wfn.org | U.S. House Recognizes 'Lutheran Schools Week'

[News News <NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

March 6, 2003

U.S. HOUSE RECOGNIZES 'LUTHERAN SCHOOLS WEEK'
03-042-JB

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- The U.S. House of Representatives adopted a
resolution March 4 -- by a vote of 407 to 0 -- supporting the goals of
Lutheran Schools Week, and congratulating "Lutheran schools, students,
parents, teachers, administrators and congregations across the nation
for their ongoing contributions to education."
     The year's Lutheran Schools Week is March 2-8, with the theme,
"Following Jesus in the World."
     Lutheran Schools Week is an annual observance intended to call
attention to 4,841 Lutheran early childhood centers, and elementary and
secondary schools, with more than 40,000 teachers serving 573,000
students.  About 2,000 early childhood centers, elementary and secondary
schools are affiliated with the 5.1-million member Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA), based here.  Some 20,000 teachers and 250,000
students are part of the ELCA schools system.
     Most other Lutheran schools, students and teachers are affiliated
with the St. Louis-based Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) and the
Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, based in Milwaukee.
     House Resolution 106 was introduced Feb. 26 by U.S. Rep. Douglas
Bereuter (R-Neb. 1st ).  When the resolution was introduced, Bereuter, a
member of the LCMS, said he is a graduate of a Lutheran elementary
school and is "well-acquainted with the many first-rate Lutheran
educational institutions in his congressional district."
     "Not only are Lutheran schools known for their academic quality,
but for their ability to aid moral development," Bereuter said.  "These
institutions provide spiritual guidance to students, instilling
fundamental values that are crucial to personal development."
     Through their education, Lutheran school children gain an
appreciation for the importance of family values, community service and
faith in their lives, he said.	"This, in turn, has helped shape
students of Lutheran schools into good leaders of tomorrow," Bereuter
added.
     In the resolution, House members noted that the nation's Lutheran
schools "deliver high-quality education and challenge students to reach
their potential."  They added that Lutheran schools produce students who
are "strongly dedicated" to their faith, values and morals by providing
"an environment that encourages honesty, trust, respect and
responsibility."
     "We are truly honored by this resolution as it celebrates and
lifts up before this entire nation the value our Lutheran schools offer
by providing high-quality education in a faith-based community," said
Robert Federwitz, ELCA associate in ministry and director for schools,
ELCA Division for Higher Education and Schools, in a letter to Bereuter.
  "Our Lutheran schools have an excellent reputation not only
because of the high-quality education that is faith-based, but also
because they provide safe, caring, nurturing communities that are often
seen as islands of hope," Federwitz' letter said. "Our Lutheran schools
have highly educated and highly dedicated administrators and teachers."
-- -- --
  More information about Lutheran Schools Week is at
http://www.elca.org/dhes/schools/schoolsweek on the ELCA Web site.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html