# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_2016_S183
# Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration)

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Office of
National Mission (ONM) and LCMS School Ministry to provide
for the preparation of early childhood and school administrators,
whether current, new, or prospective; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the ONM and
LCMS School Ministry to fund programs to recruit and equip such
current, new, and prospective administrators; and be it finally
Resolved, That congregations pray for the administrators and
educational programs of LCMS early childhood centers and
schools.
Action: Adopted (7)
(Without objection from the assembly to proceeding immediately with the vote on the resolution, Res. 8-02 was adopted as
presented by voice vote.)

To Support the Quality and Sustainability of
Lutheran Schools through the Work of the Blue
Ribbon Committee on Lutheran Schools
RESOLUTION 8-03A
Report R1.2 (CW, pp. 12–16); Overtures 8-02–03 (CW, pp.
377–378); Res. 3-04 (2013 Proceedings, p. 117)
Whereas, Lutheran schools provide a strong witness to their
communities by proclaiming the pure Gospel of our Lord Jesus
Christ as taught in the Scriptures in addition to rigorous academics, competitive athletics, and a passion for the arts; and
Whereas, In Lutheran schools, families outside the church are
often drawn to life together with The Lutheran Church—Missouri
Synod (LCMS) families, thus facilitating a Gospel witness; and
Whereas, LCMS schools (early childhood, elementary, and
high schools) are the second-largest parochial educational system
in the United States, operating 1,173 early childhood centers and
preschools, 804 elementary schools, and 91 domestic and 3 international high schools (Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Hanoi), serving
students and their families; and

Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Office of
National Mission to fund the continued work of the Blue Ribbon
Committee on Lutheran Schools; and be it further
Resolved, That the work of the Blue Ribbon Committee on
Lutheran Schools include but not be limited to the following:
1. Identify the reasons for the decline in the number of
schools and in total student enrollment;
2. Assess the current compensation of pastors and teachers
in congregations with Lutheran schools and its effect on
Lutheran schools and workers;
3. Suggest pilot projects that may produce creative solutions related to the challenges currently faced by our
Lutheran schools;
4. Explore and communicate creative options for enhancing the quality of our schools, such as classical education, online education, flexible scheduling, hybrid homeschooling, consolidated efforts among congregations
with schools, and ministry among international students;
5. Identify alternative models for funding Lutheran schools
with an emphasis on making schools affordable for all
families;
6. Recommend strategies for our Lutheran schools to serve
their immigrant neighbors;
7. Identify, celebrate, and share examples of Lutheran
schools actively engaged in the mission of Christ in their
respective communities;
8. Explore the role of Lutheran schools in planting new
churches and revitalizing existing churches; and
9. Address the significant need for a new generation of Lutheran educators;
and be it finally
Resolved, That the Blue Ribbon Committee complete its work
by mid-2018 so that it can report to the LCMS national convention in 2019.
Action: Adopted (7)
(Without objection from the assembly to proceeding to vote
immediately, Res. 8-03A was adopted as presented by voice vote.)

Whereas, LCMS congregations have closed 458 schools since
2005, and enrollment has dropped by 99,113 students during the
same period (from 290,453 in 2005 to 191,340 in 2015); and
Whereas, 61 percent of LCMS schools serve 100 or fewer children; and
Whereas, The 2013 LCMS national convention established a
Blue Ribbon Committee with the following purpose: “to assist our
congregations to embrace Lutheran schools as a critical ministry
in congregational life and to support our schools as they serve in
the 21st century” (Res. 3-04); and
Whereas, The Blue Ribbon Committee on Lutheran Schools
will continue its work during the 2016-2019 triennium; therefore
be it

“8. Parochial Schools”

U P O N T H I S R O C K • Resolutions

|

183