Southern District (LCMS)

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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 [1].

District offices are located in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Rev. Kurtis Schultz has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected in 2006 [2]. 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 July 6-8, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

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.

Contents

[edit] 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

[edit] Oldest congregations

[edit] Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

Largest in Mississippi: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Clinton, Mississippi, 343

[edit] 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 Orleans)

Circuit 2 (New Orleans)

Circuit 3 (New Orleans)

  • Epiphany Lutheran Church, Leonidas, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Faith Lutheran Church, Harahan, Louisiana
  • Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Broadmoor, New Orleans, Louisiana
  • Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana
  • Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Central City, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1878
  • Saint John Lutheran Church, Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1852; 486 members
  • Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Desire area, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1924
  • Zion Lutheran Church, Lower Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1847

Circuit 4 (East Louisiana)

Circuit 5 (Northwest Louisiana)

Circuit 6 (Southwest Louisiana)

Circuit 7-1 (Mississippi Central)

Circuit 7-2 (Mississippi North)

Circuit 8 (Alabama, North)

Circuit 9 (Alabama, Central)

Circuit 10 (Florida)

Circuit 11 (Southwest Alabama)

Circuit 12 (Alabama - WC)

Circuit 13 (Alabama, Southeast)

Circuit 14 (Mississippi, South)

Circuit 15 (Florida)

[edit] External links


Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
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