Montana District (LCMS)
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The Montana District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of Montana, also including one congregation in Idaho; the rest of Idaho is included in the Northwest District. The Montana District includes approximately 65 congregations and missions, subdivided into 6 circuits, as well as 14 preschools and 3 elementary schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 15,000, making it one of the two smallest districts along with the Wyoming District, which is roughly equal in size; a merger of the two districts has been proposed [1].
The Montana District was formed in 1945 when the North Dakota and Montana District was divided, also creating the North Dakota District. District offices are located in Billings, Montana; the Rev. Terry Forke became the district president in September 2006 [2]. 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 19-22, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.
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[edit] Presidents
- Rev. Paul M. Freiburger, 1945 – 1966
- Rev. August F. Droegemueller, 1966 – 1969
- Rev. George F. Wollenburg, 1969 - 1977
- Rev. Harold V. Huber, 1977- 1984 (died in office)
- Rev. Albert G. Pullmann, 1984 - 1989
- Rev. Richard Kiessling, 1989 - 1992
- Rev. George F. Wollenburg, 1992 - 2006
- Rev. Terry R. Forke, 2006 - present
[edit] Oldest congregations
- 1887 - First Lutheran Church, Helena, Montana
- 1888 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Butte, Montana
- 1892 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Falls, Montana
- 1895 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Montana
- 1896 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Anaconda, Montana
- 1900 - First Lutheran Church, Missoula, Montana
- 1905 - Grace Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Montana
- 1906 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Miles City, Montana
- 1911 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Harlowton, Montana
- 1912 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Libby, Montana
- 1912 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bridger, Montana
- 1912 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Roundup, Montana
- 1912 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Plentywood, Montana
- 1913 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Laurel, Montana
- 1913 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Park City, Montana
- 1913 - Zion Lutheran Church, Chinook, Montana
- 1913 - Zion Lutheran Church, Power, Montana
Only congregation in Idaho: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Salmon, Idaho, 1978
[edit] Largest congregations
- Membership totals are c. 2006.
- 1581 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Montana
- 1198 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana
- 1042 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Glendive, Montana
- 776 - First Lutheran Church, Missoula, Montana
- 738 - First Lutheran Church, Helena, Montana
- 648 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana
- 588 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Falls, Montana
- 517 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Laurel, Montana
- 463 - First Lutheran Church, Bozeman, Montana
- 450 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Miles City, Montana
Only congregation in Idaho: Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Salmon, Idaho, 183
[edit] Congregations and missions
- Congregations formally organized ("est.") 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 (Southern)
- Christ the King Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana
- Circle of Life Lutheran Church, Lame Deer, Montana
- Crow Lutheran Church, Crow Agency, Montana
- Hope Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana
- Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana - 648 members
- Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Worden, Montana
- Our Savior Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana
- Redeemer Lutheran Church, Hardin, Montana
- Saint John Lutheran Church, Belfry, Montana - est. 1916
- Saint John Lutheran Church, Laurel, Montana - est. 1913
- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bridger, Montana - est. 1912
- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Park City, Montana - est. 1913
- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Roundup, Montana - est. 1912
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Billings, Montana - est. 1919; 1198 members
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Harlowton, Montana - est. 1911
Circuit 2 (Western)
- Faith Lutheran Church, Condon, Montana
- First Lutheran Church, Missoula, Montana - est. 1900; 776 members
- Grace Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Montana - est. 1905
- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Seeley Lake, Montana
- Messiah Lutheran Church, Missoula, Montana
- Our Savior Lutheran Church, Stevensville, Montana
- Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Salmon, Idaho - est. 1978; 183 members
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Superior, Montana
Circuit 3 (Eastern)
- Concordia Lutheran Church, Forsyth, Montana - est. 1929
- Faith Lutheran Church, Glasgow, Montana
- Grace Lutheran Church, Fallon, Montana
- Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Colstrip, Montana
- Our Savior Lutheran Church, Glendive, Montana - 1042 members
- Saint John Lutheran Church, Fairview, Montana
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Hysham, Montana
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Miles City, Montana - est. 1906
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Plentywood, Montana - est. 1912
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Rock Springs, Montana - est. 1926
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Sidney, Montana - est. 1928
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Wolf Point, Montana
Circuit 4 (Central)
- Christ for the Deaf Lutheran Church, Great Falls, Montana
- First Lutheran Church, Fort Benton, Montana
- Our Savior Lutheran Church, Denton, Montana
- Peace Lutheran Church, Great Falls, Montana
- Saint John Lutheran Church, Fairfield, Montana
- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Havre, Montana - est. 1919
- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lewistown, Montana - est. 1917
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Great Falls, Montana - est. 1892; 588 members
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Stanford, Montana
- Zion Lutheran Church, Chinook, Montana - est. 1913
- Zion Lutheran Church, Power, Montana - est. 1913
Circuit 5 (Divide)
- Faith Lutheran Church, Boulder, Montana
- First Lutheran Church, Bozeman, Montana - est. 1929
- First Lutheran Church, Helena, Montana - est. 1887; 738 members
- Grace Lutheran Church, Three Forks, Montana - est. 1926
- Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Belgrade, Montana
- Redeemer Lutheran Church, Anaconda, Montana - est. 1896
- Saint John Lutheran Church, Deer Lodge, Montana - est. 1915
- Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Butte, Montana - est. 1888
- Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Ennis, Montana
- Zion Lutheran Church, Whitehall, Montana
Circuit 6 (Flathead NW)
- The Church at Creston - Lutheran, Kalispell, Montana
- Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Eureka, Montana
- Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Polson, Montana
- Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Columbia Falls, Montana
- Saint John Lutheran Church, Libby, Montana - est. 1912
- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ronan, Montana - est. 1915
- Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Whitefish, Montana
- Trinity Lutheran Church, Kalispell, Montana - est. 1895; 1581 members
- Zion Lutheran Church, St. Ignatius, Montana
[edit] References
- Archives, Concordia Historical Institute
- Archives, The Montana District of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
[edit] External links
- Montana District web site
- LCMS: Montana District
- History of the LCMS in Montana
- Concordia Historical Institute
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