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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2019, Page 345

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod

Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

VII. FINAL REPORT OF THE BLUE RIBBON COMMITTEE ON LUTHERAN SCHOOLS
classroom management issues, public perception of the profession
and state regulations. Additionally, many students are coming out
of college with significant debt and are paid salaries below recommended levels. The trendline on debt and salary must change or the
teacher shortage will likely continue. Teachers and administrators
are in a great position to influence current and future students about
the joys and rewards of church work and need to be intentional in
their efforts to help recruit new students for the Concordia University System.
Lutheran schools have impacted countless children in the
United States for over a hundred years. The men and women who
have heeded God’s calling and served in Lutheran schools have
made significant differences in families, communities and the
world. It is imperative that the church takes seriously its responsibility to provide for the wellbeing of Lutheran church workers. We
remain confident that, with God’s help, LCMS partners can work
together to attract and retain the brightest and best to teach in Lutheran schools. The recommendations above give great hope; more
importantly, God’s endless provision and wisdom will provide
the hope needed for the future. The words from Philippians 1:3–6
(ESV) conclude our thoughts:
“I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my
prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure
of this, that he who began a good work in you will
bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”
It is our prayer that these findings and recommendations will
be of great benefit to church workers and churches throughout the
LCMS.

Group Two: Options for Lutheran Schools
Task: Establish a set of collaborative and creative options for
the future of Lutheran Schools in the 21st century including but not
limited to: (1) alternative funding models; (2) examples of schools
in mission in their neighborhoods; (3) need for a new generation of
Lutheran educators.

Group Members:
Mr. Matthew Bergholt – Manager of Online Support and Services,
LCMS School Ministry Office
Mr. David Black – Director of Lights Academy and Teacher,
Lutheran High School, Parker, Col.
Dr. Michael Uden – Dean of the School of Education, Concordia
University Wisconsin
Background (Scope, Focus and Process): The process
for Group Two consisted of conducting research in five different
strands of options for Lutheran schools:
•

Funding Models for Lutheran Schools

•

Schools in Mission in their Neighborhoods

•

New Generation of Lutheran Educators

•

Educational Models/Strategies

•

Leadership Professional Development

The research process gathered ideas, models and practices
from a wide net and was primarily gathered through a purposive
sampling technique. The technique is a format of qualitative inquiry which is particularly useful in research with specific time and
resource constraints, as well as research inquiry where a single case

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(or small number of cases) can be decisive in explaining the phenomenon of interest (Patton, 2002).

Recommendations
•

While Lutheran schools are doing amazing work in
spreading the Gospel through educational ministry, encouragement and mentoring is needed from the national
and district levels to ensure that they are continuing to
identify adaptations which would further their current
work.

•

Every school ministry (large, small, growing, declining,
etc.) is strongly encouraged to intentionally plan for a
regular audit of current ministry operations.

•

Implement innovative and widespread initiatives for
the recruitment, development and retention of school
ministry teams as well as succession planning.

•

Utilize a variety of media to share the joy of serving in
Lutheran education and to show what is already happening in Lutheran schools.

•

A deliberate focus on the structured development of new
Lutheran schools in areas currently underserved, or not
represented, is essential for the continued sustainability
of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod.

•

Infuse a professional development paradigm of lifelong
learning throughout the Lutheran education system.

Conclusions:
You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its
saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no
longer good for anything, except to be thrown out
and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the
world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives
light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let
your light shine before others, that they may see
your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:13–16 (ESV)
By God’s grace and goodness and through the power of the
Holy Spirit, LCMS schools exist to proclaim the Gospel message
of our resurrected Savior Jesus. We are His salt and light, a town on
the hill. For these reasons, it is essential that God’s Word is boldly
proclaimed and seasons all interactions within and outside of our
Christian faith community with His love and compassion. Certainly, the 21st century has brought new challenges to Lutheran school
ministries, but we must look through eyes of faith and recognize
the new opportunities available to LCMS schools as well. How has
God positioned us to share His timeless Gospel? In what ways can
we draw upon our Reformation history to bring His Word and truth
to those who may not have it otherwise? How do we, as members of
Christian congregations, teachers and school administrators stand
out to a world reeling from sin and its subsequent pain and loss and
daily live in peace and joy in Christ which transcends all human
experience and understanding?
As God’s people, we must continually cling to His Word and
seek His Will as we consider the daily opportunities presented by
the Holy Spirit to proclaim Christ in all we say and do, exploring
both existing and potential ministry outlets to be salt and light with2019 Convention Workbook