To Increase and Support Establishing New and Strengthening Current Schools

Official Workbook overture source text

1-19 
To Increase and Support Establishing New  
and Strengthening Current Schools 
WHEREAS, The Synod’s Lutheran schools afford opportunities 
for mission work as they teach the Word of God and preach the 
Gospel of Jesus Christ to Christians and non-Christians alike; and 
WHEREAS, Lutheran schools also exist for the purpose of 
assisting and supporting Christian parents in their  God-given 
vocation of rearing their children in the Christian faith and life; and 
WHEREAS, Christian parents desire that their children grow up 
believing in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ,  and that they learn 
to live as faithful, responsible, God-fearing citizens in the world in 
which God has placed them; and 
WHEREAS, Lutheran schools have played a vital role in the 
church’s mercy work in the society and culture in  upholding and 
revitalizing the God -given estates of the home, church, and state; 
and 
WHEREAS, The Large Catechism (LC) states, “… if we wish to 
have excellent and able persons both for civil and Church  
leadership, we must spare no diligence, time, or cost in teaching and 
educating our children, so that they may serve  God and the world” 
(LC I 172); and 
WHEREAS, Lutheran schools have historically and rightly 
emphasized doctrine and practice that is faithful to the Word of God 
and the Lutheran C onfessions and curricula informed and shaped 
by the educational reforms of the Lutheran Reformation; and 
WHEREAS, The most vital Lutheran schools have historically 
been closely connected to Lutheran congregations with well-trained 
Lutheran teachers and administrators; and 
WHEREAS, Lutheran schools have been among the most 
important ways in which the Synod’s  congregations have  
ministered to society and been strengthened for growth to Tell the 
Next Generation the Gospel of Christ; therefore be it 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention give thanks and praise 
to God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit —for all our  current 
elementary and secondary schools and for the many opportunities 
for strengthening current schools and for planting new schools; and 
be it further 
Resolved, That the Synod in convention direct the Office of 
National Mission  (ONM) to form a task force on  facilitating the 
growth and expansion of Lutheran schools; and be it further 
Resolved, That the task force work collaboratively with districts 
in identifying new areas for establishing  Lutheran schools within 
their districts by providing resource support (e.g., feasibility studies, 
financially sustainable 
models for funding, etc.) to the districts for 
congregations to establish schools alone or in cooperation with 
other congregations and circuits; and be it finally 
Resolved, That the task force work to identify and provide 
resources to establish and “ strengthen the Lutheran  ethos” in our 
schools (2016 Res . 8-01A, 2016 Proceedings, 181–82); and be it 
finally  
Resolved, That we thank and praise God for the  exceptional 
service being conducted in the area of LCMS  S chool Ministry 
within the ONM as we launch this new effort. 
Board for National Mission