Wyoming District (LCMS)

The Wyoming District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses the state of Wyoming as well as the Nebraska Panhandle and one in Colorado; the rest of Nebraska constitutes the Nebraska District except for one congregation in the Rocky Mountain District, which also includes the rest of Colorado. The Wyoming District includes approximately 62 congregations and missions, subdivided into 6 circuits, as well as 10 preschools and 4 elementary schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 15,000, making it one of the two smallest districts along with the Montana District, which is roughly equal in size; a merger of the two districts has been proposed [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10180] .

The Wyoming District was formed on September 30 1970, separating from the Northern Nebraska District – which then merged with the Southern Nebraska District to form the current Nebraska District. Wyoming District offices are located in Casper, Wyoming; the Rev. Richard Boche became the district president in September 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=9962] . 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 May 4-6, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. Henry W. Niermann, 1970-82
*Rev. Wilbert J. Sohns, 1982-91
*Rev. Robert C. Oberheu, 1991-94
*Rev. Ronald M. Garwood, 1994-2006
*Rev. Richard O. Boche, 2006-present

Oldest congregations

*1886 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Sidney, Nebraska
*1889 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Rushville, Nebraska
*1892 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming
*1899 - Zion Lutheran Church, Emblem, Wyoming
*1903 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
*1908 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Burns, Wyoming
*1908 - Saint James Lutheran Church, Scottsbluff, Nebraska
*1910 - Salem Lutheran Church, Gurley, Nebraska
*1910 - Zion Lutheran Church, Big Springs, Nebraska
*1911 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alliance, Nebraska

Only congregation in Colorado: Zion Lutheran Church, Grover, Colorado, 1916

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*1204 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Gillette, Wyoming
*715 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alliance, Nebraska
*677 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming
*670 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming
*575 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming
*532 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Riverton, Wyoming
*515 - Faith Lutheran Church, Gering, Nebraska
*450 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyoming
*420 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Torrington, Wyoming
*407 - Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyoming
*403 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cody, Wyoming

Only congregation in Colorado: Zion Lutheran Church, Grover, Colorado, 37

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 - Chimney Rock (South East)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Gering, Nebraska - 515 members
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Bayard, Nebraska
*Saint James Lutheran Church, Scottsbluff, Nebraska - est. 1908
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Scottsbluff, Nebraska - est. 1916
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, Nebraska
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Potter, Nebraska - est. 1918
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Sidney, Nebraska - est. 1915
*Salem Lutheran Church, Gurley, Nebraska - est. 1910
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Sidney, Nebraska - est. 1886
*Zion Lutheran Church, Big Springs, Nebraska -est. 1910
*Zion Lutheran Church, Chappell, Nebraska - est. 1917

Circuit 2 - Pine Ridge (North East)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Crawford, Nebraska - est. 1918
*Grace Lutheran Church, Gordon, Nebraska - est. 1921
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Alliance, Nebraska - est. 1911; 715 members
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Chadron, Nebraska - est. 1924
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Torrington, Wyoming
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Harrison, Nebraska - est. 1929
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Rushville, Nebraska - est. 1889
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lusk, Wyoming - est. 1913
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Morrill, Nebraska
*Zion Lutheran Church, Hay Springs, Nebraska - est. 1929

Circuit 3 - Powder River (North Central)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Moorcroft, Wyoming
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Sundance, Wyoming
*Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyoming
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Glenrock, Wyoming
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Casper, Wyoming - est. 1917
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Gillette, Wyoming - est. 1929; 1204 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Douglas, Wyoming

Circuit 4 - Yellowstone (North West)
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Cody, Wyoming
*Grace Lutheran Church, Greybull, Wyoming
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Powell, Wyoming
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sheridan, Wyoming - est. 1903; 670 members
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Buffalo, Wyoming
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Lovell, Wyoming - est. 1916
*St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Worland, Wyoming
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Thermopolis, Wyoming
*Zion Lutheran Church, Emblem, Wyoming - est. 1899

Circuit 5 - Headwaters (South West)
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Lander, Wyoming
*Christ Lutheran Church, Rawlins, Wyoming
*Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Green River, Wyoming
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hanna, Wyoming
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Dubois, Wyoming
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Evanston, Wyoming
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pinedale, Wyoming
*Peace Lutheran Church, Marbleton, Wyoming
*Platte Valley Lutheran Church, Saratoga, Wyoming
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jackson, Wyoming
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Kemmerer, Wyoming
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Fort Bridger, Wyoming
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Riverton, Wyoming - est. 1918; 532 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Rock Springs, Wyoming

Circuit 6 - High Plains (South Central)
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Thayne, Wyoming
*Grace English Lutheran Church, Pine Bluffs, Wyoming
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Burns, Wyoming - est. 1908
*King of Glory Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming
*Saint Andrew's Lutheran Church and Campus Center, Laramie, Wyoming
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Kimball, Nebraska - est. 1929
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cheyenne, Wyoming - est. 1892; 677 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Wheatland, Wyoming - est. 1913
*Zion Lutheran Church, Grover, Colorado - est. 1916; 37 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Laramie, Wyoming - est. 1926

External links

* [http://wy.lcms.org/ Wyoming District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6817 LCMS: Wyoming District]