Atlantic District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod

The Atlantic District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and covers eastern New York state: New York City, Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and the Capital District. It comprises approximately 100 congregations and a number of mission stations, subdivided into 10 circuits, as well as 22 preschools, 16 elementary schools and 6 high schools. Baptized membership in Atlantic District congregations is approximately 30,500.[1] The rest of New York is included in the Eastern District; in addition, four congregations in the New York City area are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in Yonkers is in the SELC District.

Atlantic District of the LCMS
Location
CountryUnited States
TerritoryEastern New York state
HeadquartersNew York, New York
Statistics
Congregations98
Schools
  • 22 preschool
  • 10 elementary
  • 4 secondary
Members30,500
Information
DenominationLutheran Church–Missouri Synod
Established1906
Current leadership
PresidentRev. Dien Taylor
Map
Website
www.ad-lcms.org

The Atlantic District was separated in May 1906 from the Eastern District; portions of the district were split off into the New England District and the New Jersey District in 1972. District offices are located in New York, New York. 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. Rev. Dien Taylor has been the district president since August 2022, after being elected at the 61st Regular Convention which was held on July 22-23, 2022 at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Albany, NY.

Concordia College (New York), which was part of the LCMS's Concordia University System, ceased offering classes as of August 2021, with a final conferral of degrees in December 2021. A district congregation, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Saint Matthew, in Washington Heights, Manhattan, was founded in 1664 and is the oldest congregation in the Missouri Synod.

Presidents
  • Rev. Ernst C. L. Schulze, 1906–1918
  • Rev. Philip H. L. Birkner, 1918–1930
  • Rev. Arthur J. C. Brunn, 1930–1941
  • Rev. George K. A. Koenig, 1941–1942
  • Rev. Herman J. Rippe, 1942–1960
  • Rev. Karl F. Graesser, 1960–1967
  • Rev. Rudolph P. F. Ressmeyer, 1967–1976
  • Rev. Henry L. Koepchen, 1976 (acting president)
  • Rev. Ronald F. Fink, 1976–1989
  • Rev. James Zwernemann, 1989–1991
  • Rev. Dr. David H. Benke, 1991–2015
  • Rev. Derek Lecakes, 2015–2022
  • Rev. Dr. Dien Ashley Taylor, 2022-present

Ressmeyer 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.[2]

  • Trinity Lutheran Church in Hicksville, NY
  • St John, College Point
  • Trinity, Bay Ridge
  • Trinity Lutheran, Sunset Park, Brooklyn

References
  1. "Atlantic District". Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
  2. "Today in History - April 2". Concordia Historical Institute. Archived from the original on August 26, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
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