Texas District (LCMS)

The Texas District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of Texas with the exception of El Paso County, which is in the Rocky Mountain District. The Texas District includes approximately 360 congregations and missions (second to only the Michigan District), subdivided into 39 circuits, as well as 73 preschools, 41 elementary schools and 10 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 133,000.

The Texas District was formed in 1906 out of the Southern District, and at one time included congregations in southern New Mexico, but these were transferred to the Colorado District (since renamed the Rocky Mountain District) in 1941-42. District offices are located in Austin, Texas. 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 Rev. Kenneth Hennings has been the district president since September 2006, and was re-elected to a second term in 2009. The 58th Regular Convention was held June 25–28, 2009 in Addison, TX with the theme "Reaching, Receiving, Refreshing," from Phil. 1:6-7. The 59th Regular Convention will be held June 21- 23, 2012 in Lubbock, TX with the theme "Live to Tell".

Concordia University Texas, part of the LCMS' Concordia University System, is located in Austin.

Presidents

Rev. Adolf W. Kramer, 1906–09
Rev. Charles A. Waech, 1909–12
Rev. Gotthilf Heinrich Wilhelm Birkmann, 1912–20
Rev. Henry Peter Studtmann, 1920–26
Rev. John W. Behnken, 1926–29
Rev. Constantin Martin Beyer, 1929–42
Rev. Edwin A. Heckmann, 1942–48
Rev. Oliver R. Harms, 1948–50
Rev. Roland P. Wiederaenders, 1950–59
Rev. Albert F. Jesse, 1959–63
Rev. Carl A. Heckmann, 1963–78
Rev. Glenn R. O'Shoney, 1978–89
Rev. Louis L. Pabor, 1989–91
Rev. Gerald B. Kieschnick, 1991–2001
Rev. James R. Linderman, 2001–06
Rev. Kenneth M. Hennings, 2006–present

Oldest congregations

1852 - Salem Lutheran Church, Tomball, Texas
1853 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas
1854 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Serbin, Texas
1860 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Brenham/William Penn, Texas
1870 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Lexington, Texas
1873 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Warda, Texas
1874 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring, Texas
1874 - Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgewood Park, Dallas, Texas
1876 - Ebenezer Lutheran Church, Manheim, Texas
1876 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Winchester, Texas
1879 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington Avenue - Old Sixth Ward, Houston, Texas
1882 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, North Zulch, Texas
1882 - Zion Lutheran Church, Anderson, Texas
1882 - Zion Lutheran Church, Walburg, Texas
1883 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Giddings, Texas
1883 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, The Grove, Texas
1883 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Riesel, Texas
1883 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Sealy, Texas
1884 - Saint James Lutheran Church, Honey Grove, Texas
1886 - Faith Lutheran Church, Corsicana, Texas
1886 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Clifton, Texas
1886 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Lincoln, Texas
1886 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Texas
1887 - Evangelists Lutheran Church, Kingsbury, Texas
1887 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Lyons, Texas

Largest congregations

Membership totals are c. 2009.

6375 - Concordia Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas
3378 - Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Nassau Bay, Texas
3325 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Spring, Texas
3321 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas
2815 - Salem Lutheran Church, Tomball, Texas
2564 - Bethany Lutheran Church, Austin, Texas
2158 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Fort Worth, Texas
1997 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Carrollton, Texas
1985 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas
1925 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Cypress, Texas
1785 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, Kingwood, Houston, Texas
1775 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Washington Avenue - Old Sixth Ward, Houston, Texas
1688 - Lamb of God Lutheran Church, Flower Mound, Texas
1684 - Peace Lutheran Church, Hurst, Texas
1526 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Oak Forest, Houston, Texas
1485 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Giddings, Texas
1316 - Zion Lutheran Church, Ridgewood Park, Dallas, Texas
1161 - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, San Antonio, Texas
1159 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Spring Branch East, Houston, Texas
1148 - Epiphany Lutheran Church, Pearland, Texas
1158 - Resurrection Lutheran Church, Spring, Texas
1071 - Zion Lutheran Church, Walburg, Texas
1060 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Bellmead, Texas
1056 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Temple, Texas
1056 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, McAllen, Texas
1038 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Cedar Park, Texas
1023 - Faith Lutheran Church, Plano, Texas

External links

Districts of the Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

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