| New England District of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod | |
| Seal of The New England District | |
| Classification | Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod |
|---|---|
| Orientation | Confessional Lutheran |
| Theology | Repristination of Lutheran Orthodoxy with Evangelical Catholic, High Church, Pietist, charismatic, evangelical, and conservative to moderate and mainline influences |
| Polity | Congregationalist |
| Leader | Rev. James Keurulainen, District President |
| Geographical areas | New England, concentrated in Connecticut |
| Origin | 1972 |
| Congregations | 70 |
| Members | 21,391 Baptized 19,030 Confirmed [1] |
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 24 preschools and 5 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 fifth term in 2009. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years in Springfield to elect the district president, vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers. The last convention was held June 4-6, 2009 and the next convention will be held June 14-16, 2012 in Springfield, MA.
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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].
Oldest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont, 1952
Oldest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine, 1962
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