Eastern District (LCMS)

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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 congregations 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 [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 16-18, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Contents

[edit] 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 [2].

[edit] Oldest congregations

[edit] Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

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

[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 (Buffalo, North)

Circuit 2 (Buffalo, South)

Circuit 3 (Cattaraugus)

Circuit 4 (Lake Shore)

Circuit 5 (Niagara, East)

Circuit 6 (Niagara, North)

Circuit 7 (Niagara, West)

Circuit 8 (Central NY North)

Circuit 9 (Central NY South)

Circuit 10 (Rochester, East)

Circuit 11 (Rochester, West)

Circuit 12 (Pittsburgh, Northeast)

Circuit 13 (Pittsburgh, Northwest)

Circuit 14 (Pittsburgh, Southeast)

Circuit 15 (Pittsburgh, Southwest)

Circuit 16 (Philadelphia)

Circuit 17 (Susquehanna)

[edit] External links

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Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod