Eastern District (LCMS)

Eastern District of the LCMS
Location
Country United States
Territory Western New York, Pennsylvania (except York and Lancaster counties), Garrett County, Maryland
Headquarters Williamsville, New York
Statistics
Congregations 135
Schools
  • 30 preschool
  • 13 elementary
Members 40,000
Information
Denomination Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Established 1854
Current leadership
President Dr. Chris C. Wicher
Map
Website
www.lcmsed.org

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 135 congregations and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits, as well as 30 preschools and 13 elementary schools. Baptized membership in Eastern District congregations is approximately 40,000.[1]

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. 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 Rev. Dr. Chris C. Wicher became the district president in 2009.[2] The 97th Regular Convention was held June 15-16, 2012 in Amherst, New York.

Presidents

Rev. Ernst Gerhard Wilhelm Keyl, the founding president of the Eastern District
  • 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. Dr. David Belasic, 1991-2000
  • Rev. Dr. John G. Brunner, 2000-2009
  • Rev. Dr. Chris C. Wicher, 2009- 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 .

Oldest congregations

St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Eden, New York

Largest congregations

Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.

Largest in Maryland: Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland, 398

References

  1. ↑ "Eastern District". Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  2. ↑ "Reporter - LCMS News & Information".
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