South Wisconsin District (LCMS)

The South Wisconsin District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers the southern third of the state of Wisconsin. The northern two-thirds are in the North Wisconsin District; there are also two Wisconsin congregations in the Minnesota North District. In addition, twelve congregations in the South Wisconsin District's area are in the non-geographic English District, and one in the SELC District. The South Wisconsin District includes approximately 213 congregations and missions, subdivided into 27 circuits, as well as 37 preschools, 58 elementary schools and 6 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 116,600.^[1]

The South Wisconsin District was formed in 1916 when the Wisconsin District was divided. District offices are located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. 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. John Wille became the district president in September 2006^[2] and was re-elected to a second term in 2009. The 52nd Regular Convention was held June 7-9, 2009, with the theme "With Unveiled Faces ... Reflecting the Lords Glory".^[3] The 53rd Regular Convention was held June 10-12, 2012 on the campus of Concordia University Wisconsin with the theme "Life Together…Life Forgiven".^[4]

Concordia University Wisconsin in Mequon, part of the LCMS' Concordia University System, is located within the district. Camp LuWiSoMo^[5] in Wild Rose, Wisconsin is owned and operated by the South Wisconsin District.

Presidents

• Rev. Edward Albrecht, 1916–21 (Pastor, Nazareth/Milwaukee)
• Rev. Henry John Andrew Grueber, 1921–32 (Pastor, Trinity/Milwaukee)
• Rev. John Frederick Boerger, 1932–36 (Pastor, St. John/Racine)
• Rev. Fred A. Schwertfeger, 1936–48 (Pastor, St. Stephen/Horicon)
• Rev. Arthur H. Oswald, 1948–53 (Pastor, St. Martini/Milwaukee)
• Rev. Herbert W. Baxmann, 1953–70 (Pastor, St. John/Plymouth; became district's first full-time president in 1963)
• Rev. Karl L. Barth, 1970–82 (Pastor, St. Paul/West Allis)
• Rev. Harvey Krueger, 1982-1988 (Pastor, Trinity/Sheboygan)
• Rev. Edwin S. Suelflow, 1988-94 (Pastor, Walther Memorial/Milwaukee)
• Rev. Ronald E. Meyer, 1994-2006 (Stewardship Executive, South Wisconsin District)
• Rev. John C. Wille, 2006-present (Pastor, Good Shepherd/Tomah)^[6]

Oldest congregations

• 1839 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Freistadt, Mequon, Wisconsin
• 1847 - Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church (Mayville, Wisconsin)
• 1847 - Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kilbourn Town, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1848 - Saint Peter-Immanuel Lutheran Church, Menomonee River Hills, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1851 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Grafton, Wisconsin
• 1853 - First Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
• 1853 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Howards Grove, Wisconsin
• 1853 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• 1853 - Trinity Lutheran Church - Town Wilson, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• 1854 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Loganville, Wisconsin
• 1854 - Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, Walker's Point, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1855 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Wisconsin
• 1855 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Random Lake, Wisconsin
• 1855 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
• 1856 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Westfield, Wisconsin
• 1856 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• 1857 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Menasha, Wisconsin
• 1858 - Saint Bartholomew Lutheran Church, Brillion, Wisconsin
• 1858 - St. John's Lutheran Church, West Bend, Wisconsin
• 1858 - Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, Horicon, Wisconsin
• 1858 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Potter, Wisconsin
• 1858 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Reeseville, Wisconsin

Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

• 3304 - St. John's Lutheran Church, West Bend, Wisconsin
• 2901 - First Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cedarburg, Wisconsin
• 2838 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Grafton, Wisconsin
• 2604 - Divine Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hartland, Wisconsin
• 2373 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Janesville, Wisconsin
• 2339 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin
• 2301 - Grace Lutheran Church, Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
• 2264 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Oconomowoc, Wisconsin
• 2181 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, West Allis, Wisconsin
• 2180 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin
• 2157 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Plymouth, Wisconsin
• 1924 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Portage, Wisconsin
• 1868 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Washington Heights, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1779 - Hope Lutheran Church, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin
• 1732 - Elm Grove Lutheran Church, Elm Grove, Wisconsin
• 1707 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Brookfield, Wisconsin
• 1659 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• 1553 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Delavan, Wisconsin
• 1531 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• 1437 - Brookfield Lutheran Church, Brookfield, Wisconsin
• 1426 - Saint Peter-Immanuel Lutheran Church, Menomonee River Hills, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1378 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Reedsburg, Wisconsin
• 1368 - St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Sheboygan, Wisconsin
• 1326 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Mequon, Wisconsin
• 1257 - Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, Horicon, Wisconsin
• 1214 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Menasha, Wisconsin
• 1199 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Racine, Wisconsin
• 1195 - Our Father Lutheran Church, Greenfield, Wisconsin
• 1146 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Glendale, Wisconsin
• 1104 - Blessed Savior Lutheran Church, New Berlin, Wisconsin
• 1085 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
• 1062 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Mayville, Wisconsin
• 1055 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Watertown, Wisconsin
• 1049 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Manitowoc, Wisconsin
• 1041 - Grace Lutheran Church, Oak Creek, Wisconsin
• 1030 - Covenant Lutheran Church, Arlington Gardens, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• 1008 - Grace Lutheran Church, Omro, Wisconsin

References

External links

• South Wisconsin District web site
• LCMS: South Wisconsin District
• LCMS Congregation Directory