within a circuit, the oldest and/or largest congregation is noted."

Circuit 1 (New York)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Ewing, New Jersey
*Grace Lutheran Church, Palisades Park, New Jersey - est. 1919
*Hope Lutheran Church, Palisades Park, New Jersey
*Immanuel Korean Lutheran Church, Flushing, Queens, New York
*Martin Luther Chapel Lutheran Church, Pennsauken, New Jersey - 466 members
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Princeton, New Jersey
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Valley Stream, New York
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, St. Albans, Queens, New York - est. 1926
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Scarsdale, New York - est. 1924

Circuit 2 (Philadelphia)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania - est. 1899
*Faith Lutheran Church, Chesapeake, Virginia - est. 1995; 34 members
*Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Blue Bell, Pennsylvania
*Grace Lutheran Church, Warminster, Pennsylvania
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Lititz, Pennsylvania - est. 1904; 442 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Springfield, Pennsylvania - est. 1848
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Oxford Circle, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Circuit 3 (Florida)
*Celebration Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida - est. 1985; 696 members
*Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church, Palm Coast, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Ocala, Florida

Circuit 4 (Georgia)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia - est. 1955
*Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Georgia - 518 members
*Loving Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hiram, Georgia

Circuit 5 (Buffalo)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Amherst, New York - est. 1891
*Nazareth Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York - est. 1914
*Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Kenmore, New York - est. 1922
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1897; 235 members (largest in New York)
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Erie, Pennsylvania - est. 1881; 242 members

Circuit 6 (Pittsburgh)
*All Saints Lutheran Church, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania
*Faith Lutheran Church, Butler, Pennsylvania
*Hope Lutheran Church, Upper St. Clair, Pennsylvania
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakmont, Pennsylvania - est. 1900; 400 members

Circuit 7 (Canada, East)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Aurora, Ontario
*St. John Lutheran Church, Golden Lake, Ontario
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Pembroke, Ontario - est. 1891; 905 members
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Bloorcourt Village, Toronto, Ontario - est. 1909
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, North York, Ontario
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Mississauga, Ontario
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Woburn, Toronto, Ontario

Circuit 8 (Canada, West)
*Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Windsor, Ontario - 733 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Mitchell, Ontario - est. 1862
*Hope Lutheran Church, Kitchener, Ontario
*Peace Lutheran Church, Windsor, Ontario
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sarnia, Ontario - est. 1929; 733 members

Circuit 9 (Cleveland East - Akron)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Akron, Ohio - est. 1904
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Northfield, Ohio
*Fairlawn Lutheran Church, Akron, Ohio - 720 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Akron, Ohio
*Grace Lutheran Church, Akron, Ohio - est. 1921
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Cleveland Heights, Ohio - est. 1915

Circuit 10 (Cleveland, West)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, North Olmsted, Ohio - 939 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Elyria, Ohio - est. 1907
*Grace Lutheran Church, Oberlin, Ohio
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Kamms Corners, Cleveland, Ohio - 610 members
*Iglesia Cristiana Hispana Lutheran Church, Ohio City, Cleveland, Ohio
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Medina Township, Ohio - 735 members

Circuit 11 (Detroit, South)
*Angelica Lutheran Church, Allen Park, Michigan
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan - 699 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Toledo, Ohio
*King of Glory Lutheran Church, Sylvania, Ohio
*Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Michigan
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, St. Clair Shores, Michigan - est. 1926
*Zion Lutheran Church, Detroit, Michigan - est. 1882

Circuit 12 (Detroit, North)
*Ascension of Christ Lutheran Church, Beverly Hills, Michigan
*Epic Lutheran Church, Rochester Hills, Michigan
*Grace Lutheran Church, Redford Township, Michigan - est. 1941; 1502 members
*Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sandusky, Michigan
*Shepherd King Lutheran Church, West Bloomfield, Michigan

Circuit 13 (Western Michigan)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Lansing, Michigan
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Dorr, Michigan
*Grace Lutheran Church, Wyoming, Michigan
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lakeview, Michigan
*Hope Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan - est. 1914
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Howell, Michigan
*Martin Luther Lutheran Chapel, East Lansing, Michigan
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hartland, Michigan - 1420 members

Circuit 14 (Indiana)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Indian Village, Fort Wayne, Indiana
*Crown of Life Lutheran Church, Elkhart, Indiana
*Peace Lutheran Church, Fremont, Indiana
*Praise Lutheran Church, Dupont, Fort Wayne, Indiana
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hudson, Indiana
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Oakdale, Fort Wayne, Indiana - est. 1892
*Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Westmoor, Fort Wayne, Indiana - 1424 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, LaPorte, Indiana - est. 1925

Circuit 15 (Chicago, North)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1905
*Bethesda Lutheran Church, West Ridge, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1920
*Faith Lutheran Church, Arlington Heights, Illinois - 628 members
*Holy Spirit Lutheran Church, Elk Grove Village, Illinois - 693 members
*Jefferson Park Lutheran Church, Jefferson Park, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1924
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Norwood Park, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1921
*Uptown Lutheran Church, Uptown, Chicago, Illinois

Circuit 16 (Chicago, Central)
*Christ English Lutheran Church, Austin, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1891
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Berwyn, Illinois - est. 1923
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, West Lawn, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1928
*Grace English Lutheran Church, Belmont Cragin, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1920
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, Illinois
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Elmhurst, Illinois - est. 1928
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Villa Park, Illinois - est. 1913; 664 members

Circuit 17 (Milwaukee, North)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Watertown, Wisconsin
*Greenfield Park Lutheran Church, West Allis, Wisconsin
*Hope Lutheran Church, Hastings, Minnesota - 107 members (largest in Minnesota)
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Forest Lake, Minnesota - est. 1972 (oldest in Minnesota)
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin - est. 1853; 1111 members
*Sherman Park Lutheran Church, Saint Joseph, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - est. 1923

Circuit 18 (Milwaukee, South)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Lake Mills, Wisconsin
*Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Silver City, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - est. 1894
*Hales Corners Lutheran Church, Hales Corners, Wisconsin - est. 1928; 7358 members
*Layton Park Lutheran Church, Layton Park, Milwaukee, Wisconsin - est. 1908
*Peace Lutheran Church, New Berlin, Wisconsin - 782 members
*Peace Lutheran Church, Racine, Wisconsin
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Janesville, Wisconsin

Circuit 19 (St. Louis)
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Lee's Summit, Missouri - 743 members
*Berea Lutheran Church, Riverview, Missouri - est. 1921
*Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, St. Louis County, Missouri - 1258 members
*Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, Saint Peters, Missouri - 1120 members
*Peace Lutheran Church, O'Fallon, Missouri
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Nebraska - est. 1917; 1044 members
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Hannibal, Missouri - est. 1860; 600 members

Circuit 20 (Arizona, North)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona - est. 1953; 2304 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Overgaard, Arizona
*Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Parker, Arizona
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. George, Utah - est. 1994; 42 members
*Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, Pinetop, Arizona
*Shepherd of the Pines Lutheran Church, Payson, Arizona

Circuit 21 (Arizona, South)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona - 1289 members
*Catalina Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
*Christ Lutheran Mission, Marana, Arizona
*Christus Rex Lutheran Church, Rio Rico, Arizona
*Faith Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona - est. 1949
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
*Lutheran Church of the Risen Savior, Green Valley, Arizona
*Lutheran Student Fellowship at the University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
*Peace in the Valley Lutheran Church, Benson, Arizona
*Sahuarita Lutheran Fellowship, Sahuarita, Arizona

Circuit 22 (San Diego)
*Borrego Lutheran Church, Borrego Springs, California
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, El Cajon, California
*First Lutheran Church, El Cajon, California - est. 1946; 591 members
*Inter Mountain Lutheran Church, Pine Valley, California
*Living Water Lutheran Church, Carmel Valley, San Diego, California
*Morning Star Lutheran Church, Lakeside, California

Circuit 23 (Los Angeles)
*Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, Mission Hills, California
*Eagle Rock Lutheran Church, Eagle Rock, Los Angeles, California - est. 1925
*Highland Park Lutheran Church, Highland Park, Los Angeles, California - est. 1922
*Peace of the Desert Lutheran Church, Palm Desert, California - 166 members
*Sherman Oaks Lutheran Church, Sherman Oaks, California

Circuit 24 (San Francisco)
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Danville, California
*New Life Chinese Lutheran Church, Glen Park, San Francisco, California
*West Portal Lutheran Church, West Portal, San Francisco, California - est. 1943; 845 members

Circuit 26 (Chicago, South)
*Chatham Fields Lutheran Church, Chatham, Chicago, Illinois
*Ephphatha-Deaf Lutheran Church, Chatham, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1920
*Faith Lutheran Church, Auburn Gresham, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1911
*Markham Lutheran Church, Markham, Illinois
*New Hope Lutheran Church, Chicago Lawn, Chicago, Illinois
*Saint John the Divine Lutheran Church, Beverly, Chicago, Illinois - est. 1928
*Trinity Lutheran Church, New Lenox, Illinois - 839 members

External links

* [http://www.englishdistrict.org/ English District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6788 LCMS: English District]