Our History, Mission and Vision

English District History

The English District is one of thirty-five districts of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. At one time the English District was an independent Lutheran Synod in North America, organized in 1888 as the "English Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Missouri." Its history goes back to colonial times.

In the early days of Lutheranism in the United States, the Henkels, a prominent Lutheran family, provided pastoral leadership for the church in Virginia. The family was concerned about Lutheran confessional teaching. In 1851, the Henkel family published the first English edition of the Book of Concord, the Lutheran Confessions. Members of the family were responsible for establishing several synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. One of those synods, the Tennessee Synod was organized in 1820 by Pastor Paul Henkel. The Tennessee Synod believed firmly in the authority of God's Word. It insisted on strong catechetical training within the congregations.
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English District Mission

A.D. 2006 – 2009

Igniting Christ’s Church in Mission

Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the English District

  • Seeks opportunities to increase the planting of new missions and to foster revitalization of congregations
  • Develops, supports and partners with urban and ethnic ministries and Lutheran schools and other educational ministries
  • Resources congregations and professional workers to help members grow in faith, discipleship, leadership, stewardship, personal sharing of the Gospel, and mission work
  • Celebrates and shares successful ministry models
  • Promotes unity, fellowship, and collaboration among congregations, other ministries, and professional Church workers
  • Gives increasing prayer, financial, and personnel support to District and Synod missions

English District Vision

The Vision for the English District from Bishop David Stechholz

IGNITING CHRIST’S CHURCH IN MISSION

(I Peter 1, Matthew 9:35-38 & 28:18-20, Acts 1:8, Luke 15 & 19:10)

By the grace of Almighty God and the power of the Holy Spirit working through God’s Word, the English District seeks to grow in grace and outreach, to be a catalyst and servant for the LCMS for missional work -- urban, school, intercultural/ethnic, new mission starts, revitalization, campus ministry, & mercy ministries, to help our congregational members develop a global vision of and passion for leading the “lost” to faith in and hope through Jesus Christ, and to be ablaze with getting the Gospel out to people.

Congregations and schools of the English District, in worshiping the Lord God are

  • SERVING in their communities
  • CONNECTING with the unchurched and dechurched
  • GROWING in faith and numbers
  • REPRODUCING by planting new churches