Lutheran Schools – Mission Outposts in Your Community

© 2015, Rev. Peter Meier, D Min Center For United States Missions

Lutheran Schools – Models for Mission

1. Spiritual blessing, salvation of souls

2. State benefits from educated Christian citizens

St. Louis, 1839 • Catechism • Bible History • US, World History • Reading (German) • Writing (German) • Grammar • Arithmetic, Algebra, Geometry • Penmanship • Science • Geography • English language

“The establishment of a school was almost simultaneous with the establishment of a congregation. In the cities, it often preceded the founding of the congregation.” (AC Stellhorn, Schools of the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod, CPH, p 92)

“Without Parochial Schools, No Prosperity of the Church,” Walther, 1873

“The congregation or parish resolves to maintain a school for the purpose of carrying out its own obligation toward the children of the community, particularly those of its members, according to the words of Christ, ‘Feed my lambs,’ ‘Teach all nations… teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.’” (Stellhorn, Lutheran Schools, 193)

Missiology 101: Cultural Insiders and Cultural Outsiders

What do you observe in YOUR community?

• Evidence of a “post-church” world… • No absolute truth…truth is “emerging”... • “Right” / “Wrong” defined by… • The truth of Christ is no longer a cultural

truth or necessity for today’s prosperity… • The institutional church has lost its relevance

in this culture… • Denominational loyalty has faded…

How do we reach them? • De-churched

• Unchurched

• Attractional

• Incarnational

“IN the Community” “Fortress” • Community has no

influence on the church • Church exists for the

members • No contribution to the

community • ZERO involvement,

influence, impact

“TO the Community” “Savior” • Bless the community on

its (church’s) own terms • Relief ministries offered

(food, clothing, gas, furniture handouts, etc) to make up for deficits

• MINIMAL involvement, influence, impact

“WITH the Community” “Partner” • Helping people to a

relationship with God • Discovering and

unleashing community assets

• KINGDOM involvement, influence, impact

Moving from “IN” “WITH”

Do you know YOUR community?

• The needs of members… • The needs of other Christians… • The needs of non-Christians… • Whose needs come first? Why? • How can you discover those needs and

learn their story?

Basic Community Missiology

• Define your “neighborhood” or “community”

• Demographics (“Hard”data) – US Census Bureau – census.gov – LCMS District Office (LCEF) – free! – Community (librarian, local schools, city

planner, chamber of commerce…) – Map (city planner, mapquest, google)

Look, Listen

• Walkabout – Get out there! (“Soft”) – Prayer Walks (pray4everyhome.com)

– Observe, take notes • Structures • Scraps of Life (artifacts, activities, values) • Signage (language, shops, etc) • Sounds & Smells • Signs of Hope (other organizations, resources,

partners)

Look, Listen

• Walkabout – Get out there! – Eat & Shop locally – Spend an hour in a waiting area

(medical, courtroom, city offices, etc) – Community bulletin boards – City Meetings, cultural events – Other churches

Learn by Listening

Ask… – How is God already at work here? – What areas of community life call for

God’s transformation? (idols) – What would God’s “shalom” look like in

our community? – How can we best participate in God’s

redemptive/transformative plans?

“The school is our mission.” What does this mean?

• For our kids to grow up safe with other Lutheran or Christian kids?

• Get our kids ready for Confirmation? • Teach our kids moral living and good

deeds? • Teach our kids how to be intentional

about sharing Jesus with everyone they meet?

Why do we have a school? • That all might be

saved. 1 Tim 2 • That every knee

will bow and every tongue confess. Philippians 2

• That every Christian will “be my witnesses…” Acts 1

• To teach kids Biblical truths and morals

• “To raise my kids in the faith”

• Because we’ve always had one

• “Because I went here” • Mainly for our

members or other Christians

• Parental promises made at Baptism

The members of a “missional congregation/school”

think, plan and act in alignment with the Great Commission.

The vision, mission, staffing, policies, priorities and budget are intentionally determined in light of the

congregation’s role to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with their community.

“Intentionally engaged in God’s Mission”

A “Missional School”

So Who’s Job Is It Anyway?

All the Baptized have one and the same vocation. . .

“missionary”

Who are YOUR 3? ___________________

___________________

___________________

School Model Is Changing

• No longer Lutherans educating their own children for the sake of the church

• Not as parish based – others sending children for various reasons

• Tuition causes a consumer mindset • Increased mission opportunities but often a

disconnect or missed opportunities

Driving Forces for LCMS Schools

Inward Focus – Outward Focus

Open to Change – Resistant to Change

How Can the School Support the Mission of the Congregation?

How Can the Pastor be Supportive of the School?

Lutheran School Teams • More than “team ministry” – • “Missionary Team” – organized

intentionally to carry out the Great Commission

Missional Leadership Missionaries always are faced with more questions than answers.

Leaders are always searching for answers to the questions, and enlisting others to help figure it out and carry out their plan.

Missional Leadership • Synthesis of “missional” with

leadership concepts. • Includes all members of the staff, each

one a vital member of the missionary team

Missional Leaders • Live their lives on missional purpose • Efforts are energized by vision of the

preferred future • Willing to risk for the sake of mission • Prefer to work in teams, releasing

ministry to people, and people for ministry

• Genuinely spiritual

Missional Leaders • Are missionaries themselves • Are leaders of missionary teams • Are missional strategists who focus on

training, deploying, debriefing their missionary force

Missional Leaders Ask three vital questions of constituents: 1. What does God desire for our church (and

what role does the school have in that)? 2. What would God have us do as individuals

and as a body? 3. How should we organize/structure our

ministry to best accomplish God’s purposes for us?

Missional Leadership and Lutheran Schools

• “Where there is a strong pastor/ principal relationship, schools seem to be growing.” (Cochran)

• “Church and school leadership must make school outreach a priority, beginning with the pastor and principal working as a strong united team.” (Lucas)

Missional Leadership and Lutheran Schools

“Usually, when churches talk about

using their schools as outreach to the community, they are looking for people to join the church, and so

schools become the bait for getting new members.”

Missional Leadership and Lutheran Schools

“If our school communities are mission fields, then it is time to

think, plan, and act like missionaries.”

Missional Schools In our post-church culture,

Lutheran Schools have the potential

and the means to make a powerful impact for the sake of the Gospel!

Missional Schools •Distinctly Lutheran •Organized around the Great

Commission •Active in service with their

community

Missional Schools Imagine the Kingdom multiplication possibilities if… • Our entire LCMS Lutheran school system

saw itself as intentionally/actively engaged in God’s mission…

• Each Lutheran church/school saw itself as a mission training center…

• Each student were trained and equipped as a missionary!

Richard K. Schnake, “The Little Bread Store: A Parable for Urban Lutheran Schools.” Lutheran Education Journal, Volume 141, No 1, pages 53-36.

Lutheran Schools – Mission Outposts in Your Community

© 2015, Rev. Peter Meier, D Min Center For United States Missions