LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2023, Page 430

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430

SCHOOLS, FAMILY, YOUNG ADULTS, AND YOUTH

im-pending retirement of many teachers and administrators
coupled with the diminishing numbers of Lutheran Teacher
Diploma (LTD) candidates enrolling in the Concordia
University System, there is an increased sense of urgency to
recruit and retain qualified young people in the Lutheran
teaching ministry. The desire to enter the vocation of education
is lessening due to several factors including 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.
and
WHEREAS, Concordia Plan Services (CPS) reported in 2021 that
27 percent of LCMS workers have student debt that averages
$46,000 per student; and
WHEREAS, The reality of student loan debt is an important part
of the decision to seek employment outside the Lutheran school;
and
WHEREAS, It is desired that we fill our schools with rostered
workers for the health and well-being of our Synod and its schools:
2016 Res. 8-01A, “To Encourage and Strengthen the Lutheran
Ethos of Our LCMS Early Childhood Centers, Elementary
Schools, and High Schools” specifically identified that a
characteristic of a Lutheran school with a strong Lutheran ethos
has “LCMS-trained Lutheran teachers … who know and are
committed to the truths of the Scriptures as confessed in our
Lutheran Confessions” (2019 Res. 12-02A, Proceedings, 221).
therefore be it
Resolved, That the SELC District memorialize the Synod in
Convention to recognize the importance and service of Lutheran
teachers by convening a committee comprised of members of the
education department of the CUS, LCMS School Ministry, CPS,
LCMS Foundation, and the Council of Presidents, to develop a
National Lutheran Teacher Student Debt Assistance Program; and
be it further
Resolved, That a special, designated offering to establish this
program be taken during the National Lutheran Schools Weeks of
2024, 2025, and 2026; and be it finally
Resolved, That reports of this work be provided through regular
communications of the Synod.
SELC District
Ov. 12-09

To Address Lutheran Teacher Shortage
and Low Teacher Salaries by Initiating
Student Debt Assistance Program
for Commissioned Minister—Teachers
WHEREAS, Our Lutheran schools struggle to find rostered
teachers to serve in the classrooms of our high schools, elementary
schools, preschools, and child development centers;
The number of new commissioned teachers has steadily declined
since 2005 (Concordia University System [CUS] Board for
2023 Convention Workbook

University Education [BUE] statistics); and the fulfillment rate
of requests for first-year Synod-trained candidates to Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) calling entities has declined
from 63 percent in 2010 to 30 percent in 2018 because of the lack
of available Synod-trained candidates (CUS BUE statistics); the
CUS only graduated 23 early childhood educators, 39
elementary educators, and 32 secondary educators in 2018 (CUS
BUE statistics) (2019 Resolution 12:02A, Proceedings, 222).
and
WHEREAS, Research has shown that a primary reason for this is
the lower salary offered for teachers within the Lutheran school
systems, as in Theme 8 of the “LCMS Church Worker Wellness
Insights” presentation by Rev. Robert Zagore, Executive Director,
Office of National Mission, to Gospel 2019:
• Financial wellbeing is unique among worker needs in that
the major problems are beyond the worker’s ability to
change – most often the problem is that the workers are in a
mathematically impossible situation
• Workers are under-paid for their skill level and workload
• Costs for health care are being pushed to the workers
• Young workers are burdened with significant student debt
• Many calling bodies are unable to pay their workers what is
necessary
• “The toughest work is being done in the places that can pay
the least” (i.e. dying congregations, inner-city churches,
immigrant ministries, etc.)
and in 2019 Report R63, “Final Report of the Blue Ribbon
Committee on Lutheran Schools” (Workbook, 344–45):
Lutheran education is a noble calling, yet it is facing significant
challenges. Data support a real need for synodical entities to
bring resolution to indebtedness for church workers. With the
im-pending retirement of many teachers and administrators
coupled with the diminishing numbers of Lutheran Teacher
Diploma (LTD) candidates enrolling in the Concordia
University System, there is an increased sense of urgency to
recruit and retain qualified young people in the Lutheran
teaching ministry. The desire to enter the vocation of education
is lessening due to several factors including 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.
and
WHEREAS, Concordia Plan Services (CPS) reported in 2021 that
27 percent of LCMS workers have student debt that averages
$46,000 per student; and
WHEREAS, The reality of student loan debt is an important part
of the decision to seek employment outside the Lutheran school;
and
WHEREAS, The Southeastern District in Convention
memorializes the Synod in Convention to adopt a National Lutheran
Teacher Student Debt Assistance Program; therefore be it