Central Illinois District (LCMS)

The Central Illinois District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers the middle third of the state of Illinois; the rest of the state is divided between the Northern Illinois District and the Southern Illinois District. The Central Illinois District includes approximately 155 and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits, as well as 31 preschools, 23 elementary schools and 2 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is over 70,000.

The Central Illinois District was formed in 1907 when the Illinois District was divided. District offices are located in the state capital, Springfield, Illinois; the Rev. David Bueltmann has been the district president since 1995, and was reelected to a fourth full term in 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10265] . 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 9-11, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. Frederick Brand, 1907–17
*Rev. Fred William Brockmann, 1917–18
*Rev. August Friedrich Wilhelm Heyne, 1918–27
*Rev. P. Schulz, 1927–32
*Rev. Philip Wilhelm, 1932–33
*Rev. Walter Ernest Hohenstein, 1933–35
*Rev. John Carl Schuelke, 1935–42
*Rev. Albert Otto Carl Bernthal, 1942–48
*Rev. Emil Frederick Tonn, 1948–54
*Rev. Alvin W. Mueller, 1954–63
*Rev. Lewis C. Niemoeller, 1963–70
*Rev. Rudolph A. Haak, 1970–74
*Rev. Arthur T. Kuehnert, 1974–85
*Rev. Robert T. Kuhn, 1985-95
*Rev. David J. Bueltmann, 1995-present

Oldest congregations

*1837 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Quincy, Illinois
*1841 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois
*1845 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Warsaw, Illinois
*1848 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Beardstown, Illinois
*1849 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Bath, Illinois
*1850 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Chapin, Illinois
*1850 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Havana, Illinois
*1851 - Saint James Lutheran Church, Quincy, Illinois
*1851 - Zion Lutheran Church, Mount Pulaski, Illinois
*1852 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Golden, Illinois
*1852 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pekin, Illinois
*1852 - Zion Lutheran Church, East Moline, Illinois
*1854 - Zion Lutheran Church, Taylor Ridge, Illinois
*1855 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois
*1856 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Island, Illinois
*1857 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
*1858 - Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Illinois
*1858 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois
*1860 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Dieterich, Illinois
*1860 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*3052 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois
*2788 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois
*2142 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
*2002 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois
*1662 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois
*1603 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois
*1357 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Mattoon, Illinois
*1254 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pekin, Illinois
*1227 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
*1224 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois
*1180 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Green Valley, Illinois
*1122 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Effingham, Illinois
*1084 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, East Peoria, Illinois
*1083 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Morton, Illinois
*977 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont, Illinois
*969 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Buckley, Illinois
*947 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois
*918 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Moline, Illinois

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 (Altamont)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Altamont, Illinois - est. 1861
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Vandalia, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont, Illinois - est. 1874; 977 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Shobonier, Illinois - est. 1876
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Altamont, Illinois - est. 1869
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Shobonier, Illinois - est. 1864
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, St. Peter, Illinois - est. 1869; 694 members
*Salem Lutheran Church, Salem, Illinois - est. 1925
*Zion Lutheran Church, Altamont, Illinois - est. 1893

Circuit 2 (Bloomington North)
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Eureka, Illinois - est. 1923
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Secor, Illinois - est. 1865
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Washburn, Illinois - est. 1875
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Chenoa, Illinois - est. 1864
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Varna, Illinois - est. 1871
*Trinity Lutheran Church, El Paso, Illinois - 379 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, La Rose, Illinois - est. 1868
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Roanoke, Illinois - est. 1871
*Zion Lutheran Church, Wenona, Illinois - est. 1883

Circuit 3 (Bloomington South)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Normal, Illinois - 814 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Minier, Illinois
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois - 947 members
*St. Paul Lutheran Church, Lexington, Illinois
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois - est. 1858; 3052 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Danvers, Illinois - est. 1872

Circuit 4 (Champaign)
*Christ Family Lutheran Mission, Mahomet, Illinois
*Friendship Lutheran Church of Joy, Champaign, Illinois
*Grace Lutheran Church, Paris, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Broadlands, Illinois - est. 1876
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Charleston, Illinois - est. 1925
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tuscola, Illinois - est. 1897
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois - est. 1855; 1224 members
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Mattoon, Illinois - est. 1893; 1357 members
*St. Paul's Lutheran Church, Mattoon, Illinois - est. 1880
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Sadorus, Illinois - est. 1875
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Urbana, Illinois
*University Lutheran Church, Champaign, Illinois

Circuit 5 (Danville)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Watseka, Illinois
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Hoopeston, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Cissna Park, Illinois - est. 1882
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Danville, Illinois - est. 1896; 777 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Loda, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Osman, Illinois - est. 1895
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Milford, Illinois
*Peace Lutheran Church, Thomasboro, Illinois - est. 1880
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Buckley, Illinois - est. 1870; 969 members
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Onarga, Illinois - est. 1887
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Thawville, Illinois - est. 1886
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cissna Park, Illinois - est. 1928
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Danville, Illinois - est. 1863; 795 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Onarga, Illinois

Circuit 6 (Decatur)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Mount Zion, Illinois
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Forsyth, Illinois
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois - est. 1891; 1662 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois - est. 1860; 2788 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Decatur, Illinois - est. 1927

Circuit 7 (Effingham)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Flora, Illinois - est. 1929
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Newton, Illinois
*Grace Lutheran Church, Dieterich, Illinois - est. 1915
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Robinson, Illinois
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, Illinois
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Dieterich, Illinois - est. 1860
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Effingham, Illinois - est. 1866; 1122 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Louisville, Illinois - est. 1867
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Wheeler, Illinois - est. 1871
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Casey, Illinois

Circuit 8 (Jacksonville)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Winchester, Illinois
*Christ Deaf Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Illinois
*First Lutheran Church, Mount Sterling, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Arenzville, Illinois - est. 1875
*Joy of Jesus Lutheran Church of the Deaf, Peoria, Illinois
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Illinois - 687 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Bath, Illinois - est. 1849
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Beardstown, Illinois - est. 1848; 749 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Rushville, Illinois
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Chapin, Illinois - est. 1850
*Salem Lutheran Church, Chandlerville, Illinois - est. 1871
*Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Illinois - est. 1858; 761 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Arenzville, Illinois - est. 1872
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Bluffs, Illinois - est. 1870

Circuit 9 (Lincoln)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Clinton, Illinois
*Christ Lutheran Church, Delavan, Illinois
*Christ Lutheran Church, Mason City, Illinois
*Faith Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Illinois
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Topeka, Illinois - est. 1864
*Saint Luke Lutheran Church, San Jose, Illinois - est. 1908
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Havana, Illinois - est. 1850
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Manito, Illinois - est. 1868
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Manito, Illinois
*Zion Lutheran Church, Chestnut, Illinois - est. 1892
*Zion Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Illinois - est. 1871; 760 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Mount Pulaski, Illinois - est. 1851
*Zion Lutheran Church, New Holland, Illinois - est. 1902

Circuit 10 (Peoria)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois - est. 1894; 711 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Canton, Illinois
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois - 2142 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Brimfield, Illinois - est. 1879
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Kewanee, Illinois - est. 1862
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, Illinois - est. 1857; 1227 members

Circuit 11 (Quincy)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Warsaw, Illinois - est. 1845
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Clayton, Illinois
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Golden, Illinois - est. 1852
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb, Illinois
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Quincy, Illinois - 662 members
*Saint James Lutheran Church, Quincy, Illinois - est. 1851; 887 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Quincy, Illinois - est. 1837; 765 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bowen, Illinois
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Pittsfield, Illinois

Circuit 12 (Rock Island)
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Colona, Illinois
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Geneseo, Illinois - est. 1864; 721 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Kewanee, Illinois
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Moline, Illinois - 918 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Island, Illinois - est. 1856
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Galesburg, Illinois
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, East Moline, Illinois - est. 1918; 879 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Geneseo, Illinois - est. 1869
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Milan, Illinois - 842 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Coal Valley, Illinois - est. 1916
*Zion Lutheran Church, East Moline, Illinois - est. 1852
*Zion Lutheran Church, Taylor Ridge, Illinois - est. 1854; 692 members

Circuit 13 (Shelby)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Shumway, Illinois
*Faith Lutheran Church, Sullivan, Illinois
*Grace Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Illinois - est. 1897
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Shelbyville, Illinois - est. 1883
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Pana, Illinois - est. 1924
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Sigel, Illinois - est. 1865
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Strasburg, Illinois - est. 1866; 508 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Stewardson, Illinois - est. 1868

Circuit 14 (Springfield East)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Rochester, Illinois
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Sherman, Illinois - 692 members
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois - est. 1888
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Riverton, Illinois - est. 1893
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois - est. 1929
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Edinburg, Illinois - est. 1894
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois - est. 1841; 2002 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Taylorville, Illinois - est. 1896; 735 members

Circuit 15 (Springfield West)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Petersburg, Illinois - est. 1881
*Christ Lutheran Church, Waverly, Illinois
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Athens, Illinois - est. 1907
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Springfield, Illinois - 1603 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Chatham, Illinois - est. 1877
*Saint John Lutheran Church, New Berlin, Illinois - est. 1870
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Auburn, Illinois - 882 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Pleasant Plains, Illinois

Circuit 16 (Tazewell)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, East Peoria, Illinois
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Morton, Illinois - 1083 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Washington, Illinois
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Green Valley, Illinois - est. 1876; 1180 members
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Pekin, Illinois - est. 1852; 1254 members
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, East Peoria, Illinois - est. 1895; 1084 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Pekin, Illinois

External links

* [http://www.cidlcms.org/ Central Illinois District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6786 LCMS: Central Illinois District]