# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2023_S14 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 14 OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS for congregational youth ministry around the “40 End Goals” were released. B.5. School Ministry To better serve more than 21,000 educators and the 180,000 students annually attending Lutheran schools, School Ministry has been involved in the management of ongoing programs, specialized projects, infrastructure, and implementing engagement strategies. Of the 1,855 Lutheran schools, 1,714 provide programs for early childhood children, 730 provide programs for elementary students, and 99 provide programs for high school students. We give thanks to God for the work of educators and administrators from early childhood through high school, and especially for their navigating school ministries through COVID-19. In spring 2020, over 93 percent of Lutheran schools (elementary and high school) halted in-person classes and pivoted to alternative methods of delivering their educational programs. Nearly half of all Early Childhood Centers provided online learning at some point, while another third completely suspended operations for at least several weeks. In fall 2020, 82 percent of Lutheran schools returned to in-person instruction. Early Childhood Centers saw in increase in enrollment, and nearly a third of Lutheran schools experienced an increase in enrollment. National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) encourages, assists, and recognizes schools that provide quality Christian education and engage in continuous improvement. Currently, 643 schools are accredited through NLSA. There are currently NLSA committees to develop a high school accreditation protocol, an additional early childhood protocol, and an emerging schools protocol. Formal partnerships with regional accrediting agencies (Cognia, Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges) provide opportunities for schools to obtain dual accreditation. In addition, recognition of the NLSA protocol by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) allows Lutheran schools, if they so desire, to apply for approval to accept international students. The School Shepherd Award was developed and awarded to four outstanding pastors. The School Leadership Development (SLED) project serves to recruit and prepare the next generation of administrative leaders to serve in Lutheran schools. The program includes face-to-face events with an online platform for communication and course structure and a curriculum to reflect practical topics and experiences. During the past triennium, 65 educators (16 in 2019, 0 in 2020 due to cancellation because of COVID-19, 15 in 2021, 34 in 2022) were prepared in the SLED program. Participants are offered the option to take SLED for course credit through Concordia University Wisconsin and Concordia University, Nebraska. Lutheran School Consulting Services (LSCS) provides diagnostic services designed to strengthen and revitalize Lutheran schools in order that the mission of sharing Christ with children and families is more effectively accomplished. Twelve schools have been served through the assessment and implementation of improvement plans. Along with elementary and high schools, School Ministry serves as an advocate to affirm, equip, and empower leaders and educators serving in Christ-centered Early Childhood Centers and schools. School Ministry continues to develop and distribute Chapel Talks, National Lutheran Schools Week (NLSW) materials, and 2023 Convention Workbook the School Ministry Mailing. School Ministry started a series of Zoom events focusing on topics that are impacting the success of Lutheran schools. Topics include Finance, New Lutheran Teacher Support and Encouragement, and Communications. Future topics include Strategic Planning, Fundraising, and Enrollment. The Genesis Study and LSCS documents were updated. Most School Ministry material is available for congregations and schools free of charge on LuthEd.org. The following resolutions were addressed: • Res. 1-07A: To Promote Adoption of Policies That Continue Vigilance in Child Protection. School Ministry has joined with ONM, HR, and Synod Legal to collaborate on the development of specific documentation and resources to share with LCMS schools and all LCMS ministries. We are also collaborating with Youth Ministry to identify exemplary child-protection programs. This includes working with MinistrySafe to provide on-demand child protection training for all church workers. • Res. 4-06A: To Amend Bylaw Section 6.2 to Revitalize Synod’s Recognized Service Organization Program. School Ministry has worked with a task force as established by the Rev. Dr. John Sias and Deaconess Dorothy Krans. • Res. 6-01: To Support and Participate in the Comprehensive Church Worker Recruitment Initiative. School Ministry has connected and collaborated with the Office of Pastoral Education for a focused inclusion of Commissioned ministers in the church-worker recruitment initiative. • Res. 11-03A: To Encourage Synod to Develop Resources to Aid Congregations and Schools regarding Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues. School Ministry is working with the task force on developing sexual-orientation and gender-identity resources for schools. • Res. 12-01A: To Commend and Give Thanks for Our Lutheran Early Childhood Centers, Elementary Schools, and High Schools. • Res. 12-02A: To exhort the Congregations of the LCMS to Actively Encourage Future Lutheran School Teachers. An annual Lutheran Schools Week campaign provides celebratory resources to our Lutheran educators, highlights schools and workers, and celebrates the work of our 1,855 Lutheran schools. School Ministry is collaborating with the Set Apart to Serve initiative to communicate the need for Lutheran school educators, intentionality of recruiting future Lutheran school educators, and efforts to retain and encourage current Lutheran educators. Lutheran schools continue to help students grow in knowledge, skills, and love of Jesus, which prepares and equips students for life in this world and for eternity. B.6. Campus Ministry The last triennium marked the 100th anniversary of Campus Ministry in the LCMS (2020). We rejoice in the tremendous gift that our campus ministries have been to the life of the Church over the past century, and still are. There continue to be increasing opportunities and obstacles going forward.