Eastern District (LCMS)

The Eastern District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers: most of upstate New York; Pennsylvania, with the exception of York and Lancaster Counties; and Garrett County at the western corner of the Maryland panhandle. The rest of New York, including New York City, is in the Atlantic District; York and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania and the remainder of Maryland are in the Southeastern District. In addition, sixteen in the Eastern District's area are in the non-geographic English District, and eleven Pennsylvania congregations are in the SELC District. The Eastern District includes approximately 144 congregations and missions, subdivided into 17 circuits, as well as 61 preschools and 16 elementary schools. Baptized membership in Eastern District congregations is over 50,000.

The Eastern District is one of the Synod's four original districts formed in 1854; much of its territory was separated into the Atlantic District in 1906. District offices are located in Williamsville, New York; the Rev. Dr. John Brunner has been the district president since September 2000, and was reelected to a third term in 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10172] . 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 16-18, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. Ernst G. W. Keyl, 1854-69
*Rev. P. Carl Gross, 1869-75
*Rev. J. P. Beyer, 1875-88
*Rev. Peter Brand, 1888-99
*Rev. Herman H. Walker, 1899-1915
*Rev. Franz (Francis) C. Verwiebe, 1915-21
*Rev. William Broeker, 1921-28
*Rev. J. K. E. Horst, 1928-31
*Rev. Franz (Francis) C. Verwiebe, 1931-38
*Rev. Oscar A. Sauer, 1938-39
*Rev. Paul Fretthold, 1939-45
*Rev. Charles A. Behnke, 1945-55
*Rev. Eric C. Malte, 1955-58
*Rev. Gustav M. Karkau, 1958-66
*Rev. Herman R. Frincke, 1966-76
*Rev. Arnold Kromphardt, 1978-91
*Rev. David Belasic, 1991-2000
*Rev. John G. Brunner, 2000-present

Frincke 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

*1833 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Silver Creek, New York
*1835 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Pennsylvania
*1837 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Shadyside, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*1839 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York
*1843 - Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Bergholtz, New York
*1847 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pittston, Pennsylvania
*1849 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, New Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania
*1849 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, New York
*1849 - Trinity Lutheran Church, West Seneca, New York
*1853 - Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
*1853 - Saint John Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
*1854 - Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Boston, New York
*1854 - Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland
*1855 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olean, New York
*1856 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Allegany, New York
*1857 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
*1859 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Wolcottsville, New York
*1859 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsville, New York
*1860 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland
*1860 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cohocton, New York
*1861 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*2088 - Hope Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York
*1898 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Rome, New York
*1609 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
*1442 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Pennsylvania
*1209 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
*1114 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York
*1104 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
*1079 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
*1069 - Faith Lutheran Church, Penfield, New York
*1023 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Hamlin, New York
*978 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cheektowaga, New York
*947 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orchard Park, New York
*865 - Saint John Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
*798 - Trinity Lutheran Church, West Seneca, New York
*795 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
*756 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hilton, New York
*727 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, New York
*707 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Farmington, New York
*680 - Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Bergholtz, New York
*648 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York

Largest in Maryland: Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland, 400

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 (Buffalo, North)
*Hanahiah Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Clarence, New York
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York - est. 1892
*La Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York
*Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Buffalo, New York - est. 1926
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Depew, New York - est. 1895; 620 members
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cheektowaga, New York - 978 members
*Salem Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York - est. 1917

Circuit 2 (Buffalo, South)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Elma, New York - est. 1929
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hamburg, New York
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Aurora, New York - est. 1929
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colden, New York - est. 1920
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orchard Park, New York - est. 1908; 947 members
*Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Boston, New York - est. 1854
*Trinity Lutheran Church, West Seneca, New York - est. 1849; 798 members

Circuit 3 (Cattaraugus)
*Grace Lutheran Church, Bradford, Pennsylvania - est. 1928
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olean, New York - est. 1855
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Otto, New York - est. 1864
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Allegany, New York - est. 1856
*Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Little Valley, New York - est. 1880
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Allen, New York - est. 1865
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ellicottville, New York - est. 1923; 518 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashford, New York - est. 1866
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsville, New York - est. 1859

Circuit 4 (Lake Shore)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, New York
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Gowanda, New York - est. 1898
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Angola, New York
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, New York - est. 1849; 727 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Fredonia, New York - est. 1887
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North East, Pennsylvania - est. 1864
*Salem Lutheran Church, Springville, New York - est. 1871
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Silver Creek, New York - est. 1833

Circuit 5 (Niagara, East)
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Middleport, New York
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ridgewood, New York - est. 1905
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
*Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Wolcottsville, New York - est. 1859
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, New York - est. 1873
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York - est. 1857; 1079 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Medina, New York - est. 1886

Circuit 6 (Niagara, North)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Newfane, New York - est. 1876
*Faith Lutheran Church, Newfane, New York
*Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Bergholtz, New York - est. 1843; 680 members
*Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Pekin, New York - est. 1896
*Saint John Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1853; 865 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Youngstown, New York - est. 1900
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York - est. 1865; 795 members

Circuit 7 (Niagara, West)
*First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York - est. 1839; 1114 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, New York - est. 1907; 625 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York - est. 1868; 648 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, New York
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1891; 1209 members
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1890; 1609 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1861; 1104 members

Circuit 8 (Central NY North)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Waterloo, New York
*Grace Lutheran Church, Sylvan Beach, New York
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Auburn, New York
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Canastota, New York
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Rome, New York - est. 1867; 1898 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Clyde, New York - est. 1865
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Syracuse, New York - est. 1922
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Utica, New York - est. 1881

Circuit 9 (Central NY South)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Interlaken, New York
*Faith Lutheran Church, Corning, New York
*Grace Lutheran Church, Vestal, New York
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Binghamton, New York
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cortland, New York - est. 1926
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Ithaca, New York - 339 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
*Zion Lutheran Church, Owego, New York - est. 1921

Circuit 10 (Rochester, East)
*Alpha Deaf Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York - est. 1923
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, East Avon, New York
*Faith Lutheran Church, Penfield, New York - 1069 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Canandaigua, New York
*Pinnacle Lutheran Church, Henrietta, New York - 618 members
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Newark, New York - est. 1925
*Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Fairport, New York
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Farmington, New York - est. 1886; 707 members
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Mendon, New York - est. 1901
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cohocton, New York - est. 1860

Circuit 11 (Rochester, West)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Brockport, New York - est. 1886
*Hope Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York - est. 1929; 2088 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Hamlin, New York - est. 1874; 1023 members
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, West Henrietta, New York - est. 1901
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York - est. 1884
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hilton, New York - est. 1898; 756 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencerport, New York

Circuit 12 (Pittsburgh, Northeast)
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
*First Lutheran Church, Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania - est. 1863
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, State College, Pennsylvania
*Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania - est. 1853
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Munson, Pennsylvania - est. 1893
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Millvale, Pennsylvania - est. 1877
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Pennsylvania - est. 1835; 1442 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, New Kensington, Pennsylvania - est. 1909
*Salem Lutheran Church, Troutville, Pennsylvania - est. 1866

Circuit 13 (Pittsburgh, Northwest)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Fox Ridge, Pennsylvania
*Christ Lutheran Church, New Castle, Pennsylvania - est. 1925
*Christ Lutheran Church, Oil City, Pennsylvania - est. 1898
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Albion, Pennsylvania - est. 1911
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, West View, Pennsylvania - est. 1929
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania - 456 members
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, New Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania - est. 1849
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, East Allegheny, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1873

Circuit 14 (Pittsburgh, Southeast)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Murrysville, Pennsylvania
*Christ Lutheran Church, Forest Hills, Pennsylvania - 512 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland - est. 1860
*Saint Thomas Lutheran Church, Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1887
*Trinity Lutheran Church of Glen Savage, Glen Savage, Pennsylvania - est. 1868
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroeville, Pennsylvania - est. 1893
*Unity Community Lutheran Church, Brushton, Pennsylvania
*Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland - est. 1854; 400 members (largest in Maryland)

Circuit 15 (Pittsburgh, Southwest)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Brentwood, Pennsylvania - est. 1924
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
*Faith Lutheran Church, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
*First Trinity Lutheran Church, Shadyside, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1837
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of South Hills, Option, Pennsylvania - 624 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Braddock, Pennsylvania - est. 1886
*Pentecost Lutheran Church, Avella, Pennsylvania - est. 1907
*Zion Lutheran Church, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania - est. 1898
*Trinity Deaf Lutheran Church, Edgewood, Pennsylvania - est. 1922
*Zion Lutheran Church, Lower Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1868

Circuit 16 (Philadelphia)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Havertown, Pennsylvania - est. 1908
*Christ Assembly Lutheran Church, Haddington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, Malvern, Pennsylvania
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Mount Airy, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*Hope Lutheran Church, Levittown, Pennsylvania - 632 members
*Iglesia Nazaret Lutheran Church, Juniata, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*Indian Valley Lutheran Church, Souderton, Pennsylvania
*Nazareth Lutheran Church, Juniata, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - est. 1899
*Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Elkins Park, Pennsylvania - est. 1923
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Croydon, Pennsylvania
*St Mark's Lutheran Church, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania
*Saint Philip Lutheran Church, Haddington, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - est. 1917

Circuit 17 (Susquehanna)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Freemansburg, Pennsylvania
*Faith Lutheran Church, Easton, Pennsylvania - 636 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Mandata, Pennsylvania
*Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hop Bottom, Pennsylvania
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Scranton, Pennsylvania - est. 1895
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania
*Peace Lutheran Church, Scranton, Pennsylvania - est. 1917
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Pittston, Pennsylvania - est. 1847
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania - est. 1901

External links

* [http://www.lcmsed.org/ Eastern District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6787 LCMS: Eastern District]