Schools the main subject

The mission of Lutheran schools was the main subject of this year’s opening lecture at Australian Lutheran College (ALC).Presented by Tania Nelson, Head of the School of Theological Studies at ALC, the lecture was entitled ‘Leadership matters: principals, pastors and the mission of Lutheran schools’. The presentation marked the opening of the academic year for the college, along with a worship service.

Mrs Nelson’s paper draws from doctoral research on the contributions of pastors and principals to the mission of Lutheran primary schools.

‘The skills required to lead a school community and faith community are far more than having good managerial skills, though these skills are helpful’, said Mrs Nelson, a member of the Board of Directors of Lutheran Education Australia and a former teacher in Lutheran schools.

‘The principals and pastors perceived the mission of the school as strengthened through staff and parent partnerships. They saw the mission as multi-faceted – including the education of the whole child for life; nurturing staff, students and parents in the faith; reaching out to all with the faith; and serving the community and beyond’.

The lecture included 10 recommendations to strengthen the mission focus of schools. These related to matters including the in-service training of principals and pastors, other school leadership training, spiritual headship and exploring missional leadership in faith-based schools.

The ALC opening program also included the launch of the Kriewaldt Chair in Systematic Theology, a lectureship established through the support of members of Martin Kriewaldt’s family.

In other ALC news, Pastor Richard Haar, formerly of St Paul’s Glenelg in Adelaide’s western suburbs, has been installed to serve as Lecturer in Systematics and Pastoral Theology at the college.

Watch a video or read Tania Nelson’s ALC opening lecture for 2016 here.