Central Illinois District (LCMS)
Encyclopedia
The Central Illinois District is one of the 35 districts
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
(LCMS), and covers the middle third of the state of Illinois
; the rest of the state is divided between the Northern Illinois District
and the Southern Illinois District
. The Central Illinois District includes approximately 155 congregations and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits
, as well as 31 preschools, 23 elementary schools
and 2 high schools. Baptized
membership in district congregations is over 70,000.
The Central Illinois District was formed in 1907 when the Illinois District was divided. District offices are located in the state capital, Springfield, Illinois
; the Rev. David Bueltmann has been the district president since 1995, and was reelected to a fifth full term in 2009 http://www.cidlcms.org/09DistrictConvention.html. 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 July 5-7, 2009 in Springfield, IL, and the next will be held July 8-10, 2012 in Springfield, IL.
Districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is organized into 35 districts, 33 of which are defined along geographic lines. Each district has a president who oversees the congregations in his district, which are further subdivided into local circuits...
of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod is a traditional, confessional Lutheran denomination in the United States. With 2.3 million members, it is both the eighth largest Protestant denomination and the second-largest Lutheran body in the U.S. after the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Synod...
(LCMS), and covers the middle third of the state of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
; the rest of the state is divided between the Northern Illinois District
Northern Illinois District (LCMS)
The Northern Illinois District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and covers the northern third of the state of Illinois, including the Chicago metropolitan area; the rest of the state is divided between the Central Illinois District and the Southern Illinois...
and the Southern Illinois District
Southern Illinois District (LCMS)
The Southern Illinois District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and covers the southern third of the state of Illinois; the rest of the state is divided between the Northern Illinois District and the Central Illinois District. In addition, one congregation in...
. The Central Illinois District includes approximately 155 congregations and missions, subdivided into 16 circuits
Circuit (LCMS)
A circuit, in the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , is a local grouping of congregations within one of the Synod's 35 districts. Circuits typically include 8 to 12 congregations...
, as well as 31 preschools, 23 elementary schools
Lutheran school
Lutheran schools and education were a priority for Lutherans who emigrated to the United States and Australia from Germany and Scandinavia. One of the first things they did was to create schools for their children. This strong educational tradition was handed down from Martin Luther himself. The...
and 2 high schools. Baptized
Baptism
In Christianity, baptism is for the majority the rite of admission , almost invariably with the use of water, into the Christian Church generally and also membership of a particular church tradition...
membership in district congregations is over 70,000.
The Central Illinois District was formed in 1907 when the Illinois District was divided. District offices are located in the state capital, Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
; the Rev. David Bueltmann has been the district president since 1995, and was reelected to a fifth full term in 2009 http://www.cidlcms.org/09DistrictConvention.html. 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 July 5-7, 2009 in Springfield, IL, and the next will be held July 8-10, 2012 in Springfield, IL.
Presidents
- Rev. Frederick Brand, 1907–17
- Rev. Fred William Brockmann, 1917–18
- Rev. August Friedrich Wilhelm Heyne, 1918–27
- Rev. P. Schulz, 1927–32
- Rev. Philip Wilhelm, 1932–33
- Rev. Walter Ernest Hohenstein, 1933–35
- Rev. John Carl Schuelke, 1935–42
- Rev. Albert Otto Carl Bernthal, 1942–48
- Rev. Emil Frederick Tonn, 1948–54
- Rev. Alvin W. Mueller, 1954–63
- Rev. Lewis C. Niemoeller, 1963–70
- Rev. Rudolph A. Haak, 1970–74
- Rev. Arthur T. Kuehnert, 1974–85
- Rev. Robert T. KuhnRobert T. KuhnRobert T. Kuhn is the former president of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod, having held that office from March to August 2001. He currently serves on the LCMS Board of Directors.-External links:*...
, 1985-95 - Rev. David J. Bueltmann, 1995-present
Oldest congregations
- 1837 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Quincy, IllinoisQuincy, IllinoisQuincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
- 1841 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
- 1845 - Concordia Lutheran Church, Warsaw, IllinoisWarsaw, IllinoisWarsaw is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,793 at the 2000 census. The city is notable for its historic downtown and the Warsaw Brewery, which operated for more than 100 years beginning in 1861...
- 1848 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Beardstown, IllinoisBeardstown, IllinoisBeardstown is a city in Cass County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,123 at the 2010 census. The public schools are in Beardstown Community Unit School District 15.-Geography:Beardstown is located at...
- 1849 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Bath, IllinoisBath, IllinoisBath is a village in Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 310 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Bath is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1850 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Chapin, IllinoisChapin, IllinoisChapin is a village in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 592 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Chapin is located at ....
- 1850 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Havana, IllinoisHavana, IllinoisHavana is a city in Mason County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,577 at the 2000 census, and 3,260 at a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Mason County.-Geography:...
- 1851 - Saint James Lutheran Church, Quincy, IllinoisQuincy, IllinoisQuincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
- 1851 - Zion Lutheran Church, Mount Pulaski, IllinoisMount Pulaski, IllinoisMount Pulaski is a city in Logan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,701 at the 2000 census, and 1,577 at a 2009 estimate. It is the home of the Mount Pulaski Courthouse State Historic Site...
- 1852 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Golden, IllinoisGolden, IllinoisGolden is a village in Adams County, Illinois, United States. The population was 629 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Golden is located at ....
- 1852 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Pekin, IllinoisPekin, IllinoisPekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...
- 1852 - Zion Lutheran Church, East Moline, IllinoisEast Moline, IllinoisEast Moline is a city in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,333 at the 2000 census. East Moline is one of the five Quad Cities,, along with the cities of Rock Island, Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities has a population of 379,690...
- 1854 - Zion Lutheran Church, Taylor Ridge, IllinoisTaylor Ridge, IllinoisTaylor Ridge is an unincorporated community in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. Taylor Ridge is located at the junction of Illinois Route 94 and Illinois Route 192 north of Reynolds. Taylor Ridge has a post office with ZIP code 61284....
- 1855 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Champaign, IllinoisChampaign, IllinoisChampaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
- 1856 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Rock Island, IllinoisRock Island, IllinoisRock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
- 1857 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, IllinoisPeoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
- 1858 - Salem Lutheran Church, Jacksonville, IllinoisJacksonville, IllinoisJacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
- 1858 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, IllinoisBloomington, IllinoisBloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
- 1860 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Dieterich, IllinoisDieterich, IllinoisDieterich is a village in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 591 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dieterich is located at ....
- 1860 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, IllinoisDecatur, IllinoisDecatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
Largest congregations
- Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
- 3370- Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, IllinoisBloomington, IllinoisBloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
- 2806- Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Decatur, IllinoisDecatur, IllinoisDecatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
- 2525- Redeemer Lutheran Church, Peoria, IllinoisPeoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
- 2002- Trinity Lutheran Church, Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
- 1739- Saint John Lutheran Church, Decatur, IllinoisDecatur, IllinoisDecatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
- 1714- Our Savior Lutheran Church, Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, IllinoisSpringfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
- 1458- Bethel Lutheran Church, Morton, IllinoisMorton, IllinoisMorton is a village in Tazewell County, Illinois, USA, known for its pumpkins and annual Pumpkin Festival. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. Morton, the home of a Caterpillar distribution facility and a Libby's pumpkin plant, is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical...
- 1450- Saint John's Lutheran Church, Mattoon, IllinoisMattoon, IllinoisMattoon is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,555 as of the 2010 census. It is a principal city of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.Mattoon was the site of the "Mad Gasser" attacks of the 1940s....
- 1356- Trinity Lutheran Church, Peoria, IllinoisPeoria, IllinoisPeoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
- 1241- Saint John Lutheran Church, Pekin, IllinoisPekin, IllinoisPekin is a the county seat of Tazewell County in the U.S. state of Illinois. Located on the Illinois River, Pekin is also the largest city of Tazewell County, and a key part of the Peoria metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, its population is 34,094. A small portion of the city limits extends...
- 1186- Saint John Lutheran Church, Green Valley, IllinoisGreen Valley, IllinoisGreen Valley is a village in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. It is south of Pekin, Illinois near the county border along Illinois State Route 29. The population was 728 at the 2000 census...
- 1141- Saint John Lutheran Church, Champaign, IllinoisChampaign, IllinoisChampaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
- 1122- Saint Peter Lutheran Church, East Peoria, IllinoisEast Peoria, IllinoisEast Peoria is a city in Tazewell County, Illinois, United States. The population was 23,402 at the 2010 census. East Peoria is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area, located across the Illinois River from downtown Peoria. It is home to many Caterpillar Inc. facilities...
- 1117- Saint John Lutheran Church, Effingham, IllinoisEffingham, IllinoisEffingham is a city in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,384 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Effingham County....
- 1019- Immanuel Lutheran Church, Altamont, IllinoisAltamont, IllinoisAltamont is a city in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,283 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Altamont is located at . According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 2,283...
- 3370- Trinity Lutheran Church, Bloomington, Illinois