South Dakota District (LCMS)

The South Dakota District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of South Dakota; one in the state is in the North Dakota District. The South Dakota District includes approximately 114 congregations and missions, subdivided into 11 circuits, as well as 14 preschools and 3 elementary schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is over 30,000.

The South Dakota District was formed in 1906 out of the Minnesota and Dakota District, with the rest of the district continuing to use that name until 1910. District offices are located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; the Rev. Dale Sattgast became the district president in September 2006 [http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=10119] . 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 18-21, 2006, and the next will be held in 2009.

Presidents

*Rev. August Frederick Breihan, 1906–12
*Rev. Johann Dietrich Ehlen, 1912–18
*Rev. Ernst Gottlieb Jehn, 1918–21
*Rev. Friedrich W. Leyhe, 1921–36
*Rev. Walter Nitschke, 1936–51
*Rev. Philip H. Mueller, 1951–60
*Rev. Elmer O. Luessenhop, 1960–68
*Rev. Leonard Eberhard, 1968–70
*Rev. Arthur J. Crosmer, 1970–78
*Rev. Paul G. Wendling, 1978-88
*Rev. Raymond L. Hartwig, 1988-98
*Rev. Vernon L. Schindler, 1998-2006
*Rev. Dale L. Sattgast, 2006-present

Oldest congregations

*1878 - Peace Lutheran Church, Alcester, South Dakota
*1881 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartford, South Dakota
*1882 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milbank, South Dakota
*1882 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dimock, South Dakota
*1882 - Martinus Lutheran Church, Utica, South Dakota
*1882 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South Dakota
*1882 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Freeman, South Dakota
*1882 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Wentworth, South Dakota
*1884 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Wolsey, South Dakota
*1884 - Trinity Lutheran Church, White Lake, South Dakota
*1885 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Agar, South Dakota
*1885 - Zion Lutheran Church, Canistota, South Dakota
*1886 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Emery, South Dakota
*1887 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Columbia, South Dakota
*1887 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Howard, South Dakota
*1888 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota, South Dakota
*1888 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
*1888 - Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Alexandria, South Dakota
*1888 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
*1888 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Mansfield, South Dakota

Largest congregations

:"Membership totals are c. 2006."
*1672 - Faith Lutheran Church, Pierre, South Dakota
*1612 - Zion Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
*1268 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
*1262 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South Dakota
*1037 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Huron, South Dakota
*1029 - Emanuel Lutheran Church, Milbank, South Dakota
*1022 - Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*867 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
*831 - Peace Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
*828 - Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell, South Dakota
*676 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota
*671 - Memorial Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*647 - Faith Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*578 - Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain, South Dakota
*515 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Watertown, South Dakota

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 (Aberdeen)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Cresbard, South Dakota
*Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Ipswich, South Dakota
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota, South Dakota - est. 1888
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota - 676 members
*Peace Lutheran Church, Hecla, South Dakota - est. 1889
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota - est. 1888
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Britton, South Dakota - est. 1892
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Columbia, South Dakota - est. 1887
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Groton, South Dakota - est. 1893
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South Dakota - est. 1888; 1268 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ferney, South Dakota - est. 1900
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Leola, South Dakota - est. 1921
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Stratford, South Dakota - est. 1907
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Mansfield, South Dakota - est. 1888
*Zion Lutheran Church, Andover, South Dakota - est. 1902

Circuit 2 (Milbank)
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milbank, South Dakota - est. 1882
*Emanuel Lutheran Church, Milbank, South Dakota - est. 1889; 1029 members
*Emanuel Lutheran Church, Sisseton, South Dakota - est. 1898
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Watertown, South Dakota
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Wilmot, South Dakota
*Saint John's Lutheran Church, Revillo, South Dakota - est. 1911
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Corona, South Dakota - est. 1890
*Zion Lutheran Church, Waubay, South Dakota - est. 1892

Circuit 3 (Pierre)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Lebanon, South Dakota - est. 1906
*Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Gettysburg, South Dakota - est. 1925
*Faith Lutheran Church, Pierre, South Dakota - 1672 members
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Onida, South Dakota
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Harrold, South Dakota - est. 1910
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Agar, South Dakota - est. 1885
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Seneca, South Dakota - est. 1907
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Blunt, South Dakota

Circuit 4 (Huron)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Wessington, South Dakota
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Redfield, South Dakota
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Huron, South Dakota - est. 1927; 1037 members
*Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Woonsocket, South Dakota
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Doland, South Dakota
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Wolsey, South Dakota - est. 1884
*Zion Lutheran Church, Wessington Springs, South Dakota - est. 1916

Circuit 5 (Brookings)
*First English Lutheran Church, Aurora, South Dakota - est. 1923
*Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Brookings, South Dakota - est. 1928; 439 members
*Our Savior Lutheran Church, Madison, South Dakota
*Peace Lutheran Church, Brookings, South Dakota
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Flandreau, South Dakota - est. 1921
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Chester, South Dakota - est. 1907
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Howard, South Dakota - est. 1887
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Wentworth, South Dakota - est. 1882
*Zion Lutheran Church, White, South Dakota - est. 1897

Circuit 6 (Black Hills)
*Bethesda Lutheran Church, Hot Springs, South Dakota - est. 1919
*Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota - 867 members
*Blessed Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Sturgis, South Dakota
*Divine Shepherd Lutheran Church, Black Hawk, South Dakota
*Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Creighton, South Dakota - est. 1910
*First Lutheran Church, Wall, South Dakota
*Grace Lutheran Church, Deadwood, South Dakota
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Custer, South Dakota
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Philip, South Dakota - est. 1919
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hill City, South Dakota
*Peace Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota - 831 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Spearfish, South Dakota
*Zion Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South Dakota - est. 1910; 1612 members

Circuit 7 (Chamberlain)
*Christ Lutheran Church, Winner, South Dakota
*Messiah Lutheran Church, Murdo, South Dakota - est. 1920
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Clearfield, South Dakota
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Gregory, South Dakota - est. 1905
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Norris, South Dakota - est. 1918
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Draper, South Dakota - est. 1906
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Midland, South Dakota - est. 1906
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Reliance, South Dakota - est. 1917
*Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain, South Dakota - est. 1917; 578 members
*Zion Lutheran Church, Hamill, South Dakota - est. 1913
*Zion Lutheran Church, Presho, South Dakota - est. 1920

Circuit 8 (Mitchell)
*Emmaus Lutheran Church, Tripp, South Dakota - est. 1901
*Faith Lutheran Church, Parkston, South Dakota
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dimock, South Dakota - est. 1882
*Redeemer Lutheran Church, Armour, South Dakota
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Plankinton, South Dakota - est. 1910
*Trinity Lutheran Church, White Lake, South Dakota - est. 1884
*Zion Lutheran Church, Delmont, South Dakota - est. 1896
*Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell, South Dakota - est. 1892; 828 members

Circuit 9 (Yankton)
*Concordia Lutheran Church, Vermillion, South Dakota
*First English Lutheran Church, Centerville, South Dakota
*Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Dakota Dunes, South Dakota
*Immanuel Lutheran Church, Menno, South Dakota - est. 1889
*Martinus Lutheran Church, Utica, South Dakota - est. 1882
*Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Springfield, South Dakota
*Peace Lutheran Church, Alcester, South Dakota - est. 1878
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Tyndall, South Dakota - est. 1924
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Wagner, South Dakota - est. 1899
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South Dakota - est. 1882; 1262 members
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Scotland, South Dakota - est. 1901
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairfax, South Dakota - est. 1892
*Zion Lutheran Church, Avon, South Dakota - est. 1893
*Zion Lutheran Church, Hurley, South Dakota - est. 1898

Circuit 10 (Sioux Falls)
*Blessed Redeemer Lutheran Church, Brandon, South Dakota
*Christ Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*Faith Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota - est. 1929; 647 members
*Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*Memorial Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota - 671 members
*Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*Resurrection Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*Trinity Lutheran Church of the Deaf, Sioux Falls, South Dakota
*Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota - est. 1889; 1022 members

Circuit 11 (Freeman)
*Bethesda Lutheran Church, Marion, South Dakota - est. 1912
*First English Lutheran Church, Parker, South Dakota - est. 1892
*Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Tea, South Dakota
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Emery, South Dakota - est. 1926
*Saint John Lutheran Church, Montrose, South Dakota
*Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Alexandria, South Dakota - est. 1888
*Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Freeman, South Dakota - est. 1882; 440 members
*Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Emery, South Dakota - est. 1886
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartford, South Dakota - est. 1881
*Trinity Lutheran Church, Spencer, South Dakota - est. 1892
*Zion Lutheran Church, Canistota, South Dakota - est. 1885

External links

* [http://sd.lcms.org/ South Dakota District web site]
* [http://www.lcmsdistricts.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=6810 LCMS: South Dakota District]
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=yduwdQRRTzoC&printsec=titlepage#PPP7,M1 Synodal-Bericht des Minnesota und Dakota Distrikts der Deutschen Evang.-Luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten] (1882-1889)
* [http://books.google.com/books?id=_JCnSqOhQGQC&printsec=titlepage#PPA1,M1 Synodal-Bericht des Minnesota und Dakota Distrikts der Deutschen Evang.-Luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten] (1891-1910)