Eastern District of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod explained

Jurisdiction:	Eastern District
the LCMS
Country:	United States
Territory:	Western New York, Pennsylvania (except York and Lancaster counties), Garrett County, Maryland
Headquarters:	Williamsville, New York
Congregations:	135
Schools:	30 preschool 13 elementary
Members:	40,000
Denomination:	Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod
Established:	1854
Bishop:	Rev. John Pingel
Bishop Title:	President
Map:	Eastern District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.jpg
Map Size:	250px

The Eastern District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers: most of upstate New York; Pennsylvania, with the exception of York and Lancaster Counties; and Garrett County at the western corner of the Maryland panhandle. The rest of New York, including New York City, is in the Atlantic District; York and Lancaster Counties in Pennsylvania and the remainder of Maryland are in the Southeastern District. In addition, sixteen congregations in the Eastern District's area are in the non-geographic English District, and eleven Pennsylvania congregations are in the SELC District. The Eastern District includes 135 congregations and missions, subdivided into 11 circuits, as well as 28 preschools and 9 elementary schools. Baptized membership in Eastern District congregations is approximately 40,000.^[1]

The Eastern District is one of the Synod's four original districts formed in 1854; much of its territory was separated into the Atlantic District in 1906. District offices are located in Williamsville, New York. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years to elect the district president, vice presidents, circuit visitors, a board of directors, and other officers. The Rev. John Pingel became the district president in 2022.^[2] The 100th Regular Convention was held June 17–18, 2022 in Tonawanda, New York.

Presidents

Rev. Ernst G. W. Keyl, 1854–1869
Rev. P. Carl Gross, 1869–1875
Rev. J. P. Beyer, 1875–1888
Rev. Peter Brand, 1888–1899
Rev. Herman H. Walker, 1899-1915
Rev. Franz (Francis) C. Verwiebe, 1915–1921
Rev. William Broeker, 1921–1928
Rev. J. K. E. Horst, 1928–1931
Rev. Franz (Francis) C. Verwiebe, 1931–1938
Rev. Oscar A. Sauer, 1938–1939
Rev. Paul Fretthold, 1939–1945
Rev. Charles A. Behnke, 1945–1955
Rev. Eric C. Malte, 1955–1958
Rev. Gustav M. Karkau, 1958–1966
Rev. Herman R. Frincke, 1966–1976
Rev. Albert W. Bahr, 1976-1978^[3] ^[4]
Rev. Arnold Kromphardt, 1978–1991
Rev. Dr. David Belasic, 1991–2000
Rev. Dr. John G. Brunner, 2000–2009
Rev. Dr. Chris C. Wicher, 2009–2022
Rev. John Pingel, 2022–present

Frincke 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.^[5] Bahr was appointed in his place.^[6]

External links

Notes and References

Web site: Eastern District. Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. June 6, 2017.
Web site: Pingel elected in Eastern District.
Web site: 2022-03-15 . Obituary: Rev. Albert W. Bahr, former president of the LCMS Eastern District . 2024-07-04 . Reporter . en-US.
News: Blau . Eleanor . 1976-04-11 . 4 Lutheran Leaders Defy Ouster With Backing of Their Boards . 2024-07-04 . The New York Times . en-US . 0362-4331.
Web site: April 2 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20100707185625/http://chi.lcms.org/history/tih0402.htm . July 7, 2010 . Concordia Historical Institute.
Web site: 2022-03-15 . Obituary: Rev. Albert W. Bahr, former president of the LCMS Eastern District . 2024-07-04 . Reporter . en-US.