LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1998, Page 24

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24 SYNODICAL REPORTS

page report and special Process Planning Workbook to guide the
leaders through evaluating the data gathered in the report and
worksheets for action planning and goal setting, as well as a
brief study of the concept of leadership in the Bible.

* A cumulative summary of congregations completing the Lead-
ership Analysis Instrument has revealed areas for growth in the
leadership of many congregations:

1) Having a definite plan for how to reach out to people who
are not members

2) Involving new members quickly into the life and work of
the congregation

3) All positions in the congregation have built-in training, shar-
ing, and support mechanisms

4) Delegating work to different people in the congregation

5) Officers and board and committee members practice per-
sonal Bible study

6) Officers and board and committee members regularly attend
congregation-sponsored Bible study.

Significant Resources

* Planning materials and resources in conjunction with Faithful
Christians—Faithful Congregations

“Leadership Analysis Instrument” survey tool for congregations
“Mentoring” video kit

Development of video in areas of Change, Conflict, Planning,
and Vision

* Leadership Ministry Internet home page

IX. School Ministry Department

Dr. Carl Moser is director, Ross Stueber is associate director,
and Edward Grube is director of publications.

The purpose of the Department of School Ministry is to assist,
equip, and uplift Lutheran school educators, District education ex-
ecutives, and congregation leaders so that through them children
may be equipped as disciples of Jesus Christ.

The department provides leadership and resources which sup-
port, communicate, upgrade, and extend the elementary and sec-
ondary schools operated by the Synod’s congregations and associ-
ations of congregations, so that in the context of quality Christian
education, the schools support the efforts of their congregations in
carrying out the Great Commission. We currently serve 10,920 ed-
ucators and administrators in 1,049 Lutheran elementary and sec-
ondary schools operated by 1,586 congregations. Enrollment in el-
ementary and high schools is 199,049 students including 27,867
children and families who are unchurched mission prospects. (Sta-
tistics do not include free-standing early childhood centers.)

School services include a monthly newsletter to District execu-
tives, monthly mailings to schools, in-service materials, consulting
with agencies and District personnel, and statistical gathering and
analysis.

Relationships
* The gathering of school personnel, educational leaders, and
CONFEDEX (Conference of Education Executives)

* Educators, agencies, and organizations, particularly with the As-
sociation of Lutheran Secondary Schools (ALSS) and the
Lutheran Education Association (LEA) and its departments

* Other nonpublic school groups through the executive committee
of the Council for American Private Education (CAPE)

* Government agencies, specifically the U.S. Department of Edu-

cation and its Department of Private Schools

Concordia University System institutions, particularly their edu-

cation faculties

Lutheran school educators in other countries, especially Canada

and Australia

Significant Resources

* Lutheran School Administrator’s Handbook, a 12 volume set to
assist administrators of Lutheran elementary schools

* Planning for a Lutheran High School Resource Manual, specific
ideas for assisting LCMS congregations to start Lutheran high
schools

* School Choice and Lutheran Schools, a bulletin which reviews
the issues of educational vouchers for use in Christian schools:
Lutheran Schools, Touching Lives Forever, Sharing Christ, a col-
orful booklet sharing the story of Lutheran schools at all levels
Pastoring a Congregation with a School, a booklet which identi-
fies hints for successful ministry by pastors of congregations with
schools .

Resources for Genesis consultants as they assist congregations
who wish to start Lutheran elementary or secondary schools

Lutheran Middle Schools, a booklet to assist Lutheran school ad-
ministrators to evaluate and improve their ministry to middle-
school-age children

School Leadership and Mentoring (SLAM) materials designed
for use by small groups of Lutheran school administrators over a
three-year period in which they gather for in-service and sharing
of information

* The Family Ministry of Lutheran Schools, a notebook and 16-
session in-service video for improving the ministry of Lutheran
schools to families of children they serve

Faith to Faith, a nine-lesson unit designed to help children in
grades 3 through 8 share Christ openly with each other
Resources for school board members which include the monthly
Board Walk with suggestions and helps for Lutheran school
boards and So You're on the School Board, a 16-minute video
explaining the role of Lutheran school boards and assisting in
their development

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Initiatives
The department provides quality initiatives to assist the depart-
ment’s constituents.
¢ National Lutheran School Accreditation (NLSA) continues to
help schools improve themselves for the benefit of children in
their care.

Lutheran Elementary School Advisory Team (LESAT) advises
the department on specific needs and resources for Lutheran ele-
mentary schools. Members of the current team are Randy Einem,
W. James Kirchhoff, Peter Meier, Carl Moser, Neil Sandfort,
Terry Schmidt, Willie Stallworth, Ross Stueber, and Mary Szalai.

Advisory Team (A Team) for secondary schools advises the de-
partment relative to the needs of Lutheran high schools. Team
members are Paul Bahr, Eugene Brunow, Paul Crisler, Elizabeth
Crowe, Duane Jobst, Pat Kiekamp, Wayne Kramer, George
Locke, Randy Lowe, Ken Palmreuter, David Sommermeyer,
Ross Stueber, and Dale Wolfgram.

The Lutheran Elementary School Endowment Fund established
by a large gift and designed to provide competitive grant oppor-
tunities to Lutheran elementary school educators for the benefit
of children.

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Significant Accomplishments

I. The Genesis Project, a 10-year program to assist LCMS
congregations to start Lutheran schools, was funded by a
large grant for the first two years of operation. This project
provides feasibility study consultants, school start
consultants, resources for school starts, and workshops for
administrators of new schools.

2. The Family Ministry of Lutheran Schools Project provided a
March 1998 national conference and is providing every
elementary and secondary school operated by an LCMS
congregation with a 16-session video-based resource to help
local school faculties minister to families more effectively.

3. Teacher relocation assistance was provided through revising
the forms and the computer programs for assisting District
executives who assist congregations in making call lists for
Lutheran school educators. Now District school executives
can sort from the list of all Lutheran school teachers to help