Rocky Mountain District (LCMS)
The Rocky Mountain District is one of the 35 districts of the Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod (LCMS). It encompasses the states of Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, as well as El Paso County, Texas; the rest of Texas constitutes the Texas District, and one Colorado congregation is in the Wyoming District. The district also includes one congregation each from the states of Arizona and Nebraska. One Utah congregation is in the non-geographic English District. The Rocky Mountain District includes approximately 183 congregations and missions, subdivided into 17 circuits, as well as 35 preschools, 31 elementary schools and 4 high schools. Baptized membership in district congregations is approximately 53,311. [1]
The Rocky Mountain District was formed in 1921 as the Colorado District, separating from the Kansas District; it originally consisted of Colorado and Utah, and expanded as congregations were started elsewhere. New Mexico was added to the district from portions of the Kansas and Texas Districts in 1941-42. District offices are located in Aurora, Colorado. 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. Randy Golter has been the district president since September 2003, and was reelected to a third term in 2009. The 48th Regular Convention was held June 18-20, 2009 in Denver, CO under the theme "Lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest." (John 4:35) [2] The 49th Regular Convention was held June 7-9, 2012 in Denver, CO with the theme "Christ's Church in This America" (see 1 Corinthians 1:2). [3]
Presidents
- Rev. Otto Luessenhop, 1921–30
- Rev. Otto K. Hensel, 1930–34
- Rev. Frederick William Obermeier, 1934–42
- Rev. E. Julius Friedrich, 1942–50
- Rev. Henry G. Hartner, 1950–54
- Rev. Herbert H. Hellbusch, 1954–60
- Rev. Walter A. Enge, 1960–66
- Rev. Waldemar E. Meyer, 1966-76
- Rev. Ralph Phipps, 1976-85
- Rev. John Peterson, 1985-93
- Rev. Roger L. Krause, 1993-2003
- Rev. Randall L. 'Randy' Golter, 2003-2012
- Rev. Allen Anderson, 2012-present
Oldest congregations
- 1872 - Hope Lutheran Church, Westcliffe, Colorado
- 1879 - Saint John Lutheran Church, Washington Park, Denver, Colorado
- 1881 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Durango, Colorado
- 1884 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Cortez, Colorado
- 1888 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Pueblo, Colorado
- 1898 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Salt Lake City, Utah
- 1898 - Zion Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas
- 1900 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 1900 - Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, Colorado
- 1902 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Genoa, Colorado
- 1904 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Greeley, Colorado
- 1906 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Rocky Ford, Colorado
- 1906 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado
- 1906 - Zion Lutheran Church, Holyoke, Colorado
- 1907 - Emmaus Lutheran Church, West Highland, Denver, Colorado
- 1907 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Arriba, Colorado
- 1907 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Venango, Nebraska
- 1907 - Saint Peter Lutheran Church, Monte Vista, Colorado
- 1908 - Saint John's Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
- 1909 - Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Amherst, Colorado
Oldest in New Mexico: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1914
Only congregation in Arizona: Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Page, Arizona, 1957
Largest congregations
- Membership totals are c. 2006.
- 2522 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Lakewood, Colorado
- 2148 - Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado
- 1728 - Peace Lutheran Church, Arvada, Colorado
- 1613 - Peace with Christ Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado
- 1599 - Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Aurora, Colorado
- 1473 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fort Collins, Colorado
- 1323 - Our Father Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colorado
- 1295 - Immanuel Lutheran Church, Loveland, Colorado
- 1260 - Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, Centennial, Colorado
- 1227 - Zion Lutheran Church, Brighton, Colorado
- 1217 - Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Grand Junction, Colorado
- 1001 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Greeley, Colorado
- 988 - Grace Lutheran Church, Sandy, Utah
- 942 - Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Northglenn, Colorado
- 814 - Christ Lutheran Church, Murray, Utah
- 809 - Saint Paul Lutheran Church, Ogden, Utah
- 722 - Trinity Lutheran Church, Fort Morgan, Colorado
- 690 - Risen Savior Lutheran Church, Broomfield, Colorado
- 650 - Ascension Lutheran Church, Littleton, Colorado
- 618 - Summit of Peace Lutheran Church, Thornton, Colorado
Largest in New Mexico: Immanuel Lutheran Church, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 602
Largest in Texas: Zion Lutheran Church, El Paso, Texas, 328
Only congregation in Arizona: Shepherd of the Desert Lutheran Church, Page, Arizona, 79
Only congregation in Nebraska: Saint Paul's Lutheran Church, Venango, Nebraska, 73
