Lutheran Schools – Mission Outposts in Your...
Transcript of Lutheran Schools – Mission Outposts in Your...
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)
“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)
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…
“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
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”
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
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.