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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2016, Page 377

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

FLOOR COMMITTEE REPORTS AND OVERTURES ASSIGNMENTS

8. Parochial Schools
REPORTS
R1, R1.1, R1.2, R6, R63
OVERTURES
8-01

To Increase Training of Lutheran Leaders
and Administrators for Early Childhood
and School Programs
Whereas, The LCMS has a long and distinguished history of
over 175 years of bringing up children and families through Lutheran
schools in the US; and
Whereas, God commands: “Train up a child in the way he should
go; even when he is old he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6); and
Whereas, 40 percent of the current Lutheran school administrators are anticipated to retire within the next 5 years; and
Whereas, In 2014–15, only 38 percent of the Lutheran preschool
to high school educators (teachers and administrators) were actively
rostered; and
Whereas, The LCMS School Ministry has a School Leadership
Development (SLED) program that can train leaders for LCMS
schools; and
Whereas, Martin Luther said that “for the sake of the Church,
we must have and maintain Christian schools” (“To the Councilman
of All Cities in Germany that they Establish and Maintain Christian
Schools,” 1524) and has stated that “the schools will prove the very
gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the Holy
Scriptures, and engraving them on the hearts of the youth”; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS intentionally train the leaders of the
congregations’ early childhood and school programs; and be it further
Resolved, That it be recognized as essential that the recruitment
and training of new Lutheran educational leaders occur in order to
replace retiring leaders and revitalize Lutheran doctrine in all educational programs; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS ensure that the Office of LCMS School
Ministry train early childhood and school leaders; and be it further
Resolved, That the Synod fund School Leadership Development
(SLED) programs to train such leaders; and be it finally
Resolved, That congregations pray for the leaders and educational
programs of LCMS early childhood and school programs.
St. Paul’s, Enid, OK; Board of Directors, English District;
Pacific Southwest District; Board of Directors, Missouri
District; Oklahoma District
8-02

To Support and Ensure Sustainability
of Lutheran Schools
Whereas, Early childhood, elementary, and secondary schools
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod have a long and distinguished history in America, participating in the mission of Christ’s
Church for more than 175 years; and
Whereas, Lutheran schools bear witness to the importance our
ancestors gave to Dr. Martin Luther’s imperative that “for the sake
of the Church, we must have and maintain Christian schools” (“To
377

the Councilmen of All Cities in Germany That They Establish and
Maintain Christian Schools,” 1524); and
Whereas, The purpose and mission of Lutheran schools is to
make disciples for Christ (Matt. 28:19−20), help individuals mature
into the stature of Christ (Eph. 4:16; 2 Pet. 3:18), and help equip individuals for every good work (2 Tim. 3:17); and
Whereas, Schools in the LCMS strive to connect the congregation to the community they serve through daily instruction, activities,
and programs; and
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 academic programs,
competitive athletic programs, a passion for the arts, and education
for the whole child; and
Whereas, In Lutheran schools, families outside the church are
often drawn to life together with 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; and
Whereas, Congregations and Lutheran schools within the LCMS
operate 1,190 early childhood centers and preschools; and
Whereas, LCMS congregations operate 842 elementary schools;
and
Whereas, 85 domestic and three international high schools (Hong
Kong, Shanghai, and Hanoi) serve students and their families; and
Whereas, The number of Lutheran schools in each category has
decreased since the 2013 convention (early childhood, 13 percent;
elementary, 3 percent; high school, 3 percent); and
Whereas, 58 percent of LCMS schools serve fewer than 100 children; and
Whereas, The anticipated number of school administrators and
directors that will be required to fulfill the attrition of school leaders
who will retire in the next five years is predicted to be greater than
40 percent; and
Whereas, It is imperative that the Synod find more effective ways
to embrace Lutheran schools as a critical ministry in congregational
life and to support Lutheran schools as they serve in the 21st century; therefore be it
Resolved, That the LCMS Office of School Ministry conduct a
comprehensive analysis and design collaborative creative models for
the future of Lutheran schools to effectively address the quality and
sustainability of schools serving families who no longer can afford or
choose Lutheran schools for their children; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS Office of School Ministry establish a
funding system to address the disparity of the cost to educate future
professional workers to serve in schools that are unable to provide
adequate compensation in order for the worker to address the cost of
living and retirement of educational debt; and be it further
Resolved, That the LCMS Office of School Ministry address
the critical shortage of current and future school administrators and
develop, fund, and implement an intentional plan for identifying and
equipping Lutheran educators to serve and lead in schools by the 2019
Synod convention; and be it finally
Resolved, That all church leaders from local to district to Synod
(ordained, commissioned, and laity) be advocates of Lutheran
education in order that children and families continue to hear the
life-changing message of the Gospel.
Board of Directors
Missouri District
2016 Convention Workbook