New England District (LCMS)

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The New England District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses all six New England states: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut. In addition, three congregations in southwest Connecticut are in the non-geographic SELC District. The New England District includes approximately 70 congregations and missions, subdivided into 9 circuits, as well as 32 preschools and 6 elementary schools. Baptized membership is over 22,000; with New England's total population standing at 14,240,000 as of 2005, the District's membership represents only 0.16% of the local population – the lowest of any of the LCMS' 33 geographical districts.

The New England District was formed in 1972 out of the Atlantic District. District offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts; the Rev. James Keurulainen has been the district president since 1997, and was elected to a fourth 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 1-3, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Contents

[edit] Presidents

  • Rev. Robert J. Riedel, 1972-76
  • Rev. Martin Dienst, 1976-85
  • Rev. David Mulder, 1985-91
  • Rev. Osmar Lehenbauer, 1991-97
  • Rev. James E. Keurulainen, 1997-present

Riedel was among 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].

Riedel (1961-72), Mulder (1981-85) and Lehenbauer (1986-91) had all previously served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Connecticut [3].

[edit] Oldest congregations

Oldest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont, 1952
Oldest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine, 1962

[edit] Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

Largest in Rhode Island: Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Providence, Rhode Island, 513
Largest in New Hampshire: Grace Lutheran Church, Nashua, New Hampshire, 435
Largest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont, 378
Largest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine, 304

[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 (Northeast New England)

Circuit 2 (Greater Boston)

Circuit 3 (North/West New England)

Circuit 4 (South/East New England)

Circuit 5 (Western Massachusetts)

Circuit 6 (Connecticut, Upper Central)

Circuit 7 (Connecticut, Lower Central)

Circuit 8 (Connecticut, Lower East)

Circuit 9 (Connecticut, Lower West)

[edit] External links

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Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod