New England District (LCMS)
Encyclopedia
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 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.
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
http://chi.lcms.org/history/tih0402.htm.
Riedel (1961-72), Mulder (1981-85) and Lehenbauer (1986-91) had all previously served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Connecticut
http://www.ilcs.org/history.htm.
Oldest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont
, 1952
Oldest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine
, 1962
Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is organized into 35 districts, 33 of which are defined along geographic lines. Each district has a president who oversees the congregations in his district, which are further subdivided into local circuits...
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
(LCMS), and encompasses all six New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
states: Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
and Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. In addition, three congregations in southwest Connecticut are in the non-geographic SELC District
SELC District (LCMS)
The SELC District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod . It is one of the Synod's two non-geographical districts, along with the English District, and has its origins in the congregations of the former Slovak Evangelical Lutheran Church, which merged with the LCMS in...
. The New England District includes approximately 70 congregations and missions, subdivided into 9 circuits
Circuit (LCMS)
A circuit, in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , is a local grouping of congregations within one of the Synod's 35 districts. Circuits typically include 8 to 12 congregations...
, as well as 32 preschools and 6 elementary schools
Lutheran school
Lutheran schools and education were a priority for Lutherans who emigrated to the United States and Australia from Germany and Scandinavia. One of the first things they did was to create schools for their children. This strong educational tradition was handed down from Martin Luther himself. The...
. Baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
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
Atlantic District (LCMS)
The Atlantic District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and covers eastern New York state: New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital District...
. District offices are located in Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield, Massachusetts
Springfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
; 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.
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
J. A. O. Preus II
Jacob Aall Ottesen Preus II was a Lutheran pastor, professor, author, and church president. He served as the president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod from 1969-1981. He was a major figure in the Seminex affair which resulted in a schism in the Missouri Synod.Preus attended Luther Seminary...
on April 2, 1976 for non-compliance with synodical directives on the ordination and placement of improperly endorsed ministerial candidates from Seminex
Seminex
Seminex is the widely used abbreviation for Concordia Seminary in Exile . An institution for the training of Lutheran ministers, Seminex existed from 1974 to 1987. It was formed after a walk-out by dissident faculty and students of Concordia Seminary in St...
http://chi.lcms.org/history/tih0402.htm.
Riedel (1961-72), Mulder (1981-85) and Lehenbauer (1986-91) had all previously served as pastor at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol, Connecticut
Bristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
http://www.ilcs.org/history.htm.
Oldest congregations
- 1839 - First Lutheran Church, Back Bay, Boston, MassachusettsBack Bay, Boston, MassachusettsBack Bay is an officially recognized neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts famous for its rows of Victorian brownstone homes, which are considered one of the best-preserved examples of 19th-century urban design in the United States, as well as numerous architecturally significant individual...
- 1865 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Meriden, ConnecticutMeriden, ConnecticutMeriden is a city in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 59,653.-History:...
- 1866 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode IslandProvidence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
- 1867 - First Lutheran Church, Holyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
- 1871 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Roslindale, Boston, MassachusettsRoslindale, Boston, MassachusettsRoslindale is a primarily residential neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, bordered by Jamaica Plain, Hyde Park, West Roxbury and Mattapan.It is served by an MBTA Commuter Rail line, several MBTA bus lines and the MBTA Orange Line in nearby Jamaica Plain...
- 1881 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Danbury, ConnecticutDanbury, ConnecticutDanbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
- 1883 - Zion Lutheran Church, Orange, ConnecticutOrange, ConnecticutOrange is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 13,233 at the 2000 census. A 2007 Census Bureau estimate puts the population at 13,813. The town is governed by a Board of Selectmen.-History:...
- 1887 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, New Britain, ConnecticutNew Britain, ConnecticutNew Britain is a city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. It is located approximately 9 miles southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 71,254....
- 1889 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, MassachusettsSpringfield, MassachusettsSpringfield is the most populous city in Western New England, and the seat of Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. Springfield sits on the eastern bank of the Connecticut River near its confluence with three rivers; the western Westfield River, the eastern Chicopee River, and the eastern...
- 1890 - Zion Lutheran Church, Manchester, ConnecticutManchester, ConnecticutManchester is a township and city in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 58,241.- History :...
- 1891 - Zion Lutheran Church, Wallingford, ConnecticutWallingford, ConnecticutWallingford is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 43,026 at the 2000 census.- History :Wallingford was established on October 10, 1667, when the Connecticut General Assembly authorized the "making of a village on the east river" to 38 planters and freemen...
- 1892 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, ConnecticutBristol, ConnecticutBristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
- 1892 - St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Dedham, MassachusettsDedham, MassachusettsDedham is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 24,729 at the 2010 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest by Westwood and on the southeast by...
- 1892 - Zion Lutheran Church, Bridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport, ConnecticutBridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
- 1893 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Fitchburg, MassachusettsFitchburg, MassachusettsFitchburg is the third largest city in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,318 at the 2010 census. Fitchburg is home to Fitchburg State University as well as 17 public and private elementary and high schools.- History :...
- 1893 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Easthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton, MassachusettsEasthampton is the second largest city in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States. The town is on the southeastern edge of an area called the Pioneer Valley near the five colleges in the college towns of Northampton and Amherst, MA...
- 1895 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Manchester, New HampshireManchester, New HampshireManchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
- 1895 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, New Hartford, ConnecticutNew Hartford, ConnecticutNew Hartford is a town in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,088 at the 2000 census. The town center is also defined by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census-designated place . The town is mainly a rural community consisting of farms, homes, and parks...
- 1896 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Terryville, ConnecticutTerryville, ConnecticutTerryville is a census-designated place in Litchfield County, Connecticut, United States, and is a village of the Town of Plymouth, Connecticut. The population was 5,360, at the 2000 census. The village is named for Eli Terry Jr.,the son of the well-known clockmaker Eli Terry Sr.. Terryville is...
Oldest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, Vermont
South Burlington, Vermont
-Economy:CommutAir, a regional airline, is headquartered in the city, by the airport. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, one of the United States's larger craft breweries, is located here.One measure of economic activity is retail sales...
, 1952
Oldest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, Maine
Gorham, Maine
Gorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 16,381 at the 2010 census. In addition to an urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town also encompasses a number of smaller, unincorporated villages and hamlets with distinct...
, 1962
Largest congregations
- Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
- 1131 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, ConnecticutBristol, ConnecticutBristol is a suburban city located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States southwest of Hartford. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 61,353. Bristol is primarily known as the home of ESPN, whose central studios are in the city. Bristol is also home to...
- 701 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Acton, MassachusettsActon, MassachusettsActon is a suburban town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States about twenty-one miles west-northwest of Boston along Route 2 west of Concord and about ten miles southwest of Lowell. The population was 21,924 at the 2010 census...
- 694 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Danbury, ConnecticutDanbury, ConnecticutDanbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
- 553 - Cheshire Lutheran Church, Cheshire, ConnecticutCheshire, ConnecticutCheshire is a town in New Haven County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 28,543 at the 2000 census. The center of population of Connecticut is located in Cheshire. In 2009 Cheshire was ranked 72 in Money Magazine's 100 Best Places to Live.Likewise, in 2011 Cheshire was ranked 73 in...
- 534 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newtown, ConnecticutNewtown (town), ConnecticutNewtown is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 27,560 at the 2010 census. Newtown was founded in 1705 and incorporated in 1711.-Government:...
- 524 - Bethany Lutheran Church, West Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford, ConnecticutWest Hartford is a town located in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The town was incorporated in 1854. Prior to that date, the town was a parish of Hartford....
- 499 - The Lutheran Church of the Savior, Bedford, MassachusettsBedford, MassachusettsBedford is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. It is within the Greater Boston area, north-west of the city of Boston. The population of Bedford was 13,320 at the 2010 census.- History :...
- 496 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, South Windsor, ConnecticutSouth Windsor, Connecticut-History:In 1659, Thomas Burnham purchased the tract of land now covered by the towns of South Windsor and East Hartford from Tantinomo, chief sachem of the Podunk Indians. Burnham lived on the land and later willed it to his nine children...
- 477 - Grace Lutheran Church, Nashua, New HampshireNashua, New Hampshire-Climate:-Demographics:As of the census of 2010, there were 86,494 people, 35,044 households, and 21,876 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,719.9 people per square mile . There were 37,168 housing units at an average density of 1,202.8 per square mile...
- 466 - First Lutheran Church, Holyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke, MassachusettsHolyoke is a city in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States, between the western bank of the Connecticut River and the Mount Tom Range of mountains. As of the 2010 Census, the city had a population of 39,880...
- 464 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Smithfield, Rhode IslandSmithfield, Rhode IslandSmithfield is a town in Providence County, Rhode Island, United States. It includes the historic villages of Esmond, Georgiaville, Mountaindale, Hanton City, Stillwater and Greenville...
- 446 - First Lutheran Church, Boston, Massachusetts
- 439 - Christ Lutheran Church, Niantic, ConnecticutNiantic, ConnecticutNiantic is a census-designated place and village in the Town of East Lyme, Connecticut in the United States. The population was 3,085 at the 2000 census....
- 424 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Keene, New HampshireKeene, New HampshireKeene is a city in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 23,409 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Cheshire County.Keene is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England, and hosts the annual Pumpkin Fest...
- 412 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Trumbull, ConnecticutTrumbull, ConnecticutTrumbull, a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut in the New England region of the United States, is bordered by the towns of Monroe, Shelton, Stratford, Bridgeport, Fairfield and Easton along Connecticut's Gold Coast. The population was 36,018 according to the 2010 census.Family Circle magazine...
- 1131 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bristol, Connecticut
- Largest in Vermont: Community Lutheran Church, South Burlington, VermontSouth Burlington, Vermont-Economy:CommutAir, a regional airline, is headquartered in the city, by the airport. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, one of the United States's larger craft breweries, is located here.One measure of economic activity is retail sales...
, 354 - Largest in Maine: Redeemer Lutheran Church, Gorham, MaineGorham, MaineGorham is a town in Cumberland County, Maine, United States. The population was 16,381 at the 2010 census. In addition to an urban village center known as Gorham Village or simply "the Village," the town also encompasses a number of smaller, unincorporated villages and hamlets with distinct...
, 304