Kansas District (LCMS)

The Kansas District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of Kansas; one near the state's northern border is in the Nebraska District. The Kansas District includes approximately 166 congregations and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits, as well as 36 preschools and 16 elementary schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is over 60,000.

The Kansas District was formed in 1888 out of the Western District, and at various times included territory in Colorado, Oklahoma and New Mexico; portions of the district were separated into the Colorado District (later renamed the Rocky Mountain District) and the Oklahoma District in 1921 and 1924 respectively, and the New Mexico areas were later transferred to the Colorado District in 1941-42. Kansas District offices are located in Topeka, Kansas; the Rev. Keith Kohlmeier has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected to a second term in 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10115] . 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 8-10, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. Friedrich Pennekamp, 1888–94
*Rev. Carl (Karl/Charles) Hafner, 1894–1906
*Rev. Friedrich Christoph Droegemueller, 1906–12
*Rev. Theodore H. Juengel, 1912–19
*Rev. Carl Frederick Lehenbauer, 1919–32 (died in office)
*Rev. William Mahler, 1932–39
*Rev. Walter H. Meyer, 1939–60
*Rev. Arlen J. Bruns, 1960–78
*Rev. George J. Bruening, 1978-85
*Rev. Eugene E. Schmidt, 1985-94
*Rev. Howard J. Patten, 1994-2003
*Rev. Keith E. Kohlmeier, 2003-present

Oldest congregations

*1861 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas
*1861 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Junction City, Kansas
*1862 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, Kansas
*1863 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Humboldt, Kansas
*1866 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Atchison, Kansas
*1868 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Paola, Kansas
*1869 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bremen, Kansas
*1870 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Alma, Kansas
*1872 - Zion Lutheran Church, Independence, Kansas
*1874 - First St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, Kansas
*1874 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas
*1875 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Duluth, Kansas
*1876 - Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, Kansas
*1877 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellinwood, Kansas
*1877 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lincolnville, Kansas
*1878 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Canton, Kansas
*1878 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Palmer, Kansas
*1878 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, Kansas
*1878 - Zion Lutheran Church, Offerle, Kansas
*1879 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hepler, Kansas

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*3178 - Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas
*2086 - Ascension Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
*1952 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
*1673 - Faith Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas
*1465 - Christ Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas
*1294 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission, Kansas
*1285 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, Kansas
*1253 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Atchison, Kansas
*1162 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas
*1140 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas
*1112 - Hope Lutheran Church, Shawnee, Kansas
*966 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, Kansas
*963 - Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olathe, Kansas
*869 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas
*849 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Emporia, Kansas
*847 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Manhattan, Kansas

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 (Atchison)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Wathena, Kansas - est. 1884
*First Lutheran Church, Sabetha, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Fairview, Kansas - est. 1888
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Netawaka, Kansas - est. 1893
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Easton, Kansas - est. 1880
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Nortonville, Kansas - est. 1897
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Fairview, Kansas - est. 1882
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Atchison, Kansas - est. 1866; 1253 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Holton, Kansas - est. 1926
*Zion Lutheran Church, Hiawatha, Kansas - est. 1895
*Zion Lutheran Church, Powhattan, Kansas - est. 1900

Circuit 2 (Kansas City, North)
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Kansas
*Emmaus Lutheran Church, Bonner Springs, Kansas
*Faith Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Kansas - est. 1927
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Kansas - est. 1884
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Kansas - est. 1926
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Kansas City, Kansas - est. 1900
*Saint Martin Lutheran Church, Basehor, Kansas - est. 1908
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, Kansas - est. 1862; 604 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Leavenworth, Kansas - 1285 members

Circuit 3N (North)
*Augsburg Lutheran Church, Shawnee, Kansas
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olathe, Kansas - 963 members
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas - 3178 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Overland Park, Kansas - 1465 members
*Hope Lutheran Church, Shawnee, Kansas - 1112 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Mission, Kansas - est. 1940; 1294 members

Circuit 3S (South)
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Louisburg, Kansas
*First Lutheran Church, Paola, Kansas - est. 1921; 752 members
*King of Kings Lutheran Church, Gardner, Kansas
*Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Leawood, Kansas - 656 members
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Olathe, Kansas - 788 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Paola, Kansas - est. 1868; 645 members

Circuit 4 (Emporia)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Emporia, Kansas
*Faith Lutheran Church, Ottawa, Kansas
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Emporia, Kansas - est. 1923; 849 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Aliceville, Kansas - est. 1883
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Burlington, Kansas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Garnett, Kansas
*Zion Lutheran Church, Vassar, Kansas - est. 1884

Circuit 5 (Independence)
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Erie, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Iola, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hepler, Kansas - est. 1879
* [http://www.stpaulscoffeyville.org/ Saint Paul Lutheran Church] , Coffeyville, Kansas - est. 1892
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Oswego, Kansas - est. 1918
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Humboldt, Kansas - est. 1863
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Caney, Kansas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Scott, Kansas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Girard, Kansas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Parsons, Kansas
*Zion Lutheran Church, Chanute, Kansas
*Zion Lutheran Church, Independence, Kansas - est. 1872; 655 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Pittsburg, Kansas - est. 1876

Circuit 6 (Topeka-Lawrence)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas - 622 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas
*Faith Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas - 1673 members
*Hope Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas
*Immanuel-University Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kansas - est. 1925; 700 members
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas - 869 members
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lawrence, Kansas
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Topeka, Kansas - est. 1874; 1162 members

Circuit 7 (Linn)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Bremen, Kansas - est. 1901
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Greenleaf, Kansas - est. 1917
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bremen, Kansas - est. 1869
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Linn, Kansas - est. 1882
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Marysville, Kansas - est. 1928
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Palmer, Kansas - est. 1878
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Clay Center, Kansas - est. 1888; 658 members
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Barnes, Kansas - est. 1883
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanover, Kansas - est. 1880
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Waterville, Kansas - est. 1886
*Zion Lutheran Church, Linn, Kansas - est. 1887

Circuit 8 (Manhattan)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Manhattan, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Junction City, Kansas - est. 1926
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Wamego, Kansas
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Alma, Kansas - est. 1870
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Manhattan, Kansas - est. 1911; 847 members
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Kansas - est. 1897
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Alta Vista, Kansas - est. 1907
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Duluth, Kansas - est. 1875
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Junction City, Kansas - est. 1861
*Trinity Lutheran Church, McFarland, Kansas - est. 1893

Circuit 9 (Herington)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Council Grove, Kansas
*Faith Lutheran Church, Abilene, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Strong City, Kansas - est. 1884
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas - est. 1887
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas - est. 1927; 335 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Marion, Kansas
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Herington, Kansas - est. 1861
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Lincolnville, Kansas - est. 1877
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Tampa, Kansas - est. 1893
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Ramona, Kansas - est. 1906
*Zion Lutheran Church, Hillsboro, Kansas - est. 1883
*Zion Lutheran Church, Latimer, Kansas - est. 1910

Circuit 10 (Wichita, North)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas - 2086 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Augusta, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, El Dorado, Kansas - est. 1929
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas - 1952 members
*Peace Lutheran Church, Andover, Kansas
*Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
*Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
*Zion Lutheran Church, Newton, Kansas - est. 1886

Circuit 11 (Wichita, South)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas - 696 members
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Wellington, Kansas
*Faith Lutheran Church, Derby, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas - est. 1909
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Arkansas City, Kansas - est. 1925
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cheney, Kansas - est. 1884; 634 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Wichita, Kansas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Winfield, Kansas - est. 1883; 633 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Argonia, Kansas - est. 1885

Circuit 12 (Hutchinson-Salina)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, Kansas
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas - 738 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Lyons, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, McPherson, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Canton, Kansas - est. 1878
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hutchinson, Kansas - est. 1922; 966 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Moundridge, Kansas - est. 1895
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Haven, Kansas - est. 1880
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Salina, Kansas - 1140 members

Circuit 13 (Lincoln-Hays)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sylvan Grove, Kansas - est. 1881
*First Lutheran Church, Plainville, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, Kansas - est. 1916
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Hays, Kansas
*Peace Lutheran Church, Natoma, Kansas
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Kansas - est. 1881; 499 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ellsworth, Kansas - est. 1878
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Kansas - est. 1911
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Hunter, Kansas - est. 1886
*Zion Lutheran Church, Downs, Kansas - est. 1892

Circuit 14 (Great Bend)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Hoisington, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Larned, Kansas
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Kinsley, Kansas
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Great Bend, Kansas
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pratt, Kansas
*Peace Lutheran Church, Greensburg, Kansas
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Ellinwood, Kansas - est. 1877; 483 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Nashville, Kansas - est. 1893
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Preston, Kansas - est. 1900
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Holyrood, Kansas - est. 1883
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Medicine Lodge, Kansas
*Zion Lutheran Church, Claflin, Kansas - est. 1884

Circuit 15 (Colby)
*First Lutheran Church, Phillipsburg, Kansas
*First St. John Lutheran Church, Kensington, Kansas - est. 1874
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hill City, Kansas
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hoxie, Kansas - est. 1888
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Norton, Kansas - est. 1908
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Oakley, Kansas
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Atwood, Kansas - 410 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Oberlin, Kansas - est. 1886
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Colby, Kansas

Circuit 16 (Garden City)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Elkhart, Kansas
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Dighton, Kansas
*Faith Lutheran Church, Hugoton, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Liberal, Kansas
*Grace Lutheran Church, Ulysses, Kansas
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Dodge City, Kansas - est. 1911
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Scott City, Kansas - est. 1925
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lakin, Kansas - est. 1906
*La Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, Garden City, Kansas
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Meade, Kansas - est. 1887
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Bazine, Kansas - est. 1905
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Jetmore, Kansas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Garden City, Kansas - est. 1922; 628 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Offerle, Kansas - est. 1878

External links

* [http://www.kslcms.org/ Kansas District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6792 LCMS: Kansas District]