The History of Lutheran Schools

The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Transforming Lives

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, we are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.”

Martin Luther on Christian Education

• “Establish and maintain Christian schools – 1524

• “A Sermon on Keeping Children in School” – 1530

Luther lamented, "How I regret now that I did not read more poets and historians and that no one taught me them! Instead of them I had to read, at great cost, with labor and injury, that devil’s filth, the writings of the philosophers and sophists, so that I have all I can do to purge myself of their falsehood.” - What Luther Says, Ewald Plass,CPH, ©1959, §1325

Early History

• 1683 Saxon Schools

• 1711-1787 Muhlenberg—206 Schools in Pennsylvania

• 1752 St. Matthew’s Manhattan (oldest school in LCMS operates a PS today)

• 1847 LCMS formed 14 Schools

C. F. W. Walther onChristian Education

• Concern for the future of their children.

• Schools were early buildings

• Synod Constitution• Support for schools

May God preserve for our German Lutheran Church the treasure of her parochial schools! Humanly speaking, everything depends on that for the future of our church in America. As all church bodies in America have worked for their own dissolution from the time on when they permitted the state to care for the education of their children, so the most careful cultivation of our parochial schools is and remains, after the public ministry, the chief means for our preservation and continuation.” - C.F.W. Walther: The American Luther, Arthur H. Drevlow, Walther Press, ©1987, page 184

History cont.

• 1864 Addison Teacher’s Seminary Opened

• 1865 12 Graduates

• 1869 Concordia Publishing House Established

History cont.• 1872 25th Anniversary of Synod 472

schools with 30,320 students

• 1884 13 women teachers reported

• 1897 1277 Schools with 73,000 students

• 1965 High Number of Elementary 1,374

Other Important Events

• 1921 Dr. August Stellhorn first Secretary of Schools

• 1942 Lutheran Education Formed• 1944 Association of Lutheran Secondary

Schools formed• 1953 National Lutheran Parent Teacher

League formed

Important Events cont.

• 1961 Dr. Wayne Kramer replaces Dr. Stellhorn

• 1971 Dr. Al Senske replaces Dr. Kramer• 1982 Dr. James Boldt becomes Secretary

of Schools• 1987 National Lutheran School

Accreditation/National Lutheran School’s Week begin

Important Events cont.

• 1989 Dr. Carl Moser becomes Director of Schools

• 1996 Dr. Judy Christian becomes Director of Children’s Ministry

• 2002 Bill Cochran becomes Director of School Ministry

LCMS Council of Presidents Report

History of Lutheran Schools• Lutheran Schools were critical to

congregational life.

• No congregation without a school.

• “Our synod grew along with the growth of our schools.

• We are a teaching church.”

• Lutheran Schools today:

confessional subscription

mission outreach

Our Lutheran Schools

• provide support for parents as they carry out their God given responsibility to train their children

• reach out to those that do not know our Lord with the Good News of Salvation

• teach, equip, and empower our students to live a God pleasing life of service to our Lord

Some Statistics

41%59%

3,527(59%) LCMS Congregations

Operate all Schools and Centers

TRENDS THAT IMPACT SCHOOL MINISTRY

• OUR CHANGING FAMILIES

Single parent families

Parenthood II families

Blended families

Transformational families

Two-generation retired families

Singles

Grandparent families

Gay and Lesbian families

Gangs

CHANGING VALUES

• Self-fulfillment

• Drugs and Violence

• Media’s effect on Values

• Materialism

• New Religions

• In God We Trust?

WHAT WILL ENHANCE OR HINDER THE CHURCH’S ROLE INSHAPING VALUES?

Opportunities for Ministry through a Lutheran School

• Evangelism+to non-member families+to inactive member families+to the community +through children+to families new to the community

• Nurture+Christian growth of member and non-member children+personal growth of pastor and staff

Opportunities…

• Service

+to families in the community…

+to the community by providing graduates…

+to families who want quality education

• Fellowship

+gathering school families for various events

+becoming acquainted with school families…

+involving families…

Opportunities…

• Worship

+enhancement through staff and students’ involvement in congregation’s music ministry

+school chapel, faculty devotions, special services

Keys to Lutheran School Success

• Equipping leaders to articulate the value of a Lutheran School.

• Empowering Congregations to see the mission of Lutheran Schools.

• Maintaining high standards for faculty and staff.

• Developing sound fiscal policies.

• Cast the Vision!

Mission Focus

• God’s Command “Go and make

disciples. . .

• 16% (47,912) Unchurched students attending Lutheran schools

This is our number one purpose for having a Lutheran School!

Let’s Have a Great Year!