The Pacific Southwest District is one of 35 Districts of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. We believe in the Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God is the creator of the universe who loved the world so much that he sent his one and only Son, Jesus Christ to die on a cross for the sins of all people. His resurrection on Easter morning declared God’s victory for all who believe. Through the power of the Holy Spirit the Christian Church was born at Pentecost (Acts 2) and through the power of that same Spirit we come to faith is this One God. We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God and in the Lutheran Confessions as an accurate explanation of the Scriptures.

With the office in Irvine, CA, the geographical area of the Pacific Southwest District includes Arizona, Southern California and Clark County Nevada. There are 320-plus ministries, of which 81 are culture-specific (African-American, Arabic, Asian Indian, Brazilian, Cambodian, Chinese, Filipino, Hispanic, Indonesian, International, Jewish, Korean, Muslim, Native American, Vietnamese). Approximately 70 of those ministries worship in a language other than English.

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod includes the second largest protestant school system in the United States. Within the Pacific Southwest District, over 70 percent of the congregations operate Lutheran schools with a combined total of 21,000 students enrolled in 220 schools (preschool, elementary, high school). Concordia University, located in Irvine, CA, is one of ten universities in the LCMS school system.

Meet The President

The Rev. Dr. Larry Stoterau has served as President of the Pacific Southwest District since September of 2000. He describes the ministry area of the District by saying, "We live in one of the most dynamic regions of the country. People come from all over the world, looking for new beginnings. What we have in the Church is hope through Christ and promises for tomorrow."

Prior to his election as President of the 100,000-plus members, Dr. Stoterau was the senior pastor of Epiphany Lutheran Church in Chandler, AZ from 1983 - 2000, and Emmaus Lutheran Church, Alhambra, CA 1973 - 1983, where the District's first Chinese ministry was established. During his 27 years of congregation service, Dr. Stoterau served as the District's first vice president (1997 - 2000) and on numerous District and Synodical committees.

He received his AA Degree from Concordia College, St. Paul, MN, his BA Degree from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, IN, and his Master of Divinity Degree from Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO in 1973. He earned his Dr. of Ministry Degree from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA in 2001.

President Stoterau has a strong interest in community involvement and takes an active part in Ecumenical Relationships. In communities where he has served, he has been an active member of the Board of Directors of the Chamber of Commerce and Community Hospitals. He has been active in Rotary International.

Dr. Stoterau and his wife Linda have two grown sons, Samuel and Joseph. Mrs. Stoterau is the Elementary Curriculum Coordinator for Orange Unified Schools in Orange, CA. Linda is also an accomplished church musician and worship leader and currently serves on the Commission on Worship for the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod.