Some things flow back and forth. Tides flow in and out, in and out. Reversible chemistry converts reactants to products and products to reactants. Other things flow in just one direction. Rain falls and rivers run downstream. Time ticks forward and age grows older.
God created us and keeps creating us and everything around us. In schools and ECSs we especially see this in children growing spiritually, intellectually, physically, culturally and socially. While everything comes from God, he also wants us to be in right relationship with him. This relationship flows from God to us and back again. How amazing that the almighty God loves us, wants to listen to us, wants to be together with us and would send Jesus Christ to die for us and restore us to God!
Lutheran education receives our direction from God’s word. Because we believe that we are already saved, therefore we live in loving service to others (John 13:12-17, Matt 20:20-28); because we believe each child is a unique creation of God’s with God’s plan for them, therefore we educate and support each child to develop their unique gifts in service to others (Ps 139:13-18; Matt 22:34-40). Because we believe…, therefore… In what other ways do our beliefs shape Lutheran schooling and care? The LEA Vision for Learners and Learning explores this question and provides a basis for the authenticity and distinctiveness of Lutheran education.
We are reviewing the Vision for Learners and Learning this year and will be seeking your assistance with this process. A working party is writing a workshop to stimulate reflection on the ‘Framework for Lutheran schools’ and its alignment to Growing deep. In term 2, each school/ECS will be invited to run this workshop among yourselves and report back your thoughts to LEA. Who might you include in running the workshop in your school/ECS? Council members, senior staff, student representatives, parent representatives, teaching and non-teaching staff, congregation members? As well as informing the review, this is an opportunity to connect within your community with how our beliefs inform everything we do in Lutheran schools and ECSs.
The results from the workshops will be collated and this will inform the development of Stage 2 of the review. We will also be convening an Expert Reference Group who will review findings and materials throughout the process. Members of the Lutheran education community are invited to apply to be on this Expert Reference Group by emailing your interest to lea@lutheran.edu.au.
Because God talks to us, therefore we listen to what it means to learn and grow in a Lutheran school or ECS. Thank you for your service and thank you in advance for taking the time to talk among yourselves about how our beliefs and the Gospel of Jesus Christ informs all learning so that the schools and ECSs of the Lutheran church are communities where love and learning come to life.
Associate Professor Lisa Schmidt, Executive Director LEA