Some congregations have schools associated with them. This can be a good thing for the children of the congregation, but it gives Pr. Scheisskerl and his associate, Pr. Mistkerl, more people to have to work with. This can be a challenge. Some advice:
1. When talking to a teacher, NEVER say, “Well, sure that’s a nice idea, if the school stays open.”
2. Don’t let the teachers conduct devotions of their choosing and then complain that said devotions were from less-than-Lutheran sources. Of course they were! Look at what is taught at where most of your teachers received their training! You are the pastor. Teach the teachers. Without being a jerk.
3. If a child, parent, or teacher asks you why your four-letter synod believes what they believe, you had better have an answer ready. And it had better sound like it makes sense. And it had better sound like at least you believe it.
4. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES use the Office of the Holy Ministry (LCMS) or call as a male pastor in the full-time public ministry (WELS) to beat your teachers into submission. It will backfire. Painfully.
5. You can’t die on every hill. If the eighth graders are being shown the Left Behind video series for religion class, you should deal with that-it’s a hill to die on. If the preschool kids are parading up to the front of church once a month to sing some meaningless sappy song, it may annoy you and all parishioners with Lutheran sensibilities, but this is not a hill worth dying on.
6. Let the principal and teachers do their jobs and thank them. They are getting just as much grief as you are. Parents can be just as bad as methobaptiluthecostals.
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2 comments:
I taught a two year old to sing "These are the Holy Ten Commands." She loved it. At that age, they'll sing anything.
Not a hill to die on. But a fun thing to try if you get the chance. :D
Indeed. And if you are blessed with teachers who see the value in teaching such excellent songs to the children, rejoice!
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