wfn.org | [LCMSNews] Educators find 'insights' at LEA Convo

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	May 10, 2005 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 30

	Educators find info, fellowship,
	inspiration at LEA Convocation

	By Joe Isenhower Jr.

	INDIANAPOLIS--Lutheran educators from around the world say they
found practical tips and professional insights to take home from the
eighth triennial national Convocation of Lutheran Education Association
(LEA) here April 7-9.

	They also said they experienced the joys of rubbing shoulders
with peers from 41 states and seven countries at the Convocation, while
their faith and energy got a boost from speakers and others.

	At least that's the way randomly selected Convocation
participants described the impact of the event that brought a record
4,407 of them to the Indiana Convention Center.

	They gathered in the convention hall for worship, presentations,
and sit-down banquets, browsed booths manned by 137 exhibitors, and
fanned throughout the building and nearby hotels for 200 sectional
workshops.

	Three indigenous teachers from the Highland International School
in Papua New Guinea attended their first Convocation.

	"I know they feel very, very welcomed," said Dr. Lee
Schluckebier of Seward, Neb., a part-time religion instructor at the
Highland school. "They appreciate being in touch with all these
educators and feeling part of a larger ministry," Schluckebier said.

	Their school, started by Synod missionaries about 50 years ago,
has 170 students and a staff of 17.

	"We so often do our own thing, but the LEA Convocation brings us
all together for spiritual and professional development, along with
personal growth," said Aaron Landgrave, principal of St. Paul Lutheran
School, Oak Lawn, Ill.

	That school's entire staff of 17 was at the Convocation -- with
expenses covered by the school's budget, fund-raising projects (such as
the recent sale of chocolate Easter bunnies), and donations.

	Landgrave said that all 17 school staff also are members of LEA,
which currently has a membership of more than 5,500.

	"We certainly appreciate everything that LEA offers in the way
of helpful information and resources," he said.

	"There is no way to describe the rejuvenation that took place
for me over the course of these three short days," said Jennifer Raess,
principal of Mission Lutheran School, Las Cruces, N.M.

	Raess, attending her first national Convocation with a teacher
from the school staff, said she planned to put together a notebook with
the handouts and notes she got at the event to share with others at the
school, which was opened in the mid-1990s and now has about 45 students.

	"It was such a rewarding, faith-building experience that I will
plan now for more of our staff to attend in 2008," said Raess, adding
that the school would start a savings account to help make that
possible.

	Mission Lutheran School's budget covered lodging and travel
expenses for its two Convocation participants, and LEA helped offset
registration expenses.

	LEA scholarship funds helped numerous others with Convocation
expenses, including funding for six school administrators from
inner-city New York City who had never been to a Convocation before.

	"My expectations have certainly been exceeded," said one of them
-- Barbara Chin-Sinn, principal of St. John Lutheran School, Glendale,
in Queens. Chin-Sinn said that for her, the Convocation was "very well
thought out and organized -- educational, informational, and
inspirational" -- enabling her to renew established friendships and
start new ones.

	"This Convocation has certainly lived up to its reputation,"
said Mary Nordeen, administrator for St. Mark Lutheran School, Brooklyn,
N.Y. "I feel transformed, transfused, and energized."

	Nordeen said she intended to "try to transfer some of that
enthusiasm" to others after returning to New York City.

	Much of the funding for their scholarships came from educators
attending the previous LEA Convocation -- in Minneapolis in 2002.

	There, teachers and administrators gave more than $12,000 in a
Communion-service offering to help Lutheran schools most affected by the
Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on America.

	LEA Executive Director Jonathan Laabs said that the offering of
$17,000 from this year's Convocation Communion service will provide
support for a new LEA project to help educators, schools, and community
centers in Indonesia recover from the effects of the tsunami that
devastated that country Dec. 26.

	Dr. Mitri Raheb, pastor of Christmas Lutheran Church in
Bethlehem, Israel, thanked LEA for its support, including funds from the
2002 Convocation offering.

	His congregation -- in the West Bank and often caught in the
crossfire of the conflict between Israel and Palestinians -- operates a
school and a health and wellness center.

	"Thank you for your prayers and support, which have kept us
going," Raheb said at the Convocation's opening session.

	Other Convocation speakers this year included Synod President
Gerald B. Kieschnick, who delivered the sermon for the opening communion
service; Rev. Victor Belton
	of Decatur, Ga., preacher for the "sending event" that closed
the Convocation; and Dr. Marva Dawn of Vancouver, Wash., keynoter.

	Their presentations addressed the Convocation theme, "Redeemed,
Revived, Ready."

	"It was truly inspiring to welcome so many dedicated educators
at all levels," Laabs said after the Convocation. "We are excited to
support the ministries of Lutheran educators worldwide in whatever ways
we can."

	Laabs noted that more than 200 volunteers helped with the 2005
Convocation, including a consulting team of some 50 educators and a
10-member Planning Team.

	LEA's next Convocation, in 2008, is set for April 24-26 in
Minneapolis.

	For more information about the Lutheran Education Association,
go to its Web site, www.lea.org <http://www.lea.org>  .

	***************************************

	If you have questions or comments about this LCMSNews release,
contact Joe Isenhower Jr. at joe.isenhower@lcms.org or (314) 996-1231,
or Paula Schlueter Ross at paula.ross@lcms.org or (314) 996-1230.

	***************************************

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