To Proactively Put in Place National Standards for Our Schools to Protect Students

Official Workbook overture source text

1-16 
To Proactively Put in Place National Standards  
for Our Schools to Protect Students 
WHEREAS, Synod c ongregations and recognized service 
organizations provide  1,745 schools, which are boldly and 
successfully reaching children and their families with the saving 
Gospel of Jesus Christ; and 
W
HEREAS, Our gracious Lord has blessed us with God-fearing 
teachers who are simultaneously both saints and sinners; and 
WHEREAS, T here have been cases of moral failure that have 
harmed students and damaged the public reputation of schools and 
the churches who operate them; and 
W
HEREAS, The S ynod has a moral obligation to proactively 
protect children that we are entrusted with, wielding the first use of 
the Law through national standards related to the safety of children, 
which would have the effect of curbing potential inappropriate 
conduct; and 
WHEREAS, T he National Lutheran Schools A ccreditation 
(NLSA), which serves as the accrediting body for the Synod , has 
declined to implement some needed n ational standards for our 
schools that could proactively protect children; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the NLSA to 
implement a national standard that prohibits teachers from 
communicating with students via Snapchat or any other electronic 
application that automatically deletes messages so that they cannot 
be retrieved by parents or authorities unless they are intentionally 
saved; and be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the NLSA to 
implement a national standard that prohibits teachers from dating 
former students until the student has reached the age of 18 or older; 
and be it finally 
Resolved, That the NLSA  be encouraged to implement other 
appropriate proactive national standards for our schools, which are 
intended to curb inappropriate conduct and safeguard the well-being 
of students and our ministry to them. 
Circuit 25 (Kenosha), South Wisconsin District; Circuit 26 
(Racine), South Wisconsin District; Circuits 3, 4, and 6 (Metro 
Northwest/Central/North Shore), South Wisconsin District 
Ov.