Rocky Mountain District (LCMS)

The Rocky Mountain District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). It encompasses the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, as well as El Paso County, Texas; the rest of Texas constitutes the Texas District, and one Colorado is in the Wyoming District. The district also includes one congregation each from the states of Arizona and Nebraska. One Utah congregation is in the non-geographic English District. The Rocky Mountain District includes approximately 180 congregations and missions, subdivided into 17 circuits, as well as 36 preschools, 33 elementary schools and 5 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 58,000.

The Rocky Mountain District was formed in 1921 as the Colorado District, separating from the Kansas District; it originally consisted of Colorado and Utah, and expanded as congregations were started elsewhere. New Mexico was added to the district from portions of the Kansas and Texas Districts in 1941-42. District offices are located in Aurora, Colorado; the Rev. Randy Golter has been the district president since September 2003, and was reelected in 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10108] . 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 15-17, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. Otto Luessenhop, 1921–30
*Rev. Otto K. Hensel, 1930–34
*Rev. Frederick William Obermeier, 1934–42
*Rev. E. Julius Friedrich, 1942–50
*Rev. Henry G. Hartner, 1950–54
*Rev. Herbert H. Hellbusch, 1954–60
*Rev. Walter A. Enge, 1960–66
*Rev. Waldemar E. Meyer, 1966-76
*Rev. Ralph Phipps, 1976-85
*Rev. John Peterson, 1985-93
*Rev. Roger L. Krause, 1993-2003
*Rev. Randall L. 'Randy' Golter, 2003-present

Oldest congregations

*1872 - Hope Lutheran Church, Westcliffe, Colorado
*1879 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Washington Park, Denver, Colorado
*1881 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Durango, Colorado
*1884 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Cortez, Colorado
*1888 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Pueblo, Colorado
*1898 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah
*1898 - Zion Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas
*1900 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*1900 - Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, Colorado
*1902 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Genoa, Colorado
*1904 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Greeley, Colorado
*1906 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Rocky Ford, Colorado
*1906 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado
*1906 - Zion Lutheran Church, Holyoke, Colorado
*1907 - Emmaus Lutheran Church, West Highland, Denver, Colorado
*1907 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Arriba, Colorado
*1907 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Venango, Nebraska
*1907 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Monte Vista, Colorado
*1908 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
*1909 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Amherst, Colorado

Oldest in New Mexico: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1914
Only congregation in Arizona: Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Page, Arizona, 1957

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*2522 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Colorado
*2148 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*1728 - Peace Lutheran Church, Arvada, Colorado
*1613 - Peace with Christ Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado
*1599 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado
*1473 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
*1323 - Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colorado
*1295 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Loveland, Colorado
*1260 - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colorado
*1227 - Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, Colorado
*1217 - Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Grand Junction, Colorado
*1001 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Greeley, Colorado
*988 - Grace Lutheran Church, Sandy, Utah
*942 - Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Northglenn, Colorado
*814 - Christ Lutheran Church, Murray, Utah
*809 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ogden, Utah
*722 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado
*690 - Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Broomfield, Colorado
*650 - Ascension Lutheran Church, Littleton, Colorado
*618 - Summit of Peace Lutheran Church, Thornton, Colorado

Largest in New Mexico: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 602
Largest in Texas: Ascension Lutheran Church and Zion Lutheran Church, both in El Paso, Texas, 367
Only congregation in Arizona: Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Page, Arizona, 79
Only congregation in Nebraska: Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Venango, Nebraska, 73

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 (Pecos)
*Faith in Christ Lutheran Church, Portales, New Mexico
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hobbs, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Artesia, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Carlsbad, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Clovis, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Roswell, New Mexico - est. 1933; 272 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lovington, New Mexico
*Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Ruidoso, New Mexico

Circuit 2 (Denver, Northwest)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Colorado - 2522 members
*Christ Lutheran Church, Breckenridge, Colorado
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Colorado
*Emmaus Lutheran Church, West Highland, Denver, Colorado - est. 1907
*Hosanna Lutheran Church, Littleton, Colorado
*King of Kings Lutheran Church, Arvada, Colorado
*Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Evergreen, Colorado
*New Hope Lutheran Church, Golden, Colorado
*Peace Lutheran Church, Arvada, Colorado - 1728 members
*Risen Christ Lutheran Church, Arvada, Colorado
*Saint Luke's Lutheran Church, Golden, Colorado
*Shepherd of the Rockies Lutheran Church, Bailey, Colorado
*Sudanese Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Colorado
*Wheat Ridge Lutheran Church, Wheat Ridge, Colorado

Circuit 3 (Denver, Southwest)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, Littleton, Colorado - 650 members
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Highlands Ranch, Colorado
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Englewood, Colorado - est. 1925
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Westwood, Denver, Colorado
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Washington Park, Denver, Colorado - est. 1879
*Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colorado - 1260 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Harvey Park, Denver, Colorado

Circuit 4 (Long Peak)
*Faith Lutheran Church, Johnstown, Colorado
*Gloria Christi Lutheran Church, Greeley, Colorado
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Loveland, Colorado - 1295 members
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Estes Park, Colorado
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Loveland, Colorado
*Peace with Christ Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado - 1473 members
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado - est. 1908
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Greeley, Colorado - est. 1904; 1001 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Wellington, Colorado - est. 1914

Circuit 5 (Sandia North)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico - 400 members
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Angel Fire, New Mexico
*Faith in Christ Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Edgewood, New Mexico
*Grace Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Las Vegas, New Mexico - est. 1921
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Santa Fe, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Springer, New Mexico
*Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Cedar Crest, New Mexico
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Los Alamos, New Mexico
*Sangre de Cristo Lutheran Church, Taos, New Mexico

Circuit 6 (Sangre de Cristo)
*Bethany Lutheran Church, Pueblo, Colorado
*Grace Lutheran Church, Sugar City, Colorado
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Walsenburg, Colorado
*Hope Lutheran Church, Westcliffe, Colorado - est. 1872
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Pagosa Springs, Colorado
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Pueblo West, Colorado
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Cañon City, Colorado
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Monte Vista, Colorado - est. 1907
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Rocky Ford, Colorado - est. 1906
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Alamosa, Colorado - est. 1919
*Trinity Lutheran Church, La Junta, Colorado - est. 1924
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Pueblo, Colorado - est. 1888; 563 members

Circuit 7 (Northeastern)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Wray, Colorado - est. 1928
*Faith English Lutheran Church, Crook, Colorado
*First English Lutheran Church, Sterling, Colorado - est. 1927
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Haxtun, Colorado - est. 1919
*St. John's Lutheran Church, Yuma, Colorado - est. 1916
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Amherst, Colorado - est. 1909
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Julesburg, Colorado - est. 1921
*Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Venango, Nebraska - est. 1907; 73 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Akron, Colorado - est. 1916
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado - est. 1906; 722 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Sterling, Colorado - est. 1912
*Zion Lutheran Church, Holyoke, Colorado - est. 1906

Circuit 8 (Utah)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Murray, Utah - 814 members
*Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Bountiful, Utah
*Faith Lutheran Church, Roosevelt, Utah
*First Lutheran Church, Tooele, Utah
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Richfield, Utah
*Grace Lutheran Church, Sandy, Utah - 988 members
*Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Logan, Utah
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Kanab, Utah
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Vernal, Utah
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah - est. 1898
*Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Provo, Utah
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ogden, Utah - 809 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cedar City, Utah
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Layton, Utah
*Trinity Lutheran Church, St. George, Utah

Circuit 9 (Western)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Steamboat Springs, Colorado
*Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Rifle, Colorado
*Faith Lutheran Church, Craig, Colorado
*Gracious Savior Lutheran Church, Edwards, Colorado
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Glenwood Springs, Colorado
*Hope Lutheran Church, Montrose, Colorado
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Paonia, Colorado
*Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Grand Junction, Colorado - est. 1933; 1217 members
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Aspen, Colorado
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Gunnison, Colorado
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Delta, Colorado
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Rangely, Colorado

Circuit 10 (Rio Grande)
*Ascension Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas - 367 members
*Faith Lutheran Church, Las Cruces, New Mexico
*Grace Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Silver City, New Mexico
*Mission Lutheran Church, Las Cruces, New Mexico
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Deming, New Mexico
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
*Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas
*San Pablo Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Alamogordo, New Mexico
*Zion Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas - est. 1898; 367 members

Circuit 11 (Eastern High Plains)
*Grace Lutheran Church, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado - est. 1920
*Grace Lutheran Church, Lamar, Colorado
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Hugo, Colorado - est. 1925
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Arriba, Colorado - est. 1907
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Burlington, Colorado - est. 1923; 434 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado - est. 1914
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Genoa, Colorado - est. 1902
*Zion Lutheran Church, Flagler, Colorado - est. 1911

Circuit 12 (Four Corners)
*Grace Lutheran Church, Moab, Utah
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Durango, Colorado - est. 1881
*Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Page, Arizona - est. 1957; 79 members
*Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Navajo, New Mexico
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Cortez, Colorado - est. 1884; 338 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Gallup, New Mexico
*Zion Lutheran Church, Farmington, New Mexico

Circuit 13 (Pikes Peak)
*Abiding Word Lutheran Church, Falcon, Colorado
*Faith Lutheran Church, Buena Vista, Colorado
*Faith Lutheran Church, Woodland Park, Colorado
*Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*First Lutheran Church, Salida, Colorado
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Leadville, Colorado
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado - 2148 members
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado - est. 1900
*Korean First Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*Resurrection Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*Rock of Ages Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
*Shepherd of the Springs Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado

Circuit 14 (Denver, Southeast)
*Christ Lutheran Church, University, Denver, Colorado - est. 1944
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Elizabeth, Colorado
*Christ Triumphant Lutheran Church, Baker, Denver, Colorado
*Epiphany Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, Colorado
*Grace Lutheran Church, Parker, Colorado
*Hope Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado - 1599 members
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, Colorado
*Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colorado - 1323 members
*Peace with Christ Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado - 1613 members
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Franktown-Parker, Colorado
*University Hills Lutheran Church, University Hills, Denver, Colorado

Circuit 15 (Denver, Northeast)
*Christ Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Bennett, Colorado
*Cordero de Dios Lutheran Church, Chaffee Park, Denver, Colorado
*Faith Lutheran Church, Sunnyside, Denver, Colorado
*Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Northglenn, Colorado - 942 members
*Grace Lutheran Church, Hudson, Colorado
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Clayton, Denver, Colorado
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Western Hills, Colorado
*Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Commerce City, Colorado
*Saint Andrew Lutheran Church, Montbello, Denver, Colorado
*Summit of Peace Lutheran Church, Thornton, Colorado - 618 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, Colorado - est. 1900; 1227 members

Circuit 16 (Rocky Flats)
*Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, Broomfield, Colorado
*Christ Our Savior Lutheran Church, Longmont, Colorado
*Eternal Savior Lutheran Church, Lafayette, Colorado
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Longmont, Colorado - est. 1926; 614 members
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Fort Lupton, Colorado
*Mount Hope Lutheran Church, Boulder, Colorado
*Mount Zion Lutheran Church, Boulder, Colorado
*Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Broomfield, Colorado - 690 members
*University Lutheran Church, Boulder, Colorado

Circuit 17 (Sandia South)
*Calvary Lutheran Church, Rio Rancho, New Mexico
*Christ the King Lutheran Church, Los Lunas, New Mexico
*Hope Lutheran Church, Socorro, New Mexico
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico - est. 1914; 602 members
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Grants, New Mexico
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico
*Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Rio Rancho, New Mexico

External links

* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/default.asp?NavID=7217 Rocky Mountain District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6808 LCMS: Rocky Mountain District]