National Lutheran Schools Week

   For schools that are part of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, this week is National Lutheran Schools Week.  Having served in Lutheran schools for 38 years, I feel very strongly about the great benefits which come from schools which teach about Jesus and promote very high standards of education and morality. 
   I also know that there are tremendous challenges in keeping these schools funded and full of students.  Recent years have been very tough on Lutheran schools, and I suspect this trend to continue.  Here are some of the challenges as I see them.

• Most Lutheran schools operate with most of their income coming from tuition.  With the economy the way it is, schools find it necessary to raise tuition to cover the increased costs of operation.  If you ask administrators, they will tell you one of the biggest factors driving increased costs is the continuous rise in the cost of providing health care for its workers.  At the same time, parents are finding it more difficult to have the income necessary to afford sending their children to Lutheran schools.  Many parents would love to have their children receive the quality Christian education that is being offered in Lutheran schools, but the money is just not there  With regard to the economy, I put a lot of the blame for its poor condition squarely on the backs of politicians.  It angers me that the irresponsible actions in Washington, DC are having such a harmful impact on our Lutheran schools.  Parents reluctantly put their children into the government schools where they are not able to learn their Bible and instead are learning tenets which are part of the philosophy of secular humanism.
• While many forces working against our schools are external, I believe one of the biggest problems facing these schools is an internal one.  Members of churches and in some cases the pastors as well have started looking at their schools as being a drain on the finances to the congregations.  In other words, the support from our congregations for our schools is not at the level it once was.  I happen to be where a Lutheran school is supported by three congregations in which no tuition is charged to the parents.  Almost all of the students attending our school are members of these congregations.  It is a rare case nowadays to have a Lutheran school that charges no tuition.  Even here, however, you hear some grumbling about how the school is costing too much money.  I have served at other congregations where the support has been much  less.  The attitude in many situations is that it is acceptable to have a school as long as it pays for itself.  The result of having a tuition-only approach to a school is that many of the children of members of a congregation do not attend the school.  These schools also morph into schools which learn to depend on non-member students to attend the school, paying the higher non-member tuition rates that are part of most school's policies.  Then a few other dominoes fall.  Members of a congregation become even less supportive of the school because they lose their sense of "ownership" of the school.  Also, there are forces at play in the administration of the school which tend to make the school less "Lutheran".  In addition, when a school is run by tuition, parents who have put their own children through school by sacrificing much financially feel that they have done their "fair share" in supporting the school while their children attend.  Once their children are out of school, their support is no longer there.  

   Lutheran schools are such an important part of the spiritual life of a congregation.  The Lutheran school helps ensure that the next generation of members have a solid foundation in their Christian beliefs.  The passing on of the Lutheran doctrine to our children is vital to the life of a congregation.  Add to that the fact that our children would be subjected to teachings in the government schools which do not coincide with our Biblical beliefs.  The children would also not learn in an environment where Law and Gospel are taught and implemented.  Lutheran churches are going to need future leaders who are well-versed in their Lutheran doctrine.
  My wife and I plan to continue my support for Lutheran schools for the rest of our lives, and if there are any funds left, we plan to make it possible for our support to continue even after we die.  I urge you to do the same.  Do what you can to make sure those schools are operated in a fiscally responsible way.  Make sure the Lutheran doctrine continues to be taught there.  If you are parents, send your children there.  If you are grandparents, do what you can to make sure your grandchildren attend.  Give encouragement to the teachers in your Lutheran school.  Lutheran schools are important enough that it justifies us making sacrifices to keep them functioning.  Pray for our schools.  Pray for the staff of the schools.  Pray for the students and their parents.
   Join me in celebrating National Lutheran Schools Week.