The LEArning Curve
Flourishing Together: Global Opportunities for Lutheran Schools
In an increasingly connected world, Lutheran schools have before them a remarkable opportunity: to extend the mission of Christ-centered education beyond local and national boundaries into a vibrant global fellowship of Christian educators. Members of the Lutheran Education Association (LEA), we are uniquely positioned to engage in meaningful partnerships with international Christian schools—relationships that reflect the unity of the body of Christ and advance the Gospel through education. In March of 2026, I spent time in Great Britain with Executive Director Emeritus Dr. Jonathan Laabs and LEA board member Angie Schiller. As your LEA board has been in discussion now for two years about such an opportunity to meet with world Christian school influencers – this trip was our starting point. Pictured are the group from Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, New Zealand, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Australia, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Germany, Norway, and, of course, America.
Our theme for our time together: Flourishing.
The Apostle Paul reminds us, “For just as the body is one and has many members… so it is with Christ” (1 Corinthians 12:12). This truth invites Lutheran educators to see global networking as an initiative, a faithful expression of our shared identity in Christ.
What Does a Flourishing Lutheran School Look Like?
We shared that a flourishing Lutheran school is one firmly rooted in Word and Sacrament, where Christ is at the center of all teaching and learning. It is a place where students are formed not only academically, but spiritually—growing in faith, wisdom, and service.
Such a school embodies:
- Christ-centered identity – orientation around the saving work of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:17).
- Vocation-driven purpose – Students are equipped to live out their God-given callings in service to their neighbor (Ephesians 2:10).
- Community and care – Relationships reflect the love of Christ, marked by grace, forgiveness, and mutual encouragement (John 13:34-35).
- Excellence in education – Academic rigor is pursued as an act of stewardship, recognizing that all truth is God’s truth.
- Missional outlook – A flourishing school looks outward, seeking to share the Gospel locally and globally (Matthew 28:19-20).
In short, a flourishing Lutheran school is a living witness to the abundant life we have in Christ (John 10:10), shaping students for both time and eternity.
Our opportunities for Global Networking
The emergence of global Christian education networks presents tangible pathways for LEA schools to connect, collaborate, and grow. Opportunities include:
1. Collaborative Professional Development
Lutheran educators can engage with international peers in shared learning experiences—exchanging best practices, including innovative approaches to teaching. These collaborations strengthen leaders and teachers alike.
2. Student Exchanges and Virtual Connections
Through technology, students can engage with peers across the world — sharing perspectives and deepening cultural understanding. Virtual classrooms, joint projects, and faith-based dialogues create meaningful connections.
3. Leadership Partnerships and Peer Review
School leaders can participate in international cohorts, engaging in reflective practices and peer review processes. These partnerships foster accountability, growth, and encouragement among leaders.
4. Shared Research and Resources
By working together, Lutheran and other Christian schools can contribute to and benefit from research on flourishing, faith formation, and educational excellence. Shared resources reduce duplication and expand impact.
5. Global Gatherings and Ongoing Fellowship
Intentional gatherings — both in-person and virtual — create space for relationship-building and strategic collaboration. These moments reflect the unity we have in Christ and inspire ongoing partnership.
The Benefits of Global Partnership
Engaging in global networking is not merely beneficial — it can be transformational. For the Lutheran Education Association, such partnerships offer several key advantages:
1. Expanded Vision for Ministry
Global connections help us move from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance—recognizing the vast ways God is at work in His Church.
2. Strengthened Leadership Capacity
Leaders grow through exposure to innovative ideas, contexts, and challenges. This leads to more effective system-level leadership within LEA schools.
3. Enhanced Student Formation
Students gain a broader understanding of the Church and their place within it. They learn that faith transcends culture and geography, preparing them to serve in an interconnected world. Think of the impact of our LCMS missionaries throughout the world!
4. Mutual Encouragement and Unity in Christ
In a time when Christian education can feel isolated or pressured, global partnerships remind us that we are not alone. We are part of a worldwide community united in Christ, encouraging one another in faith and mission (Hebrews 10:24-25).
A Distinctly Lutheran Contribution
As we engage globally, we do so with a distinctly Lutheran confession—grounded in the authority of Scripture, the centrality of grace, and the clarity of the Gospel. Our theology of vocation, our understanding of Law and Gospel, and our commitment to Christ-centered education offer rich gifts to the broader Christian educational community.
At the same time, we approach these partnerships with humility, recognizing that we, too, have much to learn. As Philippians 2:3 reminds us, “In humility count others more significant than yourselves.”
A Personal Reflection on The Blessings of our Recent Trip
Angie, Jon, and I spent time in Glasgow, Birmingham, and London. The people we met were genuinely interested in the framework of flourishing Christian schools. Spending time in a foreign country – including eating interesting food, observing the culture, and engaging in conversations – was a bright spot for us. It was also noted that many in our group did not know much about Lutheran schools. We shared! But we also learned from them. One example that gave us pause was the leader from Africa (pictured here), who told us that some families brought livestock to pay tuition. Others shared how involved their respective governments were. The bottom line for us was the opportunity to share about our Lutheran educators and schools in America, and to ponder our great blessings.
Moving Forward Together
The opportunity before the Lutheran Education Association: to step into a global network of Christian schools and leaders, not as isolated institutions, but as members of one Body in Christ. This is more than collaboration—it is participation in God’s redemptive work through Christ-centered education. It is a chance to bear witness to the Gospel, to learn from fellow believers, and to strengthen the mission of Lutheran schools for generations to come. As we move forward, may we do so with confidence in Christ’s promise:
“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).
In that promise, we find both our foundation and our future—flourishing together, for the sake of the Gospel.
