Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod
The Atlantic District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers eastern New York state: New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital District. It comprises approximately 100 congregations and a number of mission stations, subdivided into 10 circuits, as well as 22 preschools, 16 elementary schools and 6 high schools. Baptized membership in Atlantic District congregations is approximately 30,500.[1] The rest of New York is included in the Eastern District; in addition, four congregations in the New York City area are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in Yonkers is in the SELC District.
Atlantic District of the LCMS | |
---|---|
Location | |
Country | United States |
Territory | Eastern New York state |
Headquarters | Bronxville, New York |
Statistics | |
Congregations | 100 |
Schools |
|
Members | 30,500 |
Information | |
Denomination | Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod |
Established | 1906 |
Current leadership | |
President | Rev. Derek Lecakes |
Map | |
Website | |
www |
The Atlantic District was separated in May 1906 from the Eastern District; portions of the district were split off into the New England District and the New Jersey District in 1972. District offices are located in Bronxville, New York. 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. Rev. Derek Lecakes has been the district president since September 2015, after being elected at the 59th Regular Convention which was held June 4–6, 2015, at Concordia College-New York.
Concordia College-New York, part of the LCMS's Concordia University System, is located within the district. A district congregation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, in Washington Heights, Manhattan, was founded in 1664 and is the oldest congregation in the Missouri Synod.
Presidents
- Rev. Ernst C. L. Schulze, 1906–1918
- Rev. Philip H. L. Birkner, 1918–1930
- Rev. Arthur J. C. Brunn, 1930–1941
- Rev. George K. A. Koenig, 1941–1942
- Rev. Herman J. Rippe, 1942–1960
- Rev. Karl F. Graesser, 1960–1967
- Rev. Rudolph P. F. Ressmeyer, 1967–1976
- Rev. Henry L. Koepchen, 1976 (acting president)
- Rev. Ronald F. Fink, 1976–1989
- Rev. James Zwernemann, 1989–1991
- Rev. Dr. David H. Benke, 1991–2015
- Rev. Derek Lecakes, 2015–present
Ressmeyer 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]
- Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, NY
- St John, College Point
- Trinity, Bay Ridge
- Trinity Lutheran, Sunset Park, Brooklyn
References
- "Atlantic District". Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
- "Today in History - April 2". Concordia Historical Institute. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.