Eastern District (LCMS)

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The Eastern District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers: most of upstate New York; Pennsylvania, with the exception of York and Lancaster Counties; and Garrett County at the western corner of the Maryland panhandle. The rest of New York, including New York City, is in the Atlantic District; York and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania and the remainder of Maryland are in the Southeastern District. In addition, sixteen congregations in the Eastern District's area are in the non-geographic English District, and eleven Pennsylvania congregations are in the SELC District. The Eastern District includes approximately 144 congregations and missions, subdivided into 17 circuits, as well as 61 preschools and 16 elementary schools. Baptized membership in Eastern District congregations is over 50,000.

The Eastern District is one of the Synod's four original districts formed in 1854; much of its territory was separated into the Atlantic District in 1906. District offices are located in Williamsville, New York; the Rev. Dr. John Brunner has been the district president since September 2000, and was reelected to a third term in 2006 [1]. 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 16-18, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

1 Presidents
2 Oldest congregations
3 Largest congregations
4 Congregations and missions
5 External links

[edit] Presidents

Rev. Ernst G. W. Keyl, 1854-69
Rev. P. Carl Gross, 1869-75
Rev. J. P. Beyer, 1875-88
Rev. Peter Brand, 1888-99
Rev. Herman H. Walker, 1899-1915
Rev. Franz (Francis) C. Verwiebe, 1915-21
Rev. William Broeker, 1921-28
Rev. J. K. E. Horst, 1928-31
Rev. Franz (Francis) C. Verwiebe, 1931-38
Rev. Oscar A. Sauer, 1938-39
Rev. Paul Fretthold, 1939-45
Rev. Charles A. Behnke, 1945-55
Rev. Eric C. Malte, 1955-58
Rev. Gustav M. Karkau, 1958-66
Rev. Herman R. Frincke, 1966-76
Rev. Arnold Kromphardt, 1978-91
Rev. David Belasic, 1991-2000
Rev. John G. Brunner, 2000-present

Frincke was one of 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 [2].

[edit] Oldest congregations

1833 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Silver Creek, New York
1835 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Pennsylvania
1837 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Shadyside, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
1839 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York
1843 - Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Bergholtz, New York
1847 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pittston, Pennsylvania
1849 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, New Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania
1849 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, New York
1849 - Trinity Lutheran Church, West Seneca, New York
1853 - Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
1853 - Saint John Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
1854 - Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Boston, New York
1854 - Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland
1855 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olean, New York
1856 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Allegany, New York
1857 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
1859 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Wolcottsville, New York
1859 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsville, New York
1860 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland
1860 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cohocton, New York
1861 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York

[edit] Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2006.

2088 - Hope Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York
1898 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Rome, New York
1609 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
1442 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Pennsylvania
1209 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
1114 - First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York
1104 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
1079 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
1069 - Faith Lutheran Church, Penfield, New York
1023 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Hamlin, New York
978 - Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cheektowaga, New York
947 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orchard Park, New York
865 - Saint John Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York
798 - Trinity Lutheran Church, West Seneca, New York
795 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
756 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hilton, New York
727 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, New York
707 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Farmington, New York
680 - Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Bergholtz, New York
648 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York

Largest in Maryland: Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland, 400

[edit] 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 (Buffalo, North)

Hanahiah Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York
Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Clarence, New York
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York - est. 1892
La Santa Cruz Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York
Lutheran Church of Our Savior, Buffalo, New York - est. 1926
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Depew, New York - est. 1895; 620 members
Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cheektowaga, New York - 978 members
Salem Lutheran Church, Buffalo, New York - est. 1917

Circuit 2 (Buffalo, South)

Faith Lutheran Church, Elma, New York - est. 1929
Grace Lutheran Church, Hamburg, New York
Immanuel Lutheran Church, East Aurora, New York - est. 1929
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colden, New York - est. 1920
Saint John's Lutheran Church, Orchard Park, New York - est. 1908; 947 members
Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Boston, New York - est. 1854
Trinity Lutheran Church, West Seneca, New York - est. 1849; 798 members

Circuit 3 (Cattaraugus)

Grace Lutheran Church, Bradford, Pennsylvania - est. 1928
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Olean, New York - est. 1855
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Otto, New York - est. 1864
Saint John Lutheran Church, Allegany, New York - est. 1856
Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Little Valley, New York - est. 1880
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Allen, New York - est. 1865
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ellicottville, New York - est. 1923; 518 members
Trinity Lutheran Church, Ashford, New York - est. 1866
Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsville, New York - est. 1859

Circuit 4 (Lake Shore)

Concordia Lutheran Church, Jamestown, New York
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Gowanda, New York - est. 1898
Saint John Lutheran Church, Angola, New York
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, New York - est. 1849; 727 members
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Fredonia, New York - est. 1887
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North East, Pennsylvania - est. 1864
Salem Lutheran Church, Springville, New York - est. 1871
Trinity Lutheran Church, Silver Creek, New York - est. 1833

Circuit 5 (Niagara, East)

Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Middleport, New York
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ridgewood, New York - est. 1905
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York
Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Wolcottsville, New York - est. 1859
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Batavia, New York - est. 1873
Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York - est. 1857; 1079 members
Trinity Lutheran Church, Medina, New York - est. 1886

Circuit 6 (Niagara, North)

Concordia Lutheran Church, Newfane, New York - est. 1876
Faith Lutheran Church, Newfane, New York
Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Bergholtz, New York - est. 1843; 680 members
Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Pekin, New York - est. 1896
Saint John Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1853; 865 members
Saint John Lutheran Church, Youngstown, New York - est. 1900
Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Lockport, New York - est. 1865; 795 members

Circuit 7 (Niagara, West)

First Trinity Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York - est. 1839; 1114 members
Grace Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, New York - est. 1907; 625 members
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Tonawanda, New York - est. 1868; 648 members
Our Savior Lutheran Church, Niagara Falls, New York
Saint Mark Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1891; 1209 members
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1890; 1609 members
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, New York - est. 1861; 1104 members

Circuit 8 (Central NY North)

Calvary Lutheran Church, Waterloo, New York
Grace Lutheran Church, Sylvan Beach, New York
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Auburn, New York
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Canastota, New York
Saint John Lutheran Church, Rome, New York - est. 1867; 1898 members
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Clyde, New York - est. 1865
Trinity Lutheran Church, Syracuse, New York - est. 1922
Trinity Lutheran Church, Utica, New York - est. 1881

Circuit 9 (Central NY South)

Christ Lutheran Church, Interlaken, New York
Faith Lutheran Church, Corning, New York
Grace Lutheran Church, Vestal, New York
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Binghamton, New York
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cortland, New York - est. 1926
Trinity Lutheran Church, Ithaca, New York - 339 members
Trinity Lutheran Church, Wellsboro, Pennsylvania
Zion Lutheran Church, Owego, New York - est. 1921

Circuit 10 (Rochester, East)

Alpha Deaf Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York - est. 1923
Epiphany Lutheran Church, East Avon, New York
Faith Lutheran Church, Penfield, New York - 1069 members
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Canandaigua, New York
Pinnacle Lutheran Church, Henrietta, New York - 618 members
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Newark, New York - est. 1925
Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Fairport, New York
Saint John Lutheran Church, Farmington, New York - est. 1886; 707 members
Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Mendon, New York - est. 1901
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Cohocton, New York - est. 1860

Circuit 11 (Rochester, West)

Concordia Lutheran Church, Brockport, New York - est. 1886
Hope Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York - est. 1929; 2088 members
Saint John Lutheran Church, Hamlin, New York - est. 1874; 1023 members
Saint Mark Lutheran Church, West Henrietta, New York - est. 1901
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Rochester, New York - est. 1884
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hilton, New York - est. 1898; 756 members
Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencerport, New York

Circuit 12 (Pittsburgh, Northeast)

Bethel Lutheran Church, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania
First Lutheran Church, Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania - est. 1863
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, State College, Pennsylvania
Martin Luther Lutheran Church, Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania - est. 1853
Saint John Lutheran Church, Munson, Pennsylvania - est. 1893
Saint John Lutheran Church, Millvale, Pennsylvania - est. 1877
Saint Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, Pennsylvania - est. 1835; 1442 members
Saint Paul Lutheran Church, New Kensington, Pennsylvania - est. 1909
Salem Lutheran Church, Troutville, Pennsylvania - est. 1866

Circuit 13 (Pittsburgh, Northwest)

Ascension Lutheran Church, Fox Ridge, Pennsylvania
Christ Lutheran Church, New Castle, Pennsylvania - est. 1925
Christ Lutheran Church, Oil City, Pennsylvania - est. 1898
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Albion, Pennsylvania - est. 1911
Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, West View, Pennsylvania - est. 1929
Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania - 456 members
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, New Sewickley Township, Pennsylvania - est. 1849
Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, East Allegheny, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1873

Circuit 14 (Pittsburgh, Southeast)

Calvary Lutheran Church, Murrysville, Pennsylvania
Christ Lutheran Church, Forest Hills, Pennsylvania - 512 members
Grace Lutheran Church, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
Saint John Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland - est. 1860
Saint Thomas Lutheran Church, Marshall-Shadeland, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1887
Trinity Lutheran Church of Glen Savage, Glen Savage, Pennsylvania - est. 1868
Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroeville, Pennsylvania - est. 1893
Unity Community Lutheran Church, Brushton, Pennsylvania
Zion Lutheran Church, Accident, Maryland - est. 1854; 400 members (largest in Maryland)

Circuit 15 (Pittsburgh, Southwest)

Concordia Lutheran Church, Brentwood, Pennsylvania - est. 1924
Epiphany Lutheran Church, Penn Hills, Pennsylvania
Faith Lutheran Church, Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
First Trinity Lutheran Church, Shadyside, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1837
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church of South Hills, Option, Pennsylvania - 624 members
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Braddock, Pennsylvania - est. 1886
Pentecost Lutheran Church, Avella, Pennsylvania - est. 1907
Zion Lutheran Church, Bridgeville, Pennsylvania - est. 1898
Trinity Deaf Lutheran Church, Edgewood, Pennsylvania - est. 1922
Zion Lutheran Church, Lower Lawrenceville, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - est. 1868