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 congregation 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 16 preschools, 3 elementary schools and 1 high school. Baptized membership in district congregations is over 30,000. [1]
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. 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. Dale Sattgast became the district president in September 2006 [2] and was re-elected to a third three-year term in 2012.[3] The 58th regular convention was held April 29-May 2, 2009 in Sioux Falls under the theme "Called Into Partnership",[4] The 59th regular convention was held April 18-21, 2012 in Sioux Falls under the theme "Called Into Partnership: For Witness (Martyria) ". [5]
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
External links
- South Dakota District web site
- LCMS: South Dakota District
- LCMS Congregation Directory
- Synodal-Bericht des Minnesota und Dakota Distrikts der Deutschen Evang.-Luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten (1882-1889)
- Synodal-Bericht des Minnesota und Dakota Distrikts der Deutschen Evang.-Luth. Synode von Missouri, Ohio und Andern Staaten (1891-1910)
