Southern District (LCMS)

The Southern District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses the states of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as the Florida Panhandle; the Florida peninsula is part of the Florida-Georgia District. The Southern District includes approximately 171 and missions, subdivided into 15 circuits, as well as 20 preschools, 17 elementary schools and 1 high school. Baptized membership in Southern District congregations is approximately 35,000; the average congregation size of 205 members is the lowest of any LCMS district.

The Southern District was formed on February 8 1882 out of the Western District; portions of the district were separated into the Texas District and the Florida-Georgia District in 1906 and 1948 respectively. In 1963, 54 black congregations which were part of the Synodical Conference Mission Program were merged into the Southern District; 33 such congregations in central Alabama were consolidated into 10 congregations shortly thereafter. About 40 existing congregations are historically black congregations, and most of the black pastors and teachers in the LCMS originated in this area [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=7465] .

District offices are located in New Orleans, Louisiana; the Rev. Kurtis Schultz has been the district president since 2003, and was reelected in 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10260] . 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 July 6-8, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Concordia College, Selma, founded in 1922 as part of the Synodical Conference Mission Program and now part of the LCMS' Concordia University System, is located within the district.

Presidents

*Rev. Timotheus Stiemke, 1882–88
*Rev. Gotthilf Heinrich Wilhelm Birkmann, 1888–91
*Rev. Gottfried Johann Wegener, 1891–1927
*Rev. Martin W. H. Holls, 1927–54
*Rev. Paul W. Streufert, 1954–57
*Rev. Edgar W. Homrighausen, 1957-69
*Rev. Lothar Kleinhans, 1969–70
*Rev. John E. Ellermann, 1970-78
*Rev. Richard H. Meyer, 1978-88
*Rev. Orval D. Mueller, 1988-2003
*Rev. Kurtis D. Schultz, 2003-present

Oldest congregations

*1840 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bywater, New Orleans, Louisiana
*1847 - Zion Lutheran Church, Lower Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana
*1852 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
*1867 - Grace Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama
*1871 - Salem Lutheran Church, Gretna, Louisiana
*1875 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Algiers Point, New Orleans, Louisiana
*1878 - Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Central City, New Orleans, Louisiana
*1881 - Saint Paul NE Lutheran Church, Seventh Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana
*1885 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Florida
*1885 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Cullman, Alabama
*1885 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanceville, Alabama
*1887 - First Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*1888 - Christ Lutheran Church, Pascagoula, Mississippi
*1888 - First English Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana
*1888 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana
*1892 - Zion Lutheran Church, Clinton, Louisiana
*1893 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hammond, Louisiana
*1894 - First Lutheran Church, Crowley, Louisiana
*1895 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jennings, Louisiana
*1898 - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Alabama
*1898 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Mansura, Louisiana

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*1255 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
*1035 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Covington, Louisiana
*1013 - Atonement Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana
*1005 - Bethany Lutheran Church, Slidell, Louisiana
*965 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Cullman, Alabama
*751 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Callaway, Florida
*721 - Grace Lutheran Church, Destin, Florida
*703 - St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Alabama
*640 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Elberta, Alabama
*550 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana

Largest in Mississippi: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Clinton, Mississippi, 343

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 (New Orleans)
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Desire area, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Christ Lutheran Church, Chalmette, Louisiana - est. 1903
*First English Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana - est. 1888
*Friendship Lutheran Fellowship, Houma, Louisiana
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Pontchartrain Park, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Bayou St. John, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Read Boulevard West, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bywater, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1840
*Saint Paul NE Lutheran Church, Seventh Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1881
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Lower Ninth Ward, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1912; 550 members

Circuit 2 (New Orleans)
*Atonement Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana - 1013 members
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Harvey, Louisiana
*Grace Lutheran Church, Houma, Louisiana
*Monte de los Olivos Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana
*Saint Stephen Lutheran Church, Old Aurora, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Salem Lutheran Church, Gretna, Louisiana - est. 1871
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Algiers Point, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1875

Circuit 3 (New Orleans)
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Leonidas, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Faith Lutheran Church, Harahan, Louisiana
*Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Broadmoor, New Orleans, Louisiana
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Metairie, Louisiana
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Central City, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1878
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1852; 486 members
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Desire area, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1924
*Zion Lutheran Church, Lower Garden District, New Orleans, Louisiana - est. 1847

Circuit 4 (East Louisiana)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana - est. 1920
*Chapel of the Cross Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Covington, Louisiana - 1035 members
*New Life Lutheran Church, Folsom, Louisiana
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Mandeville, Louisiana
*Saint James Lutheran Church, Gonzales, Louisiana
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hammond, Louisiana - est. 1893
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Baton Rouge, Louisiana - 1255 members
*The Village Lutheran Church, Lacombe, Louisiana
*Zion Lutheran Church, Bogalusa, Louisiana - est. 1911
*Zion Lutheran Church, Clinton, Louisiana - est. 1892

Circuit 5 (Northwest Louisiana)
*Augustana Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Louisiana - est. 1915
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Natchitoches, Louisiana
*Faith Lutheran Church, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Grace Lutheran Church, Many, Louisiana
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Bossier City, Louisiana - 394 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Pineville, Louisiana
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Alexandria, Louisiana - est. 1918
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Mansura, Louisiana - est. 1898
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ruston, Louisiana
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Tree of Life Lutheran, Shreveport, Louisiana
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroe, Louisiana - est. 1925

Circuit 6 (Southwest Louisiana)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Lafayette, Louisiana
*First Lutheran Church, Crowley, Louisiana - est. 1894
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jennings, Louisiana - est. 1895
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, De Ridder, Louisiana
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Iota, Louisiana - est. 1901
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana - est. 1888; 342 members
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Lake Charles, Louisiana
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Leesville, Louisiana
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Sulphur, Louisiana

Circuit 7-1 (Mississippi Central)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Jackson, Mississippi
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Jackson, Mississippi
*First Lutheran Church, Natchez, Mississippi
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Brandon, Mississippi
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Vicksburg, Mississippi
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Clinton, Mississippi - est. 1930; 343 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, McComb, Mississippi
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Meridian, Mississippi

Circuit 7-2 (Mississippi North)
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Olive Branch, Mississippi
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Greenwood, Mississippi
*Faith Lutheran Church, Greenville, Mississippi
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cleveland, Mississippi
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Tupelo, Mississippi
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Columbus, Mississippi
*Peace Lutheran Church, Oxford, Mississippi - est. 1930
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Corinth, Mississippi
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Southaven, Mississippi - 238 members
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Starkville, Mississippi
*Zion Lutheran Church, Holly Springs, Mississippi

Circuit 8 (Alabama, North)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Huntsville, Alabama
*Christ Lutheran Church, Albertville, Alabama
*Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hartselle, Alabama
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Muscle Shoals, Alabama
*Faith Lutheran Church, Madison, Alabama
*Grace Lutheran Church, Huntsville, Alabama
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hazel Green, Alabama
*Lutheran Church of the Holy Spirit, Attalla, Alabama
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Florence, Alabama
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Talladega, Alabama
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Fort Payne, Alabama
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Cullman, Alabama - est. 1885; 965 members
*St. Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Alabama - est. 1898; 703 members
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Gadsden, Alabama
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Gadsden, Alabama - est. 1908
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Hanceville, Alabama - est. 1885
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Scottsboro, Alabama

Circuit 9 (Alabama, Central)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
*Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*First Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama - est. 1887
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gardendale, Alabama
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
*Hope Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*The Lutheran Church of Vestavia Hills, Vestavia Hills, Alabama - 404 members
*Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama - est. 1923
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*Solid Rock Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Birmingham, Alabama
*University Lutheran Church, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
*Zion Lutheran Church, Bessemer, Alabama

Circuit 10 (Florida)
*Eternal Trinity Lutheran Church, Milton, Florida
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gulf Breeze, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Florida - 520 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Florida - est. 1885
*Jehovah Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Florida - est. 1924
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Warrington, Florida
*Resurrection Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Florida
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Pensacola, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cantonment, Florida

Circuit 11 (Southwest Alabama)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Daphne, Alabama
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Point Clear, Alabama
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Montrose, Alabama
*Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Atmore, Alabama - est. 1925
*Faith Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama - est. 1920
*Grace Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama - est. 1867
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fairhope, Alabama
*Saint Jude by the Sea Lutheran Church, Gulf Shores, Alabama
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Elberta, Alabama - est. 1908; 640 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Foley, Alabama - est. 1912
*Shepherd of the Bay Lutheran Church, Lillian, Alabama
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Mobile, Alabama

Circuit 12 (Alabama - WC)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Prattville, Alabama - est. 1922
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Arlington, Alabama
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Camden, Alabama - est. 1925
*Hope Lutheran Church, Kings Landing, Alabama - est. 1924
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Vredenburgh, Alabama - est. 1917
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Thomasville, Alabama - est. 1924
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Oak Hill, Alabama - est. 1922
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Selma, Alabama - est. 1924; 250 members

Circuit 13 (Alabama, Southeast)
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Enterprise, Alabama
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Montgomery, Alabama
*New Hope Lutheran Church, Andalusia, Alabama
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Ozark, Alabama
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Montgomery, Alabama
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Auburn, Alabama - est. 1929; 321 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Dothan, Alabama
*United Lutheran Church, Montgomery, Alabama

Circuit 14 (Mississippi, South)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Slidell, Louisiana - est. 1928; 1005 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Pascagoula, Mississippi - est. 1888
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Slidell, Louisiana
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Gulfport, Mississippi
*Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Slidell, Louisiana
*Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd, Biloxi, Mississippi
*Lutheran Church of the Pines, Waveland, Mississippi
*New Life Lutheran Church, Vancleave, Mississippi
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Laurel, Mississippi
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Hattiesburg, Mississippi
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Gulfport, Mississippi - est. 1919
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Picayune, Mississippi

Circuit 15 (Florida)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Marianna, Florida
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Panama City Beach, Florida
*First Lutheran Church, Florala, Alabama
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Callaway, Florida - 751 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Shalimar, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Bonifay, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Destin, Florida - 721 members
*Hope Lutheran Church, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Crestview, Florida - est. 1952
*Redemption Lutheran Church, Panama City, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Panama City, Florida - est. 1952

External links

* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=7010 Southern District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6813 LCMS: Southern District]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=iL0xRzZMZSYC&printsec=titlepage Erster Synodal-Bricht des Südlichen Distrikts der deutschen evang.-luth. Synode von Missouri Ohio u. a. Staaten Anno domini 1882-1895]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=8CIW7zMMbfYC&printsec=titlepage#PPP7,M1 Berhandlunger der eslsten Jahresversammlung des Südlichen Distrikts der deutschen evang.-lutherischen Synode von Missouri, Ohio, und anderen Staaten (1897-1910)]