Pacific Southwest District (LCMS)

The Pacific Southwest District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). It covers Southern California (the eight southernmost counties in California, including the Los Angeles metropolitan area), Arizona and the southern tip of Nevada, and includes nearly 300 subdivided into 32 circuits, as well as 120 preschools, 76 elementary schools and 9 high schools with a total enrollment of 21,000. The rest of California and Nevada is included in the California-Nevada-Hawaii District; one Arizona congregation is in the Rocky Mountain District. In addition, 28 congregations in the Pacific Southwest District's area are in the non-geographic English District – 17 in Arizona, 6 in the San Diego area and 5 in the Los Angeles area. Baptized membership of Pacific Southwest congregations is over 100,000.

The Pacific Southwest District was formed on July 2 1930 as the Southern California District, separating it from the California and Nevada District. District offices are located in Irvine, California; the Rev. Dr. Larry Stoterau has been the district president since September 2000, and was reelected to a third term in 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10227] . 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 25-27, 2006, and the next will be in 2009.

Concordia University, Irvine, part of the LCMS' Concordia University System, is located within the district.

Presidents

*Rev. Gotthold H. F. Smukal, 1930-42
*Rev. Walter F. Troeger, 1942-48
*Rev. Armand E. T. Mueller, 1948-55
*Rev. Victor L. Behnken, 1955-69
*Rev. Arnold G. Kuntz, 1969-85
*Rev. Loren T. Kramer, 1985-2000
*Rev. Larry A. Stoterau, 2000-present

Oldest congregations

*1882 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orange, California
*1882 - Trinity Central Lutheran Church, Wilshire Park, Los Angeles, California
*1892 - First Lutheran Church of Pasadena, Pasadena, California
*1895 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Encanto, San Diego, California
*1897 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Oxnard, California
*1903 - Zion Lutheran Church, Anaheim, California
*1905 - Christ Lutheran Church, Vermont Square, Los Angeles, California
*1905 - First Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California
*1906 - Grace Lutheran Church, Vermont Square, Los Angeles, California
*1906 - St. John's Lutheran Church, Montebello, California
*1906 - Trinity Lutheran Church, San Bernardino, California
*1907 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Orange, California
*1908 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Whittier, California
*1909 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Riverside, California
*1909 - Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, Santa Ana, California
*1911 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Covina, California
*1912 - Grace Lutheran Church, Hillcrest, San Diego, California
*1913 - Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Santa Monica, California
*1915 - Emanuel Lutheran Church, Santa Barbara, California
*1919 - Grace Lutheran Church, Escondido, California

Oldest in Arizona: Calvary Lutheran Church, Yuma, Arizona, 1931
Oldest in Nevada: First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada, 1940

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*5277 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orange, California
*2751 - Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Lake Forest, California
*2312 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Orange, California
*1921 - Bethany Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California
*1812 - Christs Greenfield Lutheran Church, Gilbert, Arizona
*1626 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Oxnard, California
*1600 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Arcadia, California
*1434 - Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona
*1414 - Grace Lutheran Church, Escondido, California
*1375 - Faith Lutheran Church, Vista, California
*1356 - Zion Lutheran Church, Anaheim, California
*1350 - Christ Lutheran Church, Costa Mesa, California
*1321 - First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
*1283 - Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Arizona
*1232 - Faith Community Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada
*1208 - Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Chandler, Arizona
*1160 - Christ Lutheran Church, Brea, California
*1136 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Riverside, California
*1108 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Simi Valley, California
*1098 - Community Lutheran Church, Escondido, California
*1095 - Christ Lutheran Church, La Mesa, California
*1058 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Litchfield Park, Arizona

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
*Emanuel Lutheran Church, Santa Barbara, California - est. 1915
*Faith Lutheran Church, Carpinteria, California
*First Lutheran Church, Ventura, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Goleta, California - 629 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Ventura, California - 800 members
*Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, Ojai, California
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Santa Ynez, California

Circuit 2
*Centro Cristiano Hispano Lutheran Church, Santa Paula, California
*Centro Cristiano Redwood Lutheran Church, Oxnard, California
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Newbury Park, California
*Faith Lutheran Church, Moorpark, California
*First Lutheran Church, Camarillo, California
*Peace Lutheran Church, Camarillo, California
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Thousand Oaks, California
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Oxnard, California - est. 1897; 1626 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Agoura Hills, California

Circuit 3
*Canoga Park Lutheran Church, Canoga Park, Los Angeles, California - est. 1945
*Central Zion Korean Lutheran Mission, Northridge, Los Angeles, California
*El Redentor Lutheran Church, Panorama City, Los Angeles, California
*Good News for All Nations Lutheran Mission, Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Winnetka, Los Angeles, California
*Our Savior First Lutheran Church, Granada Hills, Los Angeles, California
*Peace Lutheran Church, Lake View Terrace, Los Angeles, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Reseda, Los Angeles, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Simi Valley, California - 1108 members

Circuit 4
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Santa Clarita, California - 701 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Burbank, California
*Faith Lutheran Church, Tujunga, Los Angeles, California
*First Lutheran Church, Burbank, California - est. 1921
*First Lutheran Church, San Fernando, California - est. 1929
*First Lutheran Church, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California - est. 1920
*Gethsemane Lutheran Church, La Crescenta, California
*West Valley Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Castaic, California
*Zion Lutheran Church, Glendale, California - est. 1923

Circuit 5
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Torrance, California - 733 members
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Inglewood, California
*First Lutheran Church, Manhattan Beach, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Inglewood, California
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Redondo Beach, California - est. 1925
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, California
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Westchester, Los Angeles, California
*Saint John Lutheran Church, El Segundo, California
*Saint Philip Lutheran Church, Compton, California

Circuit 6
*Ark of Noah Lutheran Church, Palms, Los Angeles, California
*Christ Lutheran Church, Vermont Square, Los Angeles, California - est. 1905
*Faith Lutheran Church, Inglewood, California
*Faith Lutheran Church, South Los Angeles, California - est. 1925
*First Lutheran Church of Culver City and Palms, Palms, Los Angeles, California - est. 1927
*First Lutheran Church of Venice, Venice, Los Angeles, California - 331 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Vermont Square, Los Angeles, California - est. 1906
*Hope Memorial Lutheran Church, Crenshaw, Los Angeles, California
*La Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Beverly Hills, California
*Palisades Lutheran Church, Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California
*Pilgrim Deaf Lutheran Church, Koreatown, Los Angeles, California
*Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Santa Monica, California - est. 1913
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Jefferson Park, Los Angeles, California - est. 1925
*Trinity Central Lutheran Church, Wilshire Park, Los Angeles, California - est. 1882
*University Lutheran Chapel, Westwood, Los Angeles, California
*Young Kwang Lutheran Mission, Koreatown, Los Angeles, California

Circuit 7
*Emmaus Lutheran Church, Alhambra, California - est. 1923
*Faith Lutheran Church, Pasadena, California
*First Lutheran Church of Pasadena, Pasadena, California - est. 1892
*First Lutheran Church, Temple City, California
*Grace Lutheran Mission, Temple City, California
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Pasadena, California - est. 1925
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Arcadia, California - 1600 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Rosemead, California

Circuit 8
*Faith Arabic Lutheran Mission, Whittier, California
*Faith Lutheran Church, Whittier, California - 571 members
*Hope Lutheran Church, Whittier, California
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Diamond Bar, California
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, La Mirada, California
*St. John's Lutheran Church, Montebello, California - est. 1906
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Norwalk, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Whittier, California - est. 1908

Circuit 9
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Cerritos, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Downey, California - 560 members
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Downey, California
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Bellflower, California
*Palabra de Dios Lutheran Mission, Maywood, California
*Peace Lutheran Church, Pico Rivera, California
*Peace Lutheran Church, South Gate, California
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, South Gate, California - est. 1924
*San Pedro y San Pablo Lutheran Church, Bell Gardens, California

Circuit 10
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California - 1921 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Rancho Palos Verdes, California - est. 1925; 740 members
*First Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California - est. 1905
*Grace Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Harbor City, California
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Long Beach, California

Circuit 11
*First Lutheran Church, El Monte, California
*First Lutheran Church, Monrovia, California - est. 1926
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, La Puente, California
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Hacienda Heights, California
*Hope Lutheran Church, Glendora, California - 607 members
*Immanuel First Lutheran Church, West Covina, California
*La Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, La Puente, California
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Covina, California - est. 1911
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Covina, California

Circuit 12
*Christ Lutheran Church, Costa Mesa, California - 1350 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Huntington Beach, California
*Good News Korean Lutheran Church, Garden Grove, California
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Cypress, California
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Huntington Beach, California
*St Paul's Lutheran Church, Garden Grove, California - est. 1951
*Vietnamese Lutheran Church, Garden Grove, California
*Vietnamese Lutheran of Orange County, Anaheim, California

Circuit 13
*Hephatha Lutheran Church, Anaheim, California
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Orange, California - est. 1922
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orange, California - est. 1882; 5277 members
*Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, Westminster, California
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Orange, California - est. 1907; 2312 members
*Salem Lutheran Church, Orange, California - 742 members
*Searchlight Ministries Lutheran Church, Fullerton, California

Circuit 14
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Buena Park, California
*Christ Lutheran Church, Brea, California - 1160 members
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Buena Park, California
*New Covenant Korea Lutheran Church, Fullerton, California
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Anaheim, California
*Saint Stephen's Lutheran Church, Fullerton, California
*True Love Lutheran Church, Fullerton, California
*Zion Lutheran Church, Anaheim, California - est. 1903; 1356 members

Circuit 15
*Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Lake Forest, California - 2751 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Capistrano Beach, California
*Light of Christ Lutheran Church, Irvine, California
*Mount Hope Community Lutheran Church, Rancho Santa Margarita, California
*One Faith Korean Lutheran Mission, Irvine, California
*Peace Lutheran Church, North Tustin, California
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Laguna Beach, California
*Trinity Cristo Rey Lutheran Church, Santa Ana, California - est. 1909

Circuit 16
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Redlands, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucaipa, California
*First Lutheran Church, Fontana, California - est. 1925
*Grace Lutheran Church, Banning, California - est. 1926
*Grace Lutheran Church, Rialto, California
*Iglesia Luterana La Santisima Trinidad, Fontana, California
*La Santisima Trinidad Iglesia, San Bernardino, California
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Highland, California
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Crest Park, California - 424 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Colton, California
*Shepherd in the Pines Lutheran Church, Big Bear Lake, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, San Bernardino, California - est. 1906

Circuit 17
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Walnut, California
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Chino, California
*Indonesian Lutheran Church, Claremont, California
*Loving Savior Chinese Lutheran Mission, Chino Hills, California
*Loving Savior of the Hills Lutheran Church, Chino Hills, California
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ontario, California - 903 members
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Claremont, California
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Pomona, California - est. 1920
*Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Rancho Cucamonga, California - 997 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Montclair, California

Circuit 18
*Faith Lutheran Church, Riverside, California
*First Lutheran Church, Lake Elsinore, California
*Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Riverside, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Menifee, California
*Grace Korean Lutheran Church, Moreno Valley, California
*Grace Lutheran Church, Corona, California
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Riverside, California - est. 1909; 1136 members
*Mount Calvary Deaf Lutheran Church, Anaheim, California
*Promise Lutheran Church, Murrieta, California
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Perris, California
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Moreno Valley, California

Circuit 19
*Centro Cristiano Fuente de Vida Lutheran Church, San Jacinto, California
*Christ Lutheran Church, Desert Hot Springs, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Yucca Valley, California
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Twentynine Palms, California
*Light of Life Lutheran Mission, Indio, California
*Our Savior's Community Lutheran Church, Palm Springs, California
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hemet, California - 774 members
*St. John's Lutheran Church, Hemet, California - est. 1928; 623 members
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Anza, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Indio, California

Circuit 20
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Apple Valley, California
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Barstow, California
*Faith Lutheran Church, Hesperia, California
*First Lutheran Church, Palmdale, California
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Tehachapi, California
*Grace Lutheran Church, Bishop, California
*Grace Lutheran Church, Lancaster, California - est. 1921; 810 members
*Mammoth Lakes Lutheran Church, Mammoth Lakes, California
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Ridgecrest, California
*Resurrection Lutheran Church, Boron, California
*Resurrection Lutheran Church, Quartz Hill, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, California City, California
*Zion Lutheran Church, Victorville, California

Circuit 21
*Faith Lutheran Church, Vista, California - 1375 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Oceanside, California
*New Community Lutheran Church, Temecula, California
*Redeemer by the Sea Lutheran Church, Carlsbad, California
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Encinitas, California - est. 1945
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Oceanside, California
*Zion Lutheran Church, Fallbrook, California - 691 members

Circuit 22
*Christ the Cornerstone Lutheran Church, Mira Mesa, San Diego, California
*Community Lutheran Church, Escondido, California - 1098 members
*Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Escondido, California
*Grace Lutheran Church, Escondido, California - est. 1919; 1414 members
*Light of the Valley Lutheran Church, Valley Center, California
*Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Poway, California
*Ramona Lutheran Church, Ramona, California

Circuit 23
*Atonement Lutheran Church, Spring Valley, California
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Chula Vista, California
*Lutheran Church of Joy, Chula Vista, California
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, City Heights, San Diego, California
*Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Chula Vista, California - 744 members
*Resurrection Lutheran Church, Coronado, California
*Saint James Lutheran Church, Imperial Beach, California
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Encanto, San Diego, California - est. 1895

Circuit 24
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Ocean Beach, San Diego, California
*Celebration of Faith Lutheran Church, Santee, California
*Christ Lutheran Church, La Mesa, California - 1095 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, City Heights, San Diego, California
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hillcrest, San Diego, California - est. 1912
*Grace Street Mission Lutheran Church, Hillcrest, San Diego, California
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Clairemont, San Diego, California
*Medhanialem Ethiopian Christian Fellowship, City Heights, San Diego, California
*Peace Lutheran Church, Linda Vista, San Diego, California
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Allied Gardens, San Diego, California
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Pacific Beach, San Diego, California
*University Lutheran Church, La Jolla, San Diego, California

Circuit 25
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Yuma, Arizona - est. 1931 (oldest in Arizona)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Yuma, Arizona - 620 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, El Centro, California
*Iglesia Lutherana Alfa y Omega Church, El Centro, California
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Holtville, California - est. 1929
*Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Yuma, Arizona
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Brawley, California
*Zion Lutheran Church, Blythe, California

Circuit 26
*Apostles Lutheran Church, Peoria, Arizona - 813 members
*Atonement Lutheran Church, Glendale, Arizona
*Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona - 729 members
*Crown of Life Lutheran Church, Sun City West, Arizona - 942 members
*King of Kings Lutheran Church, Peoria, Arizona
*Lutheran Church of the Master, Phoenix, Arizona
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona - est. 1950
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wickenburg, Arizona
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona
*Santo Tomas Lutheran Mission, Phoenix, Arizona
*Summit Community Lutheran Church, Litchfield Park, Arizona
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Litchfield Park, Arizona - 1058 members
*Word of Life Lutheran Church, Surprise, Arizona

Circuit 27
*Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Anthem, Arizona
*Desert Foothills Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Arizona
*Grace Lutheran Church, Black Canyon City, Arizona
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Arizona - est. 1960
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Phoenix, Arizona
*Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Scottsdale, Arizona - 1283 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Fountain Hills, Arizona

Circuit 28
*Faith Lutheran Church, Cottonwood, Arizona
*Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, Sun City, Arizona - 552 members
*Grace Community Lutheran Mission, Rimrock, Arizona
*Life in Christ Lutheran Church, Peoria, Arizona
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Peoria, Arizona
*Mountain of Faith Lutheran Church, Cordes Lakes, Arizona
*Peace Lutheran Church, Flagstaff, Arizona - est. 1965
*Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, Sedona, Arizona
*Saving Grace Lutheran Church, Chino Valley, Arizona
*Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Prescott, Arizona
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Prescott Valley, Arizona

Circuit 29
*Christ Lutheran Church, Coolidge, Arizona
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Chandler, Arizona - 632 members
*Fountain of Life Lutheran Church, Tucson, Arizona - 1434 members
*Hope Lutheran Church, Bisbee, Arizona - est. 1954
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sierra Vista, Arizona
*Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Chandler, Arizona - 1208 members
*Saving Grace Lutheran Church, Queen Creek, Arizona
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Casa Grande, Arizona

Circuit 30
*Alleluia Lutheran Church, Tempe, Arizona
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Tempe, Arizona - est. 1960
*Christs Greenfield Lutheran Church, Gilbert, Arizona - 1812 members
*Eternal Life Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona
*Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Tempe, Arizona - 745 members
*Hosanna Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona - 608 members
*Mountain View Lutheran Church, Apache Junction, Arizona
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Mesa, Arizona - 997 members

Circuit 31
*Faith Community Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada - 1232 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Needles, California - est. 1937
*Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Lake Havasu City, Arizona
*Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada - 823 members
*Living Christ Lutheran Church, Laughlin, Nevada
*Mountain View Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada - 742 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Bullhead City, Arizona
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Pahrump, Nevada

Circuit 32
*Christ Lutheran Church, Boulder City, Nevada
*First Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada - est. 1940; 1321 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Kingman, Arizona
*Grace Lutheran Church, Henderson, Nevada
*Mesquite Lutheran Church, Mesquite, Nevada
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Henderson, Nevada
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, Nevada

External links

* [http://www.psd-lcms.org/home/default.htm Pacific Southwest District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6819 LCMS: Pacific Southwest District]
*PDFlink| [http://www.psw.lcms.org/archives/1930HistoryOfPSW.pdf History of the Pacific Southwest District] |31.4 KiB