Michigan District (Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod)

The Michigan District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the U.S. state of Michigan with the exception of the western half of the Upper Peninsula, which is in the North Wisconsin District. In addition, eighteen Michigan congregations are in the non-geographic English District. The Michigan District includes approximately 372 congregations and missions, subdivided into 44 circuits, as well as 79 preschools, 89 elementary schools and 9 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 225,000. It is by far the largest of the Synod's districts, exceeding the size of the next largest districts by over 30 congregations (Texas District) and 80,000 members (Northern Illinois District). The average congregation size of 604 members places the Michigan District second among the 35 districts, only slightly behind the Northern Illinois District (607).

The Michigan District is the renamed remnant of what was originally called the Northern District, one of the Synod's four original districts formed in 1854. The Wisconsin and Minnesota portions of the district were separated in 1875, creating the Northwestern District. From 1875 to 1879, Ontario was included in the Northern District, but it was split off to form the Canada District. The Northern District was renamed the Michigan District in 1881. District offices are located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Rev. David P.E. Maier was elected president of the district at the 2009 District Convention, succeeding the Rev. Dr. C. William Hoesman [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 28 - July 1, 2009, and the next (the 100th Michigan District Convention) will be held in 2012.

Concordia University, Ann Arbor, part of the LCMS' Concordia University System, is located within the district.

Presidents

• Rev. Ottomar Fuerbringer, 1854–72
• Rev. J. A. Hügli, 1872–75
• Rev. Ottomar Fuerbringer, 1875–82
• Rev. M. J. Schmidt, 1882–91
• Rev. Gustav Ernst Spiegel, 1891–1912
• Rev. T. E. W. Engelder, 1912–14
• Rev. Emanuel August Mayer, 1915–24
• Rev. John Jacob Frederick Schinnerer, 1924–42
• Rev. Andrew Zeile, 1942–57
• Rev. W. Harry Krieger, 1957–65
• Rev. Edwin C. Weber, 1965–69
• Rev. Richard L. Schlecht, 1969–85
• Rev. John L. Heins, 1985-97
• Rev. C. William Hoesman, 1997-2009
• Rev. David P.E. Maier, 2009-present

Oldest congregations

• 1842 - Saint Thomas Lutheran Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan
• 1844 - Holy Ghost Lutheran Church, Monroe, Michigan
• 1844 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroe, Michigan
• 1845 - Saint Lorenz Lutheran Church, Frankenmuth, Michigan
• 1845 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Eastpointe, Michigan
• 1847 - Immanuel Lutheran Church of Frankentrost, Saginaw, Michigan
• 1847 - St. John's Lutheran Church, Adrian, Michigan
• 1847 - Zion Lutheran Church, Marshall, Michigan
• 1848 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bay City, Michigan
• 1849 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Michigan
• 1849 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Monroe, Michigan
• 1850 - Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Lafayette Park, Detroit, Michigan
• 1851 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Richville, Michigan
• 1852 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Sebewaing, Michigan
• 1852 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Bay City, Michigan
• 1853 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb, Michigan
• 1856 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• 1857 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Port Sanilac, Michigan
• 1857 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, New Boston, Michigan
• 1859 - Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Britton, Michigan

Largest congregations

Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.

• 4615- Saint Lorenz Lutheran Church, Frankenmuth, Michigan
• 4525- Trinity Lutheran Church, Utica, Michigan
• 4374- Immanuel Lutheran Church, Macomb, Michigan
• 3591- Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Macomb, Michigan
• 3547- Faith Lutheran Church, Troy, Michigan
• 2580- Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Walled Lake, Michigan
• 2575- Trinity Lutheran Church, Clinton Township, Michigan
• 2440- Saint John Lutheran Church, Rochester, Michigan
• 2356- Faith Lutheran Church, Grand Blanc, Michigan
• 2088- Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Joseph, Michigan
• 2069- Peace Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Michigan
• 1960- Christ the King Lutheran Church, Southgate, Michigan
• 1924- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Millington, Michigan
• 1916- Trinity Lutheran Church, Monroe, Michigan
• 1859- Historic Trinity Lutheran Church, Lafayette Park, Detroit, Michigan
• 1829- Messiah Lutheran Church, Clio, Michigan
• 1800- Zion Lutheran Church, Bay City, Michigan

External links

• Michigan District web site
• LCMS: Michigan District
• Verhandlungen der fünfundzwanzigsten Jahresversammlung des Michigan-distrikts der deutschen evang.-luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten (Starts with Northern District, then Michigan district, 1880-1892)
• Verhandlungen der vierunddreissigsten Jahresversammlung des Michigan-distrikts der deutschen evang.-lutherischen Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten (1894-1906)