From the Executive Director
Tomorrow’s Lutheran Education
The year 2017 will mark the 75th anniversary of Lutheran Education Association. At its inception in 1942, the founders realized that at the rate that the number of schools was increasing, there would be thousands of new students pouring into the pipeline and the need for qualified Lutheran educators would be at an all-time high. They foresaw the “boom” of Lutheran education around the corner. The organizers also saw the need for an independent association that would focus on the educators themselves—to equip and affirm the growing variety of individuals being trained at Lutheran higher education institutions and other education organizations.
Many years have come and gone since 1942. So have many Lutheran schools. Conditions over the years have caused a significant decline in the number of schools, the number of students served, and the quantity of teachers in the system. Time has also shown major changes in the ways that Lutheran educators carry out their ministries. Funding, societal and demographic shifts, and education movements are some of the factors that have caused challenges to the field of Lutheran education. It may be difficult for some, on the surface, to see the similarities of Lutheran schools 75 years ago and now.
I believe that despite the abundance of changes and obstacles experienced by Lutheran education leaders and teachers over the years, the very core of Lutheran education not only has remained consistent with its early years of development but also has been enhanced as those challenges have been faced head-on. Though school closures and decline in numbers are never desired, God has used His people to create innovative means of proclaiming His Word and teaching about Jesus’ love in new places and in different ways. When we are open to His direction, there are no limits to approaching Lutheran education with a fresh perspective. (See Ed Grube’s feature article “What Will We Do?” for some thought-provoking new ideas and to add your thoughts.)
Lutheran Education Association has taken on the task of looking into the future of Lutheran education in some refreshing ways. Its Board of Directors has initiated discussions about reaching beyond what have traditionally been considered as “mainline” approaches. Through its strategic planning process, LEA has begun to explore new avenues for defining Lutheran education in a broader way, including emerging models for schools, virtual delivery systems, education in the home, and global Lutheran education. Specifically, we continue to focus on the educator, who today has more need than ever to feel supported, networked, and equipped to deal with changes.
LEA was blessed to receive a grant from the Thrivent Financial Foundation to assess the current conditions of Lutheran education, to explore new ways of supporting educators, and to identify new means of sustaining and growing LEA itself. Under the theme of Building Tomorrow’s LEA, we are taking on a two-year initiative to dive into new territory. The first phase of the project has just been completed. During the first few months of 2016, we conducted research involving data collection, interviews with national leaders, and input from focus groups throughout the country. I am happy to share with our readers the executive summary report.
I am both excited and optimistic about the future of Lutheran education. I know that God has already determined the directions we need to take and the planning we need to do. I am confident in His leading us to new, creative, and fulfilling means of carrying out His mission in our American communities and around the world.
May your new year in Lutheran education be productive and joy-filled.
