Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod

Imagine a big, friendly church group called the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, or LCMS for short! It's like a huge family with about 1.7 million people who believe in the same things. They have churches all over the United States, and even in Canada!

Most of these churches are in the middle part of America, like a big hug across the country. It's the second-biggest Lutheran group in the USA, which means lots and lots of people are part of it!

This church family began a long, long time ago, in 1847. It was like starting a new club! The first meeting was in a city called Chicago.

Back then, it had a much longer name that told everyone where the first churches were, like Missouri and Ohio. It was like saying, 'We're starting our club here!' They wanted to share their beliefs with others and build communities where people could learn and grow together.

The LCMS is special because it follows old traditions and teachings very carefully. Think of it like following a favorite recipe exactly to make the best cookies! They believe in sharing stories from the Bible and helping people understand them.

They also have a president, kind of like a principal for the whole church group, who helps lead everyone. The current president is Matthew C. Harrison, who started his job in 2010.

The LCMS is organized into 35 smaller groups called districts. Some of these districts are like neighborhoods covering certain areas, and others are for special groups. It's like having different teams in a big game, all working towards the same goal.

They also work with other Lutheran churches around the world, sharing ideas and supporting each other. Their main office, like their headquarters, is in Kirkwood, Missouri, a town near St. Louis.