LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 14

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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.