Eastern District
WHO WE ARE
EASTERN DISTRICT VISION
We desire
HEALTHY LEADERS vigorously
EQUIPPING God’s people to
PROMOTE KINGDOM GROWTH
BREAKING NEW GROUND
The people of the Eastern District have accepted the challenge to “Break New Ground” for the Mission of Jesus Christ. This basic operating principles for Breaking New Ground includes:
ESTABLISHING a process for new ministry, mission and church starts;
HELPING with the training and development of lay leaders;
FORMING geographical clusters of pastors and congregations that will work together as we move into the future that God has ordained for us; and
IMPROVING communication and connections with local congregations.
EASTERN DISTRICT PROFILE AND FACTS
The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod-Eastern District is one of the four original districts of the LCMS.
123 Congregations located in New York, Pennsylvania and the panhandle of Maryland (see map);
9 elementary and 48 preschools;
25,000 communicant members, 32,000 baptized members;
102 active pastors; over 200 educators (teachers, principals, Director of Christian Education, Deaconesses, Directors of
Christian Outreach, Directors of Family Life Ministry); 72 retired pastors and hundreds of lay people who lead and teach
in our congregations;
Four Regions (Buffalo, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Rochester) represented by four Vice Presidents;
Sixteen Circuits cared for by Sixteen Circuit Visitors;
Regional Mission Initiatives located in Buffalo, Rochester, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia;
CONGREGATION LOCATOR MAP
To View a Google Map that includes the locations of the
congregations of the Eastern District, LCMS, CLICK HERE
EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The Eastern District Board of Directors consists of the District President,
the Four Regional Vice Presidents, the District Secretary, the Commissioned Ministers Representative,
and eight Sectional Lay Directors. The Board operates under a Policy Based Governance model and structure.
2018-2021 EASTERN DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Jim Carr, Lay Director Section One
Carl Fretthold, Lay Director Section Two
Jon Allen, Lay Director Section Three
Mark Erbelding, Lay Director Section Four
Melissa Fultz, Lay Director Section Five
Terry Miller, Lay Director Section Six
Susan Bell, Lay Director Section Seven
Garrett Nash, Lay Director Section Eight
John Pingel, 1st Vice President, Buffalo Region
Carl Prostka, 2nd Vice President, Rochester Region
Dan Hahn, 3rd Vice President, Pittsburgh Region
Fred Hoover, 4th Vice President, Philadelphia Region
Cyndi Alviani, Commissioned Minister Representative
Brian Smith, Eastern District Secretary
Chris Wicher, President, Eastern District, LCMS
EASTERN DISTRICT VICE PRESIDENTS AND CIRCUIT VISITORS
EASTERN DISTRICT REGIONS
Buffalo
Rochester
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
EASTERN DISTRICT, LCMS VICE PRESIDENTS
First Vice President:
Rev. John Pingel
Second Vice President:
Rev. Carl Prostka
Third Vice President:
Rev. Dan Hahn
Fourth Vice President:
Rev. Fred Hoover
EASTERN DISTRICT, LCMS CIRCUIT VISITORS:
BUFFALO NORTH 01: NICKEL, Jeffrey, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Clarence, NY
BUFFALO SOUTH 02: LETTIERI, Dominick, Redeemer & St. Martin Lutheran Churches, Colden, NY
CATTARAUGUS 03: GOODWIN, Eric, Salem Lutheran Church, Springville, NY
LAKESHORE 04: LUTZ, Thomas, St. Paul Lutheran Church, Eden, NY
NIAGARA EAST 05: BAUCH, Alan, Trinity Lutheran Church, Lockport, NY
NIAGARA WEST 06: GREEN, Ernest, St. Paul Lutheran Church, North Tonawanda, NY
CENTRAL NY NORTH 07: DOROW, Bill, Calvary Lutheran Church, Waterloo, NY
CENTRAL NY SOUTH 08: HAPP, Carl, Emeritus
ROCHESTER EAST 09: PAPE, Richard, Trinity Lutheran Church, Medina, NY (Vacancy Pastor)
ROCHESTER WEST 10: BROWN, Mark, St. Mark Lutheran Church, West Henrietta, NY
PITTSBURGH N/E 11: KEURULAINEN, Barry, St. Luke Lutheran Church, Cabot, PA
PITTSBURGH N/W 12: WALTERS, Sean, Christ Lutheran Church, New Castle, PA
PITTSBURGH S/E 13:
PITTSBURGH S/W 14: McCANLESS, Robert, Concordia Lutheran Church, Pittsburgh (Brentwood), PA
PHILADELPHIA 15: GREEN, Tim, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Philadelphia, PA
SUSQUEHANNA 16: RICHERT, Peter, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Mt. Pocono, PA
EASTERN DISTRICT MISSION ORGANIZATIONS
Congregations have not forgotten about the vitality exhibited when Christians and congregations join together in mission efforts beyond themselves yet is an effort close enough to call “our own”. That’s where our Eastern District Mission Organizations (EDMO) come in.
An EDMO is an organization of congregations that work to initiate, raise up, and support mission efforts in a given region. EDMO’s do mission work. They are proponents of mission education thereby seeding mission awareness among constituents. They are locally owned and operated. They are uniquely comprised and governed. No two EDMOs are alike. They exist because strong mission-minded individuals are interested in working with other Christians in other LCMS congregations. While they are self-governed they operate within applicable and appropriate supervision of the District President to ensure that the mission of the church and the teachings of the church are honored.
To date five EDMO’s exist in the Eastern District. They are:
Philadelphia Lutheran Ministries (PLM)
North East Pennsylvania (NEPA)
Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition Rochester (LINC-Rochester)
Pittsburgh Area Lutheran Ministries (PALM)
“Angel Tear Ministries” is a self-funding ministry that operates through the auspices of Concordia Lutheran Homes in Cabot, PA. While Angel Tear Ministries generously supports mission work at home and around the world, it is not an Eastern District Mission Organization with a purpose of doing mission work directly in the community.
WHAT’S A DISTRICT FOR?
For a clearer understanding of what is The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and what is the Eastern District, LCMS, download the document, “What is a District For?” by CLICKING HERE.
For a copy of “What is a District For?” formatted as a bulletin insert CLICK HERE.
LCMS WEB CONTACT INFORMATION
LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSIOURI SYNOD
OTHER LCMS AND RELATED MINISTRY RESOURCES
Ambassadors of Reconciliation
Bethesda Lutheran Communities
Center for United States Missions
Concordia Plan Services
LCMS Commission on Worship
LCMS Seminaries
Concordia Seminary, Fort Wayne
Concordia Seminary, St. Louis
St. Catharines Seminary, Ontario
Lutheran Church Extension Fund
Lutheran Foundation
Lutheran Heritage Foundation
Lutheran Hour Ministries
Lutheran Womens Missionary League
Lutherans for Life
Ongoing Ambassadors for Christ
Wheat Ridge Ministries
EASTERN DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION:
Eastern District – Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
5111 Main Street
Williamsville, NY 14221-5295
Phone: (716) 634-5111
Fax: (716) 634-5452
District Web Site: www.lcmsed.org