Official Workbook PDF page source text

LCMS 2026 Convention Workbook: Reports and Overtures, PDF page 120

2026 Convention Workbook
85
OFFICER, BOARD, AND COMMISSION REPORTS
C.3. Curriculum
As noted above, the CUEnet courses include the first six courses 
common to all categories of the commissioned ministry colloquy. 
CUEnet’s curriculum includes two additional courses specific to 
teacher colloquy: Lutheran Teacher I and Lutheran Teacher II. Each 
course in the curriculum is offered in a month-long format. The 
courses are offered in an asynchronous format so that students may 
progress at their own pace. Students watch prerecorded course vid-
eos, read from various sources, and complete assignments, which 
are submitted to their course mentor. Each course is mentored by 
an ordained LCMS pastor with expertise in the course content area. 
CUEnet is currently blessed to have five pastors serving as mentors. 
Students may take courses each consecutive month, enabling them 
to complete the coursework portion of their colloquy journey in as 
little as eight months.
The current CUEnet curriculum and associated videos are due 
for review and upgrade. This process is beginning and will be a 
significant focus during the 2026–29 triennium. Res. 7-04B re-
quired the CUS to develop theological and curricular standards for 
all programs leading to certification as a commissioned minister. 
This process has been undertaken, and the overarching theological 
standards have been completed. Phase II of this work, to devel -
op program-specific standards, is currently underway. The CCCM 
is also responsible for developing standards for all categories of 
commissioned colloquy. This parallel but separate process is also 
currently transpiring. The CUEnet curriculum will be required to 
be responsive to these standards as it is revised and redesigned. As 
such, the curriculum review process timeline depends on the work 
of the CUS and the CCCM on standard development.
An advisory committee will be formed to facilitate the curricu-
lum review process. This committee will draw its membership from 
educational leaders and subject-matter experts across the Synod’s 
higher education institutions. District education executives and 
other Synod leaders will also be important resources for this com-
mittee. The committee will advise on the curriculum redesign and 
assist in course development. They will also review the course de-
livery model and seek to determine the best means for the future of 
online teacher colloquy course delivery.
C.4. CUEnet Non-Colloquy Offerings
•	 Seminar is a program of theological study designed to en-
hance a non-Lutheran teacher’s understanding of the distinct 
teachings, practices, and identity of the Lutheran school in 
which they are teaching. The program surveys the major 
doctrines of the Lutheran Church and compares and con-
trasts these teachings with those of other Christian denom-
inations and other religions. Compared with colloquy, sem-
inar is a significantly shorter, less rigorous introduction to 
Lutheranism. It does not lead to becoming rostered. Neither 
scholarships nor college credit is available.
•	 Images of Faith
 is a set of multi
media presentations de-
signed to supplement a congregation’s catechism program. 
Complete with a handbook that offers discussion points and 
conversation starters, this collection of 23 videos covers top-
ics including the Ten Commandments, the Creeds, the Lord’s 
Prayer, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper, and more. It is available 
at no cost to the congregations and schools of the LCMS, 
WELS, and ELS.
•	 Gemstones
 is an 
ever-expanding, searchable library of video 
presentations on a variety of theological topics. It is designed 
C. Concordia University System Education 
Network (CUEnet)
CUEnet was founded in 1996 as a collaborative effort among 
CUS colleges and universities to provide online teacher colloquy 
education. Online teacher colloquy remains the primary activity of 
CUEnet. CUEnet’s offices are located in Bend, Ore., while students 
are served throughout the entire Synod. Administratively, CUEnet 
is responsible to the leadership of the CUS and the CUS campus 
presidents.
In addition to providing online teacher colloquy, CUEnet also 
offers colloquy courses for those pursuing colloquy in other catego-
ries of commissioned ministry through one of the CUS colleges or 
universities. The first six courses (Old Testament, New Testament, 
History of Theology, Christian Doctrine, Lutheran Confessions, 
and Varieties of Belief) are common to all commissioned collo -
quy programs. As such, students may take these six courses with 
CUEnet if the institution through which they are seeking certifica -
tion allows.
CUEnet provides a seminar program, Gemstones, and Images 
of Faith as additional educational resources. These programs draw 
on material from the colloquy courses, along with additional mate-
rials, to further enhance Lutheran education within the Synod and 
beyond. Additional information will be shared about each of these 
elsewhere in this report.
C.1. Leadership Change
During the 2023–26 triennium, CUEnet experienced a leader -
ship change. Prior to the 2023 convention, several individuals who 
had previously served CUEnet for many years discontinued their 
service. CUEnet’s founder, the Rev. Dr. Ray Halm, was called to 
his eternal rest. CUEnet’s chief operations officer, Dr. Heather 
Stueve, accepted a call to serve at another LCMS ministry. Another 
long-time staff member also left CUEnet to pursue a different area 
of service. The result of these various staff changes was a period of 
vacancy, which included additional staff transitions. 
In the summer of 2024, the Rev. Dr. Paul A. Philp was called by 
CUS to serve as executive director of CUEnet. Dr. Philp served the 
ten years prior as the CUS director of institutional research and in-
tegrity. In that role, he regularly interfaced with the CUEnet staff on 
various issues and served as the CUS representative to the Colloquy 
Committee for Commissioned Ministry (CCCM). Dr. Philp was in-
stalled in September of 2024 and continues also to serve as assistant 
to the CUS president and CUS representative to the CCCM. Dr. 
Philp’s connections to the CUS, the individual CUS institutions, the 
CCCM, and CUEnet enable regular interaction and partnerships to 
continue the work of teacher colloquy.
C.2. Strategic Planning
CUEnet is developing a strategic plan for the future. This strate-
gic plan will build on CUEnet’s strengths in colloquy education and 
explore new and expanded ways for CUEnet to partner with various 
stakeholders in this area. A critical component of CUEnet’s strate-
gic future will be strengthening its relationships with the CUS insti-
tutions it serves. Closer relationships with the campuses will enable 
sharing of ideas with content experts, strengthening CUEnet’s of-
ferings. CUEnet will also seek to build strategic partnerships with 
other entities to bolster the work of CUEnet, increase philanthropic 
support for student scholarships, and develop added resources for 
use in the congregations and schools of the Synod.