Atlantic District (LCMS)

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The Atlantic District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers eastern New York state: New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital District. It comprises approximately 100 congregations and a number of mission stations, subdivided into 12 circuits, as well as 47 preschools, 26 elementary schools and 4 high schools. The rest of New York is included in the Eastern District; in addition, four congregations in the New York City area are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in Yonkers is in the SELC District. Baptized membership in Atlantic District congregations is approximately 40,000.

The Atlantic District was formed in May 1906 out of the Eastern District; portions of the district were separated into the New England District and the New Jersey District in 1972. District offices are located in Bronxville, New York; the Rev. Dr. David Benke has been the district president since September 1991, and was reelected to a sixth term in 2006 [1]. 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.

Concordia College, Bronxville, part of the LCMS' Concordia University System, is located within the district.

Contents

[edit] Presidents

  • Rev. Ernst C. L. Schulze, 1906-18
  • Rev. Philip H. L. Birkner, 1918-30
  • Rev. Arthur J. C. Brunn, 1930-41
  • Rev. George K. A. Koenig, 1941-42
  • Rev. Herman J. Rippe, 1942-60
  • Rev. Karl F. Graesser, 1960-67
  • Rev. Rudolph P. F. Ressmeyer, 1967-76
  • Rev. Henry L. Koepchen, 1976 (acting president)
  • Rev. Ronald F. Fink, 1976-89
  • Rev. James Zwernemann, 1989-91
  • Rev. David H. Benke, 1991-present

Ressmeyer 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 [2].

[edit] Oldest congregations

[edit] Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

[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 (Schenectady)

Circuit 2 (Albany)

Circuit 3 (Mid-Hudson)

Circuit 4 (Westchester)

Circuit 5 (Bronx)

Circuit 6 (Brooklyn)

Circuit 7 (Queens, Central)

Circuit 8 (Queens, North)

Circuit 9 (Queens, South)

Circuit 10 (Nassau)

Circuit 11 (Suffolk, West)

Circuit 12 (Suffolk, East)

[edit] External links

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Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod