The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod (LCMS)

The Lutheran Church-- Missouri Synod (LCMS)

1333 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122-7295
United States

Attesting Officer
Vicki J. Biggs
Director, Integrated Communications


Media Contact
Director, Integrated Communications, Ms. Vicki Biggs

38.5605895, -90.4080025


The Lutheran Church - - Missouri Synod (LCMS), which was founded in 1847, has nearly 6,200 congregations in the United States and has active work or mission relationships in nearly 100 countries. It has 2.3 million members and is the second-largest Lutheran denomination in North America.
The LCMS is a mission-oriented, Bible-based, confessional Christian denomination. It accepts the teachings of Martin Luther that inspired the Protestant Reformation of the Christian church in the 16th century. The Synod's beliefs can be summed up in three phrases: Grace alone, Scripture alone, Faith alone.
The church has nearly 9,000 rostered pastors and some 11,600 additional rostered (called) church workers. Women are active in church work, although they do not occupy clergy positions. Serving in positions such as teachers, deaconesses, and social workers, women account for more than half of all commissioned rostered workers.
The members' responsibility for congregational leadership is a distinctive characteristic of the LCMS. Power is vested in voters' assemblies, generally comprised of adults of voting age. Synod decision making is given to the delegates at triennial national and district conventions, where the franchise is equally divided between lay and pastoral representatives.
LCMS educational institutions serve all ages from pre-school to college. LCMS congregations operate one of the largest Protestant early childhood, elementary and secondary school system in the nation and more than 28,000 students are enrolled in the LCMS' 10 colleges and universities and two seminaries.
The LCMS is known for mass-media outreach through "The Lutheran Hour," broadcast around the world by Lutheran Hour Ministries; syndicated and streaming programming on KFUO radio; "This Is The Life" dramas on television; and the products of Concordia Publishing House, the third-largest Protestant, church-owned publisher, whose Arch Books children's series alone has sold more than 60 million copies.
The LCMS works with some 270 Recognized Service Organizations (RSOs) which foster the church's mission and ministry. These organizations include social service agencies, educational institutions, retreat centers, summer camps and mission societies. The LCMS also is a founding partner of Lutheran Services of America, a social service organization that serves one in every 50 Americans.


Full Communicants Average Attendance Other Members Total Inclusive Members Total Churches Membership Calculation Method
2010
1,764,024
153
514,562
2,278,586
6,158
2009
1,784,139
156
527,972
2,312,111
6,178
2008
1,803,900
155
533,449
2,337,349
6,123
2007
1,835,064
166
548,020
2,383,084
6,167
2006
1,856,783
172
561,214
2,417,997
6,155
2004
1,880,213
169
583,534
2,463,747
6,151
2003
1,894,822
2,488,936
6,160
2001
1,920,949
156
619,096
2,540,045
6,187
1999
1,945,846
155
636,594
2,582,440
6,220
1998
1,952,020
0
642,384
2,594,404
6,218
1997
1,951,391
2,603,036
6,215
1996
1,195,730
2,601,144
6,099
1995
1,943,281
2,594,555
6,154
1994
1,944,905
2,596,927
6,148
1993
1,945,077
2,598,935
6,134
1992
1,953,248
2,609,905
5,369
1991
1,952,845
2,607,309
5,364
1990
1,954,350
2,602,849
5,296
1989
1,961,114
2,609,025
5,990
1988
1,962,674
2,604,278
5,939
1987
1,973,347
2,614,375
5,912
1986
1,974,798
2,630,588
5,897
1985
1,982,753
2,638,164
5,876
1984
1,986,392
2,628,133
5,821
1983
1,984,199
2,630,947
5,829
Serving Churches Retired Other Service to the Church Total Clergy
2010
5,369
2,928
630
8,927
2009
5,336
2,799
679
9,357
2008
5,359
2,809
842
9,010
2007
5,373
2,725
803
8,901
2006
5,197
2,659
745
8,601
2004
5,303
2,561
754
8,515
2003
5,281
8,515
2001
5,204
2,432
861
8,497
1999
5,210
2,295
860
8,365
1998
5,227
2,229
860
8,316
1997
5,276
8,672
1996
5,315
8,215
1995
5,287
8,140
1994
5,556
8,879
1993
5,623
8,844
1992
5,674
8,799
1991
5,417
8,389
1990
5,347
8,301
1989
5,339
8,271
1988
5,238
8,193
1987
5,218
8,139
1986
5,261
8,044
1985
5,093
7,954
1984
5,021
7,823
1983
4,933
7,682
Total Schools Staff Pupils Total Individuals
2010
4,944
0
363,389
363,389
2009
4,913
0
375,213
375,213
2008
4,839
0
417,303
417,303
2007
5,196
0
415,066
415,066
2006
5,183
0
425,499
425,499
2004
5,330
0
451,414
451,414
2003
5,330
471,492
2001
5,623
0
492,751
492,751
1999
5,645
69,040
492,005
561,045
1998
5,688
70,061
502,807
572,868
1997
5,739
606,408
1996
5,742
615,427
1995
5,735
697,266
1994
5,754
641,921
1993
5,763
645,075
1992
5,778
658,478
1991
5,783
668,298
1990
5,746
673,432
1989
5,715
660,229
1988
5,737
652,332
1987
5,735
658,023
1986
0
657,992
1985
5,687
653,557
1984
5,673
653,336
1983
5,634
646,336
Total Benevolences Total Financials Total Giving Local Expenses Method
2010
$122,000,000
$1,380,000,000
$1,250,000,000
2009
$127,000,000
$1,360,000,000
$1,230,000,000
2008
$119,000,000
$1,340,000,000
$1,220,000,000
2007
$121,000,000
$1,400,000,000
$1,280,000,000
2006
$126,000,000
$1,360,000,000
$1,230,000,000
2004
$122,000,000
$1,310,000,000
$1,190,000,000
2003
$125,169,844
$1,256,382,217
$1,313,212,373
2001
$125,000,000
$1,220,000,000
$1,090,000,000
1999
$124,000,000
$1,110,000,000
$986,000,000
1998
$122,000,000
$1,100,000,000
$975,000,000
1997
$110,520,917
$998,449,172
$887,928,255
1996
$141,832,564
$997,293,579
$855,461,015
1995
$130,511,413
$963,212,668
$832,701,255
1994
$129,525,358
$946,937,471
$817,412,113
1993
$130,761,788
$920,583,347
$789,821,559
1992
$131,684,905
$909,152,393
$777,467,488
1991
$124,932,427
$866,755,839
$741,823,412
1990
$129,229,080
$841,464,284
$712,235,204
1989
$136,225,122
$915,357,616
$779,132,494
1988
$112,694,841
$771,983,173
$659,288,332
1987
$109,681,025
$729,952,299
$620,271,274
1986
$111,938,197
$717,706,885
$605,768,688
1985
$105,191,123
$671,698,639
$566,507,516
1984
$104,393,798
$643,740,733
$539,346,935
1983
$97,293,050
$596,513,602
$499,220,552