Facts about Laestadianism in America

Laestadianism reached America in the 1860’s, when the immigration began from the northern parts of Scandinavia to the USA.
At the beginning of 1870’s the American Laestadians formed their first own congregations after the Norwegian pastor had denied some of them to come to the Holy Communion in Calumet, Michigan
The first Laestadian congregation was founded 1873 with the name Solomon Kortetniemi Lutheran Society. The name was changed to Finnish Apostolic-Lutheran Congregation in the year 1879.
After that the American Laestadians gave the name Apostolic Lutheran to their congregations
The American Laestadianism is nowadays divided into about eight different groups
These groups are (the estimated numbers of their members are given with children included):

(kirkkokuntalaiset, 6000 - 7000 members)

Apostolic Lutheran Church of America (kirkkokuntalaiset, 6000 – 7000 members)
Organized around the so called Big Meeting-group in 1928 with the name The Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Church of America
The largest Laestadian branch in America after the split
Had over 14000 members and 80 congregations in 1947
Membership has declined and Apostolic Lutheran Church suffers from inner schisms
Largest (800 members) and one of most conservative congregations in New Ispwich (NH)

(a pollarite-group, 600 members)

1962-63 the Pollarites were divided into two groups. The smaller group was called Auneslaiset or Aunes Salmela group
The group has it’s largest congregations in Minneapolis and Marengo (WI)

(a pollarite-group, approximately 50 members)

(Heidemanians, also called Torola-group, 4000– 5000 members)

Was divided into two groups in 1973, when nearly half of the members left and formed a new organization (now LLC)
Large congregations in Calumet, Houghton, Detroit, Zion (Illinois), Cokato (MN)
Very powerfull in the Copper Country

( Riitinmattilaiset, a pollarite-group, 3000 members)

(Conservative Laestadians, vanhoilliset, 5000 - 6000 members)

formed in 1973 after a split among Heidemanians
29 congregations and approximately 60 ministers
The largest congregations are in Minneapolis and Rockford in Minnesota and in Phoenix, Arizona and Seattle, Washington
Also the American Laestadians arrange Conventions and Big Summer Services, but they are much smaller than in Finland
This summer the LLC had their Summer Services in Rainier, Oregon. To those services attended approximately 1800 guests

(a pollarite-group. About 25 members)

(Firstborn Laestadians, esikoiset, 10000 members)

First congregation was incorporated in 1892 after a after a split in the Finnish Apostolic Lutheran Congregation in Calumet
Large congregations in Minneapolis, Hancock, Duluth, Spearfish (SD), Brush Prairie (Wash)
The group maintains tight contacts with the Firstborn Elders in Swedish Lapland