Missouri District (LCMS)

Missouri District (LCMS)

The Missouri District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS), and comprises the state of Missouri. Five Missouri congregations are in the non-geographic English District, and one congregation in St. Louis is in the SELC District. The Missouri District is home to the Synod's headquarters as well as Concordia Seminary, both of which are located in or just outside St. Louis. The district includes approximately 301 congregations and missions, subdivided into 28 circuits, as well as 52 preschools, 56 elementary schools and 9 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 138,000. It is the third largest district of the LCMS in number of congregations (trailing the Michigan and Texas Districts) and second largest in total membership (behind the Michigan District).

The Missouri District was formed in 1966 when the Western District was divided, also creating the Mid-South District. District offices are located in St. Louis. Delegates from each congregation meet in convention every three years to elect the district president, four vice presidents, circuit counselors, a board of directors, and other officers. The Rev. Ray Mirly became the district president in March 2006 and was re-elected to a third term in 2012. The 17th regular convention was held June 14–16, 2009 in Columbia, MO under the theme "Faith Aflame: Communicating the Gospel" (Romans 1:16-17), The 18th regular convention was held June 3–5, 2012 in Springfield, MO under the theme "Life Together (Romans 12:4-5).