South Dakota District (LCMS)
Encyclopedia
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 14 preschools and 3 elementary schools
. Baptized
membership in district congregations is over 30,000.
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
; the Rev. Dale Sattgast became the district president in September 2006. 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 April 29-May 2, 2009, and the next will be held April 18-21, 2012 in Sioux Falls.
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 comprises the state of South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
; one congregation in the state is in the North Dakota District
North Dakota District (LCMS)
The North Dakota District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod , and comprises the state of North Dakota as well as including one congregation in South Dakota; the rest of South Dakota constitutes the South Dakota District...
. The South Dakota District includes approximately 114 congregations and missions, subdivided into 11 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 14 preschools and 3 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...
. 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 30,000.
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
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Sioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
; the Rev. Dale Sattgast became the district president in September 2006. 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 April 29-May 2, 2009, and the next will be held April 18-21, 2012 in Sioux Falls.
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 DakotaAlcester, South DakotaAlcester is a city in Union County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Sioux City, IA–NE–SD Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 807 at the 2010 census.- History :...
- 1881 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Hartford, South DakotaHartford, South DakotaHartford is a city in Minnehaha County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,534 at the 2010 census. The creators of the international Christian television show Burnnie the Bunnie: Tails From the Light Side live in Hartford.-Geography:...
- 1882 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Milbank, South DakotaMilbank, South DakotaMilbank is a city in Grant County, South Dakota, along the South Fork of the Whetstone River. The population was 3,353 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Grant County. In 1925 The American Legion Department of South Dakota established a new program for high school aged youth that grew...
- 1882 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Dimock, South DakotaDimock, South DakotaDimock is a town in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 125 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Dimock is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all land....
- 1882 - Martinus Lutheran Church, Utica, South DakotaUtica, South DakotaUtica is a town in Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was listed as 65 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Utica is located at ....
- 1882 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South DakotaYankton, South DakotaYankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
- 1882 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Freeman, South DakotaFreeman, South DakotaFreeman is a city in Hutchinson County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 1,306 at the 2010 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1882 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Wentworth, South DakotaWentworth, South DakotaWentworth is an incorporated village in Lake County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 171 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Wentworth is located at ....
- 1884 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Wolsey, South DakotaWolsey, South DakotaWolsey is a town in Beadle County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 376 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Wolsey is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....
- 1884 - Trinity Lutheran Church, White Lake, South DakotaWhite Lake, South DakotaWhite Lake is a city in Aurora County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 372 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Lake is located at ....
- 1885 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Agar, South DakotaAgar, South Dakota-Contemporary status:As of Spring, 2010, the town was unincorporated with a part-time government staff only. Its gradeschool and high school may no longer be operational, although a mailing address still exists....
- 1885 - Zion Lutheran Church, Canistota, South DakotaCanistota, South DakotaCanistota is a city in McCook County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 656 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Canistota is located at ....
- 1886 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Emery, South DakotaEmery, South DakotaEmery is a city in Hanson County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Mitchell, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 447 at the 2010 census.- School :Emery has a K-12 school...
- 1887 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Columbia, South DakotaColumbia, South DakotaColumbia is a city in Brown County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 136 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Columbia is located at ....
- 1887 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Howard, South DakotaHoward, South DakotaHoward is a city in Miner County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 858 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Miner County.-Geography:Howard is located at ....
- 1888 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Wecota, South DakotaWecota, South DakotaWecota is an unincorporated community in Faulk County, South Dakota, United States.Wecota was founded in 1907 as a station stop on a branch line of the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railway built that year between Conde and LeBeau, South Dakota. Railway service to Wecota ended in 1940.- Geography...
- 1888 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
- 1888 - Saint Martin's Lutheran Church, Alexandria, South DakotaAlexandria, South DakotaAlexandria is a city in Hanson County, South Dakota, United States. It is part of the Mitchell, South Dakota Micropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 615 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Hanson County.-History:...
- 1888 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
- 1888 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Mansfield, South DakotaMansfield, South DakotaMansfield is an unincorporated community in Brown County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 93 according to the 2010 census. Located just west of highway 281, it is approximately 18 miles south of Aberdeen, the third largest city in South Dakota. The James River Valley near which...
Largest congregations
- Membership totals are c. 2006.
- 1672 - Faith Lutheran Church, Pierre, South DakotaPierre, South DakotaPierre is the capital of the U.S. state of South Dakota and the county seat of Hughes County. The population was 13,646 at the 2010 census, making it the second least populous state capital after Montpelier, Vermont...
- 1612 - Zion Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South DakotaRapid City, South DakotaRapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
- 1268 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
- 1262 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Yankton, South DakotaYankton, South DakotaYankton is a city in, and the county seat of, Yankton County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 14,454 at the 2010 census. Yankton was the original capital of Dakota Territory. It is named for the Yankton tribe of Nakota Native Americans...
- 1037 - Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, Huron, South DakotaHuron, South DakotaHuron is a city in Beadle County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 12,592 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Beadle County. Huron was the home of now-defunct Huron University since 1897. Huron is also the home of the South Dakota State Fair...
- 1029 - Emanuel Lutheran Church, Milbank, South DakotaMilbank, South DakotaMilbank is a city in Grant County, South Dakota, along the South Fork of the Whetstone River. The population was 3,353 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Grant County. In 1925 The American Legion Department of South Dakota established a new program for high school aged youth that grew...
- 1022 - Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
- 867 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South DakotaRapid City, South DakotaRapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
- 831 - Peace Lutheran Church, Rapid City, South DakotaRapid City, South DakotaRapid City is the second-largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota, and the county seat of Pennington County. Named after Rapid Creek on which the city is established, it is set against the eastern slope of the Black Hills mountain range. The population was 67,956 as of the 2010 Census. Rapid...
- 828 - Zion Lutheran Church, Mitchell, South DakotaMitchell, South Dakota-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 14,558 people, 6,121 households, and 3,599 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,475.7 people per square mile . There were 6,555 housing units at an average density of 664.4 per square mile...
- 676 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Aberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen, South DakotaAberdeen is a city in and the county seat of Brown County, South Dakota, United States, about 125 mi northeast of Pierre. Settled in 1880, it was incorporated in 1882. The city population was 26,091 at the 2010 census. The American News is the local newspaper...
- 671 - Memorial Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
- 647 - Faith Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls, South DakotaSioux Falls is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Sioux Falls is the county seat of Minnehaha County, and also extends into Lincoln County to the south...
- 578 - Zion Lutheran Church, Chamberlain, South DakotaChamberlain, South DakotaChamberlain is a city in Brule County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 2,387 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Brule County. Chamberlain is home to the Akta Lakota Museum and Cultural Center, which profiles the lives of nomadic Plains Indians...
- 515 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Watertown, South DakotaWatertown, South DakotaWatertown is a city in and the county seat of Codington County, South Dakota, United States. The population was 21,482 at the 2010 census. It is also the principal city of the Watertown Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Codington and Hamlin counties...
- 1672 - Faith Lutheran Church, Pierre, South Dakota
External links
- South Dakota District web site
- 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)