LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1975, Page 372

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372 PARISH SERVICES

names and appropriate information about persons in the teach-
ing ministry who desire a new location for their ministry. Such
information is also furnished about persons who desire to enter
the Lutheran teaching ministry. District education executives
contact the School Department for aid in suggesting names of
individuals appropriate for inclusion on specific call lists.

Personnel Guidelines

The Board of Parish Education's School Department also
develops guidelines for the proper and equitable employment
of both men and women in the church's educational ministry.
It attempts to coordinate and promote matters such as the inclu-
sion of female teachers on the roster of the Synod, teacher
franchise and ordination, the common solemn call document
for all education ministerial positions, equalization of salary
and position opportunities, ete. The department also communi-
cates information regarding salary schedules, tax guidelines,
and other pertinent personnel information. For the past 3 years
the Board of Parish Education has promoted a National Lu-
theran Teacher Appreciation Day. This effort, which will be
continued in the future, has raised the morale of many Lutheran
teachers in various ways. Initial attention is also being given
to in-service workshops and educational bulletin materials
regarding retirement planning and the problems of the older
teacher.

Personnel Research

Proper personnel servicing requires that research reports
and follow-up studies be prepared regarding the education.
experience. salary, mobility, and stability of the educational
ministry personnel. Such studies and reports have been formu-
lated and will continue in the future.

Our Prayer

The Board of Parish Education and its Department of Ele-
mentary and Secondary Schools prays that with God's help it
may continue to provide leadership for the church's full-time
Lutheran educational programs, that these programs may re-
main effective instruments for training the Lord’s messengers.
Such training is a significant aspect of all schools as they carry
out the church's mission and ministry.

A School That Trains Messengers of the Lord... Is a School
That Is Church.

XII. Assisting Leaders to Equip Messengers of the Lord

Our work with District education executives and board chair-
men provides some of the richest moments in our ministry. In
fact, we can function as a synodical education team only with
the cooperation of these key people on the District level.

Our relationship is dialogical. From them we learn what is
actually most effective in fulfilling the ministry of God's Word in
the local parish. In seminars and training events conducted
throughout the church we share with them whatever insights
we have garnered from our professional growth experiences.

The highlight of our exchange is the annual orientation and
sharing session. District leaders assemble in St. Louis to discuss
the full range of issues that confront them in communicating
Christ’s Gospel to people in the active situations in which they
live. We concentrate on strengthening the education agencies
we already have: Lutheran elementary and high schools, adult
and family life education classes, Sunday, summer, and week-
day schools. We also ask such questions as: What new skills
are required of us to help adults, youth, and children encounter
God’s judgment? How can we help them grow in their trust of
His mercy in Christ? What other settings for worship, witness.
and service in the fellowship of believers will help accomplish
this?

In this meeting basic plans are also made for ongoing field
services as a partnership between the Synod and District edu-
cation leaders. The most fruitful training events for professional
and nonprofessional educators are planned by the participants
themselves. Therefore the Synod’s education team is eager to
respond to all requests for specific on-site assistance at con-
ferences and workshops planned for District personnel.

Among the most successful workshops conducted since the
last convention were the Teaching the Faith workshops. These
workshops, conducted in 35 Districts, helped religion teachers
in grades 6, 7, and 8. They were one answer to a growing prob-

lem area in Christian education, namely, the intensive instruc-
tion in Christian doctrine which usually precedes the rite of
confirmation.

Another highly successful experience was the Leadership
Renewal Experience for District and synodical education and
youth leaders and their spouses. Made possible by a grant from
the Aid Association for Lutherans. these Renewal Experiences
provided spiritual and professional growth and strengthened
the husband-wife relationship of those attending.

Other activities include: (1) orientation and program-planning
conferences with District parish education or service boards:
(2) District church-school workers conventions: (3) District
professional teachers and pastors conferences: (4) workshops
with congregational boards of education administering schools:
(5) workshops in preprimary education; (6) training events for
circuit education representatives: (7) seminars on the director
of Christian education program for congregations; (8) workshops
in summer education programs.

Closer cooperation is needed between the Synod's Board
of Parish Education and the Synod’s colleges and seminaries
to equip pastors and teachers for their ministry. We're working
at this. For example, at a meeting called by the Synod's Board
of Parish Education, representatives from the Synod’s colleges
and seminaries expressed interest in a Writers Workshop. As
a result. with funds supplied by the Aid Association for Lu-
therans. two workshops to train writers for Christian education
are being held on college campuses in the summer of 1975.
Other courses and cooperative workshops have been con-
ducted in “Creative Approaches to Teaching the Gospel.” Still
more can be done in the future.

Synodical and District leaders experience change in their
vocations, as do people in all professions. One dimension of our
work is assisting new District leaders upon their appointment.
Five new District education executives, bringing rich resources
to their new tasks from successful parish ministries, consulted
with our department leaders during the past biennium. These
consultations take place when new leaders accept our invitation
to come to our offices for orientation sessions. It is also helpful
for the Synod’s Board of Parish Education to learn from these
men what kind of help they expect the Synod’s Board of Parish
Education to supply them for their new District assignments.
This mutual sharing of expectations for growing in the knowl-
edge and grace of God and the skill to communicate it is an
enriching experience.

A leadership crisis in the church is not new. Good leaders
are hard to find. Weak leaders need training. So we put assis-
tance to education leaders very high on our list of priorities.
The kind of leaders we need are not those who try to get above
others in prestige and power. Rather we want to equip and be
equipped by leaders who are servants. who get down under the
burden of human need and redemptively help to bear that bur-
den. Greatness in leadership is measured in terms of humility,
faithfulness, obedience, and service — all in the name and by the
power of Christ.

XIII. The Director of Christian Education

The Board of Parish Education is firmly committed to fur-
ther development of the office of director of Christian education.
As Christian education becomes more complex, as demands for
counseling consume an increasing amount of the pastor's time,
as Christian education is seen as necessary for persons of all
ages, the need for full-time professional education leadership
in the parish becomes more obvious. Thus also an increasing
number of congregations secure the services of a director of
Christian education. The current synodical listing shows 268
persons who serve in this position.

To assist those in this office, the board has provided a variety
of services: (1) publication of the Director of Christian Education
Bulletin: (2) inter-Lutheran conferences for professional Chris-
tian educators; (3) consultations on the office of the director
of Christian education; (4) assistance to Theological Educations
Associated in Ministry of the Lutheran Education Association.

With assistance from the Aid Association for Lutherans
the Board of Parish Education has been involved in pilot projects
in which several congregations join in utilizing the services of
a single coordinator of Christian education. Results of these
pilots now available indicate that this model of educational
leadership holds considerable potential. The Board of Parish
Education stands ready to assist groups of congregations in