Southern Illinois District (LCMS)
The Southern Illinois District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS), 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 Granite City is in the non-geographic SELC District. The Southern Illinois District includes 96 congregations and 1 mission start , subdivided into 11 circuits, as well as 14 preschools, 22 elementary schools and 3 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is 43,046. District pastors and lay members are involved in ministry in 27 prisons and jails located in the District. The District also carries out campus ministry at two colleges and supports an elementary school in East St. Louis.
The Southern Illinois District was formed in 1907 when the Illinois District was divided. District offices are located in Belleville, Illinois. 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. Timothy J. Scharr became the district president August 29, 2010 upon the election of the Rev. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr. as the First Vice President of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod and was elected to a full three year term in 2012. The 55th regular convention was held February 19-21, 2009 in Collinsville, IL with the theme ""One Sure Hope," from 1 Pet. 1:3-4. The 56th regular convention was held February 16-18, 2012 in O'Fallon, IL with the theme "Rejoice in Hope" from Romans 12:12.
Presidents
- Rev. Fred William Brockmann, 1907–09
- Rev. Ulfert Iben, 1909–12
- Rev. Johannes Gottlieb Frederick Kleinhans, 1912–33
- Rev. C. Thomas Spitz, Sr., 1933–45
- Rev. Erhard H. Bohrer, 1945–46
- Rev. Paul Juergensen, 1946–47
- Rev. Harry C. Welp, 1947–57
- Rev. Walter William Adolf Raedeke, 1957–58
- Rev. W. Theophil Janzow, 1958–59
- Rev. Alfred Buls, 1959–67
- Rev. Herman F. Neunaber, 1967–76
- Rev. Alvin V. Kollmann, 1976-94
- Rev. Herbert C. Mueller, Jr., 1994-2010
- Rev. Timothy J. Scharr, 2010-present
Neunaber was one of several district presidents who were warned of removal from office in 1975 by Synod President J. A. O. Preus for non-compliance with synodical directives on the ordination and placement of improperly endorsed ministerial candidates from Seminex, although Preus opted to only admonish Neunaber . He later became bishop of the Great Rivers Synod of the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches (AELC) from 1976-79.
Oldest congregations
- 1841 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Sugar Loaf Township, Illinois
- 1841 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Wartburg, Illinois
- 1841 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Columbia, Illinois
- 1842 - Saint Salvator Lutheran Church, Venedy, Illinois
- 1842 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Red Bud, Illinois
- 1846 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Maryville, Illinois
- 1846 - Saint John Lutheran Church, New Minden, Illinois
- 1846 - Zion Lutheran Church, Staunton, Illinois
- 1848 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Collinsville, Illinois
- 1848 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Evansville/Ruma, Illinois
- 1849 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Chester, Illinois
- 1849 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Millstadt, Illinois
Largest congregations
- 2397 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Collinsville, Illinois
- 1999 - Zion Lutheran Church, Belleville, Illinois
- 1798 - Zion Lutheran Church, Bethalto, Illinois
- 1717 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Edwardsville, Illinois
- 1678 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Collinsville, Illinois
- 1427 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Centralia, Illinois
- 1295 - Zion Lutheran Church, Staunton, Illinois
- 1247 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Red Bud, Illinois
- 1173 - Saint Mark Lutheran Church, Steeleville, Illinois
- 1166 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Chester, Illinois