History

Synod History

The origin of the Lutheran denomination dates from the reformation of the Roman Catholic Church in the early 16th Century in Germany. The Synod was organized in the state of Missouri in 1847 and was formally incorporated in 1894 as a Missouri non-profit religious corporation. The Synod, its Districts, and its affiliated organizations are exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended (“Code”), are not private foundations under Section 509 of the Code and are organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, charitable and benevolent purposes. The Synod’s principal offices are located at 1333 South Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, Missouri, 63122- 7295.

Synod Organization

The Synod is a not-for-profit corporation with no shareholders and is controlled by its members. Its voting membership consists of its member congregations throughout the United States. In addition, the Synod has non-voting members, consisting of pastors and teachers, on the roster. The Synod functions as a democratic organization through regular triennial conventions of delegates selected by the voting members. The Synod meets in convention on an international level every three years.

The delegates to the convention elect the Synod’s officers and its Board of Directors, which consists of not less than seven members, including the President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Synod. Delegates to the triennial conventions elect boards with specific responsibilities for various Synod functions. Each of these boards makes decisions within the framework of the general policy set forth in the Synod’s constitution, articles of incorporation, by-laws, and convention resolutions and implements these decisions through its staff personnel.

The Synod is governed by a constitution (the present version of which was adopted July 2-10), its articles of incorporation, and its by-laws, which establish in detail the purposes and function of the Synod, its officers, and various boards. Amendments to the Synod’s constitution, articles of incorporation, or bylaws may be made only upon the affirmative vote of delegates in the convention. Resolutions, adopted only at the convention, govern general policies and objectives of the Synod and must be consistent with the Synod’s articles, constitution, and bylaws.

District History and Organization

The Synod has established 33 “geographic” districts and two “non-geographic” districts in the United States to more effectively achieve its objectives and carry out its activities. Each “geographic” district generally covers portions of one or more states, while the “non-geographic” districts operate at large throughout the United States. The Synod determines at its triennial conventions whether to create or modify districts and establishes district names and boundaries.

The Southern District was established in 1882. At the time, it included the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Texas. Florida and Texas have split off into separate Districts. The Southern District now consists of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and the panhandle of Florida to a point between Marianna and Tallahassee. The District is incorporated under the laws of the state of Louisiana as a general not-for-profit corporation.