Florida-Georgia District (LCMS)
The Florida-Georgia District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), and encompasses the states of Georgia and Florida, with the exception of the Florida Panhandle which is part of the Southern District; in addition, four Florida congregations and two Georgia congregations are in the non-geographic English District, and four more Florida congregations are in the non-geographic SELC District. The Florida-Georgia District includes approximately 203 congregations and missions, subdivided into 22 circuits, as well as 45 preschools, 35 elementary schools and 2 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 63,000.
The Florida-Georgia District was formed in 1948 out of the Southern District, with a number of Georgia congregations also moving from the Southeastern District. District offices are located in Orlando, Florida. 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. Greg Walton has been the district president since 2009, and was re-elected to a second term in 2012. The 30th Regular Convention was held June 12–14, 2009 under the theme "The Love of Christ urges us on," based on 2 Cor. 5:14). The 31st Regular Convention was held June 22–24, 2012 in Lake Mary, FL with the theme "Stewards of God's Grace: Empowered by the Word".
Presidents
- Rev. Conrad F. Kellermann, 1948–57
- Rev. Frederick W. Lorberg, 1957–63
- Rev. August Bernthal, 1963–74
- Rev. L. Lloyd Behnken, 1974–87 (died in office)
- Rev. Thomas R. Zehnder, 1987–97
- Rev. Edgar Trinklein, 1997
- Rev. Gerhard C. Michael, Jr., 1997–2009
- Rev. Greg Walton, 2009–present
Oldest congregations
- 1887 - Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Gotha, Florida
- 1893 - Zion Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida
- 1904 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Delray Beach, Florida
- 1912 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Florida
- 1919 - Trinity Lutheran Church - Downtown, Orlando, Florida
- 1922 - Grace Lutheran Church, Atlanta, Georgia
- 1924 - Saint Matthew Lutheran Church, Miami, Florida
- 1925 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, West Palm Beach, Florida
- 1927 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, Lake Worth, Florida
- 1927 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- 1928 - Grace Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
- 1931 - First Lutheran Church, Gainesville, Florida
- 1937 - Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, Augusta, Georgia
- 1938 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Belle Glade, Florida
- 1939 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Athens, Georgia
- 1940 - The Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Columbus, Georgia
- 1941 - First Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida
- 1941 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
- 1942 - Grace Lutheran Church, Key West, Florida
- 1943 - Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Masaryktown, Florida
Largest congregations
- Membership totals include all baptized members and are according to the LCMS website.
- 1974 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Boca Raton, Florida
- 1855 - Grace Lutheran Church, Winter Haven, Florida
- 1486 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Lakeland, Florida
- 1333 - Trinity Lutheran Church - Downtown, Orlando, Florida
- 1313 - Grace Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
- 1181 - Zion Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
- 1130 - Saint Michael Lutheran Church, Fort Myers, Florida
- 1118 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Orlando, Florida
- 1105 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Weston, Florida
- 1099 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, Largo, Florida
- 1098 - Our Savior Lutheran Church, St. Petersburg, Florida
- 991 - Faith Lutheran Church, Eustis, Florida
- 968 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Clearwater, Florida
- 884 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Delray Beach, Florida
- 774 - Messiah Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida
Only congregation in Bahamas: Nassau Lutheran Church, Nassau, Bahamas, 1962