ELCA Task Force On Education Readies Study Materials

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- A task force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) finished its work on materials that will help the church's 10,657 congregations study issues around "a Lutheran vision of education" in advance of developing a social statement on education. The ELCA Task Force on Education completed "Our Calling in Education: A Lutheran Study" at its meeting here Sept. 10-12.
"The purpose of the study document is to provide a framework for discussion and a means of engaging broad and deep conversation across the church," said Dr. Paul J. Dovre, former president, Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn., and task force co-chair.
"We hope the study brings many audiences within the ELCA to dialogue about education in all its diversity and to engage in discussions about our calling in education," said Christi Lines, principal, St. Paul's Lutheran School, Waverly, Iowa, and task force co-chair.
The board of the ELCA Division for Church in Society appointed the 16-member task force in 2003. The Rev. John R. Stumme, the division's director for studies, will present the study materials to the board when it meets here Oct. 21-23. The approved study materials will be available to congregations by the end of 2004, he said.
The study materials include a response form, asking congregations to send their comments to the task force by Oct. 1, 2005. "The task force hopes that during the first nine months of 2005 there will be a lot of discussion of the ideas and tentative proposals in the study," Stumme said.
"The feedback from the study will guide us as we write the first draft of the social statement," Lines said. The task force plans to have the first draft of a proposed social statement ready in 2006 and a final draft in 2007.
The 2001 ELCA Churchwide Assembly called for a social statement on education. The board of the Division for Church in Society, which directs the development of social statements, approved the timeline for the presentation of a proposed social statement on education to the 2007 ELCA Churchwide Assembly.
"During its first four meetings, the task force has been striving to clarify its own thinking on the vital issues of education in our church and society," Stumme said. "Now the task force wants to hear from others in our church. The study is a means for broadening the discussion, listening to the concerns and ideas of others, and encouraging conversation on education throughout our church," he said.
The DCS board defined the four purposes of the possible social statement:
+ present a Lutheran vision of education for our time
+ address issues of education and schooling for children and young people in our society, with attention to purpose and quality, equity and access for all, responsibilities, and religion's role in public schooling
+ set forth an understanding of our church's own educational institutions (preschool, primary and secondary schools, and colleges and universities)
+ consider our church's ministries in relation to public schools and universities and the vocation of Christians involved in education in different roles.
The study materials will help ELCA members to consider education from their calling as Christians and to work for sound educational systems and policies within the church and society, Stumme said.
The churchwide assembly is the ELCA's chief legislative authority. It meets every two years. The next assembly will be held Aug. 8-14, 2005, at the Marriott World Center, Orlando, Fla.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news