First Lutheran Teacher

  Pictured above is a plaque on the Trinity Lutheran School building  in Altenburg, Missouri.  This school was in existence from the early years of the German immigration in Perry County, Missouri until now, although it has undergone some changes.  In the 1960's, this school joined with Concordia Lutheran Church in Frohna, Missouri to become Concordia-Trinity Lutheran School.  Then last year a decision was made to also include Salem Lutheran Church in a new association, so it is now called United in Christ Lutheran School, which is located in Frohna.  This is their first year of existence.
   Johann F.F. Winter (probably pronounced Vinter) was the only "teacher" among the immigrants on the original five ships traveling to American in 1838-1839.  A good argument could be made that he was the first Lutheran school teacher in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.  Teacher Winter is also given credit for the only drawing of the Log Cabin College when it was in its first location.
   As we celebrate National Lutheran Schools Week, we do well to celebrate the teachers of our Lutheran schools.  They do amazing things in our Synod's schools.  For the most part, these teachers get salaries which are considerably less than their government school counterparts.  The job descriptions of these teachers also go above and beyond the expectations of a typical government school teacher, including such tasks as youth director, coach, choir director, or Sunday School teacher.  These Lutheran teachers are incredibly dedicated to not only the welfare of their students, but also the welfare of their school and church.  Their hours of work extend well beyond the hours that they spend in their classrooms each day.
   One alarming fact about Lutheran teachers these days is that there are not enough of them that are male.  This is not just the case for Lutheran schools.  It exists in government schools too.  However, I think it is probably worse in Lutheran schools.  For example, United in Christ Lutheran School here in Perry County has NO male teachers on its staff, unless you count the pastors that come in to teach confirmation.  One thing our Synod ought to do is somehow encourage more of our young men to pursue careers in our Lutheran schools.
  Please take time to honor Lutheran teachers this week.  Hold them in high esteem. 

National Lutheran Schools Week - Part 2

  

 

    Earlier this week, I wrote about the log cabin school which was built on my property. These are pictures of that log cabin as it exists today on display at Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum in Altenburg, Missouri.  The top picture shows a list of the original eleven students who attended this school during that first year in 1839.  My personal favorite is J.A.F.W. Mueller, who around these parts is referred to as "Alphabet" Mueller.

   In 1842, this building was moved closer to where Pastor Loeber lived in Altenburg.  When it was moved at that time, it was disassembled and then reassembled.  Shortly after that, the purpose of this school was changed from that of a coed school to one whose purpose was to train young men to be ministers.  In other words, it became a seminary.  This building then housed the beginnings of what became Concordia Seminary which was later relocated to St. Louis.  It is my understanding that there were five graduates of Concordia Seminary, Altenburg before it was relocated.

   I really think that one of the driving forces behind the establishments of these early schools in America was that these German immigrants had just come from a place where the state was determining what their children were learning,  In addition, their pastors had been in a situation where they were being told to change their teachings to correspond with dictates of the state.  These Germans did not want this to happen again.  They wanted to make sure that their children knew the basic tenets of their faith while preparing them to live in this new country.  They also wanted to make sure their doctrinal beliefs were passed along to the next generation of pastors.  They also recognized that these new pastors were going to be necessary for a church body that they believed would thrive and grow in America.  And it did.

   Lutheran schools continue to fulfill these functions today.  Students get a quality education in an environment where the Law and Gospel permeate everything they do, preparing them to be good American citizens.  Lutheran schools also have become the best breeding grounds for producing the next generation of professional church workers and congregational leaders.  Happy National Lutheran Schools Week.

The First LCMS School

  I feel compelled to tell you the story of the very first school of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod. The story is very special to me.  The marker shown in this picture was taken this morning on my property behind my barn.  It designates the location of the log cabin school which was located there from 1839-1842.
  In the early 1800's in what is now Germany, the state church was Lutheran.  It was governed by the royalty.  During this time period, there was a movement to unite the Lutherans with some Reformed church bodies.  As a result, Lutheran churches were mandated to make changes in how they were worshiping and what they were teaching.  There were some Lutherans, sometimes referred to as "old Lutherans", who, being dictated by their consciences, would not tolerate such changes.  After years of fighting against this movement, a group was organized which had the goal of leaving Germany to go to a place where they could maintain their confessional beliefs.  An immigration society grew to about 700 people who left Germany in late 1838 to come to America so that they could enjoy  freedom of religion.
   The story of this immigration is filled with stories of hardships.  However, despite the difficulties, these immigrants survived, establishing a colony in Perry County, Missouri.  During their first year, this group decided it was important to build a school so that their faith could be taught to their children.  You see, one of the reasons they left Germany was because they thought it was important to pass their doctrinal beliefs on to the next generation.  A small log cabin was built at the location above which opened its doors in 1839 to eleven students, which consisted of 7 boys and 4 girls. Classes were taught in German, but English as well as several other languages were part of the curriculum.  The log cabin still exists today and is on display at the Lutheran Heritage Center & Museum in Altenburg, Missouri.
   Part of this story is that the first Lutheran church in Perry County was built in 1845.  That's right.  A Lutheran school was built BEFORE the first church was built.  Church services were held in a pastor's parsonage during those first years.  Just think about that for a moment.  The Lutheran school was considered so important that it was built well before they got around to building a church.  They certainly valued the Christian education of their young ones.
   Today, the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod has several thousand early childhood centers, elementary schools, high schools, and colleges.  It all started behind my barn.  I confess that I am rather proud of that.  God has granted countless blessings to proceed from that humble beginning.  Those immigrants did not just see their school as a nice thing to have.  They considered it to be a NECESSARY part of their church and community.  God bless Lutheran schools.  Let's start more of them.

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.