Florida-Georgia District (LCMS)

The Florida-Georgia District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses the states of Georgia and Florida, with the exception of the Florida Panhandle which is part of the Southern District; in addition, four Florida and three Georgia congregations are in the non-geographic English District, and four more Florida congregations are in the SELC District. The Florida-Georgia District includes approximately 183 congregations and missions, subdivided into 22 circuits, as well as 41 preschools, 43 elementary schools and 2 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is near 70,000.

The Florida-Georgia District was formed in 1948 out of the Southern District, with a number of Georgia congregations also moving from the Southeastern District. District offices are located in Orlando, Florida; the Rev. Dr. Gerhard Michael, Jr. has been the district president since 1997, and was reelected to a fourth term in 2006 [https://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10098] . 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 9-11, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. Conrad F. Kellermann, 1948–57
*Rev. Frederick W. Lorberg, 1957–63
*Rev. August Bernthal, 1963–74
*Rev. L. Lloyd Behnken, 1974–87 (died in office)
*Rev. Thomas R. Zehnder, 1987-97
*Rev. Gerhard C. Michael, Jr., 1997-present

Oldest congregations

*1889 - New Zion Lutheran Church, Windermere, Florida
*1893 - Zion Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida
*1904 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Delray Beach, Florida
*1912 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Florida
*1919 - Trinity Lutheran Church - Downtown, Orlando, Florida
*1922 - Grace Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia
*1924 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida
*1925 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, West Palm Beach, Florida
*1927 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lake Worth, Florida
*1927 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*1928 - Grace Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
*1931 - First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, Florida
*1937 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Augusta, Georgia
*1938 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Belle Glade, Florida
*1939 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Athens, Georgia
*1940 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Columbus, Georgia
*1941 - First Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida
*1941 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
*1942 - Grace Lutheran Church, Key West, Florida
*1943 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Masaryktown, Florida

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*2333 - Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, Florida
*2010 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Florida
*1374 - Trinity Lutheran Church - Downtown, Orlando, Florida
*1359 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Florida
*1342 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Weston, Florida
*1294 - Grace Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
*1272 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
*1156 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Brandon, Florida
*1136 - Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
*1130 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
*1095 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida
*1050 - Ascension Lutheran Church, Casselberry, Florida
*1025 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, Largo, Florida
*973 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville Beach, Florida
*963 - Faith Lutheran Church, Merritt Island, Florida
*958 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida
*947 - Faith Lutheran Church, Eustis, Florida
*946 - First Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida
*913 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Warner Robins, Georgia
*901 - Lakeside Lutheran Church, Venice, Florida

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 (Northeast Georgia)
*All Saints Lutheran Church, Blairsville, Georgia
*Arms of Grace Lutheran Church, Winder, Georgia
*Christus Victor Lutheran Church, Athens, Georgia
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Gainesville, Georgia
*Helen/Clarksville Lutheran Mission, Clarkesville, Georgia
*Living Savior Lutheran Church, Lawrenceville, Georgia
*Oak Road Lutheran Church, Lilburn, Georgia - 495 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Athens, Georgia - est. 1939
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Toccoa, Georgia

Circuit 2 (Atlanta North)
*Atlanta Eritrean Mission, Tucker, Georgia
*Atlanta Korean Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Georgia
*Faith Lutheran Church, Marietta, Georgia - 672 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia - est. 1922
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Rome, Georgia
*Living Faith Lutheran Church, Cumming, Georgia
*Living Hope Lutheran Church, Kennesaw, Georgia
*Rivercliff Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia - 747 members
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Tucker, Georgia
*Savior of All Lutheran Church, Cartersville, Georgia
*Timothy Lutheran Church, Woodstock, Georgia

Circuit 3 (Atlanta South)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Columbus, Georgia
*Christ Lutheran Church, East Point, Georgia
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Hampton, Georgia
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Riverdale, Georgia
*Incarnate Word Lutheran Church, Tucker, Georgia
*Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Stockbridge, Georgia
*Peace Lutheran Church, Decatur, Georgia
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Douglasville, Georgia
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Columbus, Georgia - est. 1940
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Peachtree City, Georgia - 358 members
*Sudanese Lutheran Church, Decatur, Georgia
*Villa Rica Lutheran Mission, Douglasville, Georgia
*Zion Lutheran Church, Newnan, Georgia

Circuit 4 (East Central Georgia)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Perry, Georgia
*Hope Lutheran Church, Milledgeville, Georgia
*Lake Oconee Lutheran Church, Eatonton, Georgia
*Lutheran Church of the Holy Trinity, Macon, Georgia
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Warner Robins, Georgia - 913 members
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Augusta, Georgia - est. 1937
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Statesboro, Georgia
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Savannah, Georgia

Circuit 5 (Tallahassee)
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Tallahassee, Florida - est. 1950; 585 members
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Valdosta, Georgia
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Lake City, Florida
*Peace Lutheran Church, Tifton, Georgia
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Medart, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Albany, Georgia
*University Lutheran Church and Student Center, Tallahassee, Florida

Circuit 6 (First Coast)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville Beach, Florida - est. 1949; 973 members
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. Augustine, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida - 740 members
*Guardian Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Kingsland, Georgia
*Messiah Lutheran Mission, Brunswick, Georgia
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, Florida
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Middleburg, Florida
*Starke Lutheran Mission, Starke, Florida

Circuit 7 (North Central Florida)
*Abiding Savior Lutheran Church, Gainesville, Florida
*Amazing Grace Lutheran Church, Oxford, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, Lecanto, Florida
*First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, Florida - est. 1931; 727 members
*First Lutheran Church, Inverness, Florida
*Forest Lutheran Church, Silver Springs, Florida
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Chiefland, Florida
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Ocala, Florida
*Peace Lutheran Church, Dunnellon, Florida
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Ocala, Florida - 712 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Summerfield, Florida

Circuit 8 (Space Coast)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Cape Canaveral, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, Merritt Island, Florida - 963 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Titusville, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Merritt Island, Florida
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, South Daytona, Florida
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Melbourne, Florida
*Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Palm Bay, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Holly Hill, Florida - est. 1949
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Rockledge, Florida

Circuit 9 (Orlando East)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Casselberry, Florida - 1050 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, St. Cloud, Florida
*Hope Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida
*Journey of Life Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida
*Lutheran Church of Providence, Deltona, Florida
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida - 1095 members
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sanford, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church - Downtown, Orlando, Florida - est. 1919; 1374 members

Circuit 10 (Orlando West)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Leesburg, Florida
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida - 627 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Eustis, Florida - 947 members
*New Zion Lutheran Church, Windermere, Florida - est. 1889
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Apopka, Florida
*Woodlands Lutheran Church, Montverde, Florida - 772 members

Circuit 11 (Winter Haven)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, Florida - 2333 members
*Hope Lutheran Church, Plant City, Florida
*Lake Wales Lutheran Church, Lake Wales, Florida
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Zephyrhills, Florida
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bartow, Florida
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Florida - est. 1912; 1359 members

Circuit 12 (Heartland)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Sebring, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, Clewiston, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, Sebring, Florida
*Peace Lutheran Church, Okeechobee, Florida - 504 members
*Peace Valley Lutheran Church, Wauchula, Florida
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Belle Glade, Florida - est. 1938
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Lake Placid, Florida

Circuit 13 (Suncoast)
*Caring Christ Lutheran Church, Trinity, Florida
*Christ Lutheran Church, Brooksville, Florida - 603 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, New Port Richey, Florida - 645 members
*Forest Oaks Lutheran Church, Spring Hill, Florida
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Lutz, Florida
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Masaryktown, Florida - est. 1943
*Hope Lutheran Church, Hudson, Florida

Circuit 14 (St. Petersburg)
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida - 958 members
*Christ Lutheran Hispanic Outreach, East Point, Georgia
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Largo, Florida - 1025 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Dunedin, Florida
*First Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida - 946 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida - est. 1928; 1294 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida - 1272 members
*Rogate Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida
*Rogate Deaf Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida

Circuit 15 (Tampa)
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Riverview, Florida
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Brandon, Florida - 1156 members
*Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Lithia, Florida
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Carrollwood, Florida - 770 members
*St. John's Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida
*Zion Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida - est. 1893

Circuit 16 (Sarasota)
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Florida
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Florida - est. 1948
*Faith Lutheran Church, Parrish, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, Punta Gorda, Florida
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Sarasota, Florida - 674 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Arcadia, Florida
*Hope Lutheran Church, Bradenton, Florida - 665 members
*Lakeside Lutheran Church, Venice, Florida - 901 members
*Lutheran Church of the Cross, Port Charlotte, Florida
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Englewood, Florida
*Shepherd's Creek Lutheran Church, Bradenton, Florida

Circuit 17 (Southwest)
*Amigos En Cristo Lutheran Mission, Bonita Springs, Florida
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Lehigh Acres, Florida
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, LaBelle, Florida
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, North Fort Myers, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida
*Hope Lutheran Church, Bonita Springs, Florida
*Light of the Glades Mission, Fort Myers, Florida
*Marco Lutheran Church, Marco Island, Florida
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida
*North Cape Coral Lutheran Mission, Cape Coral, Florida
*Peace Lutheran Church, Naples, Florida
*Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida - est. 1941; 1130 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cape Coral, Florida
*Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida - 1136 members

Circuit 18 (Treasure Coast)
*Bethel Lutheran Church, Hobe Sound, Florida
*Faith Lutheran Church, North Palm Beach, Florida
*Grace Lutheran Church, Port St. Lucie, Florida
*Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Vero Beach, Florida
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Stuart, Florida - 720 members
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, West Palm Beach, Florida - est. 1925
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Pierce, Florida

Circuit 19 (South Palm Beach)
*Emmanuel Haitian Lutheran Mission, Delray Beach, Florida
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Lake Worth, Florida
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lake Worth, Florida - est. 1927
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Florida - 2010 members
*Salem Haitian Lutheran Mission, Lake Worth, Florida
*Son Life Lutheran Church, Boynton Beach, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Delray Beach, Florida - est. 1904; 888 members

Circuit 20 (Gold Coast)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Davie, Florida - 767 members
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*Hope Lutheran Church, Pompano Beach, Florida
*Miramar Lutheran Church, Miramar, Florida
*New Life Lutheran Church, Miramar, Florida
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Plantation, Florida - 656 members
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Hollywood, Florida
*Saint Mark's Lutheran Church, Hollywood, Florida
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Weston, Florida - 1342 members
*Shepherd of the Coast Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida - est. 1927

Circuit 21 (North Miami)
*Bay Shore Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida - est. 1944
*Faith Lutheran Church, Hialeah, Florida
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, North Miami, Florida - 505 members
*Nassau Lutheran Church, Nassau, Bahamas
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Little River, Florida
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida
*Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Hialeah, Florida

Circuit 22 (South Miami)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida - 304 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Key West, Florida
*Hospital del Alma Lutheran Church, Leisure City, Florida
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Plantation Key, Florida
*Martin Luther Lutheran Chapel, Marathon, Florida
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida - est. 1924
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida
*San Pablo Apostol Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida

External links

* [http://www.flga-lcms.org/ Florida-Georgia District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6789 LCMS: Florida-Georgia District]