LEAven Blog

When the Convocation is over, and you head back to his/her individual ministries. What’s the take away from this year’s experience in Milwaukee? 

First and foremost, consider these words from the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians:  19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,[a] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by[b] the Spirit.  Ephesians 2:19-22 

• It is our prayer that you understood and knew the togetherness that all Lutheran teachers have as we serve our Lord and Savior in our collective ministries. 
• It is our hope that you will have met new people, reconnected with friends, and experienced the joy of togetherness through plenaries, sectionals, banquets, and visited the exhibit hall.
• It is our desire that you and your staff will remember and recall that you are “called and called together,” “uniquely you, uniquely together,” “broken and held together by Christ,” and “better together.” We are hopeful these themes will bring about continued conversations throughout the remainder of the school year. 

What are other takeaways? 

Reflection

• What sectional(s) were your favorite and why? 
• How many new things did you learn or experience? 
• Did you feel welcome and part of a community? 
• What would you be willing to present at the next LEA Convocation?
• What’s the one thing you can’t wait to share with your fellow faculty members, students, or even congregation members? 

Evaluations

• During the Convocation you will have had the opportunity to evaluate your sectionals on the App. After the Convocation, you will be sent an Electronic Evaluation to complete. Please take the time to give us your thoughts. Your feedback is used to plan the next Convocation and is vital to the success of future events.  

Professional Development

• On the last page of your Convocation booklet, there is a form to record your hours for professional development. Complete the form and give it to your administrator for your personnel file. 

Finally, what is the one thing that you wish you knew before, during, and after the Convocation? It is absolutely worth the expense to attend, worship, and join together with fellow teachers in our Lutheran schools.

Many thanks to Paul Piel for his assistance on this series of Convocation blogs.