About The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
The LCMS is a Bible-based, mission-oriented, confessional Christian denomination. Our Church is founded upon the teachings of Martin Luther and is headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri. We strive to make the Love of Christ known through our mission work, outreach and education programs, and helping people within the community on a daily basis.
Witness. Mercy. Life Together.
Our Mission:
"In grateful response to God’s grace and empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacraments, the mission of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod is vigorously to make known the love of Christ by word and deed within our churches, communities and the world."
Today, the LCMS has more than 1.96 million baptized members in some 6,046 congregations and more than 9,000 pastors. Two seminaries and 10 colleges and universities operate under the auspices of the LCMS, and its congregations operate the largest Protestant parochial school system in America. The church broadcasts the saving message of Jesus Christ over KFUO Radio, and it has relationships and active mission work in nearly 90 countries around the world.
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod - Rosters & Statistics (2018)
LCMS Membership Our Worship Attendendance
Total Confirmed: 1,545,124 Total Weekly Average: 709,866
Total Baptized: 1,968,641 Average Per Congregation: 133.2
Sunday School Attendance: 288,560
LCMS Congregations
Established Congregations: 5,936
New Church Starts: 110
LCMS Church Workers
Ordained Total Active Candidate Emeritus
Minister 9,436 5,825 416 3,195
Minister - Specific 244 230 5 9
Total Ordained 9,680 6,055 421 3,204
Commissioned Total Active Candidate Emeritus
Teacher 10,346 5,701 1,459 3,186
Dir. Christen Ed. 837 588 217 32
Teacher/DCE 242 123 41 78
Deaconess 302 178 64 60
Lay Minister 149 82 22 45
Other 197 143 40 14
Total Commissioned 12,073 6,815 1,843 3,415
The teaching of Martin Luther and the reformers can be summarized in three phrases:
"Grace alone, Faith alone, Scripture alone."
Please visit the Main LCMS Website for more details on our Mission, our Practices, our Faith, and how to Study and Serve.