Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (Full Version)

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upNORTder -> Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/16/2008 11:43:56 AM)

Over the years on this forum many people have talked about the sevices that their church provides, coffee bars, restaurants etc. Many on this forum also criticize (usually with good reason) public schools. I don't think I have ever heard anyone talk about thier super God mall churches providing a Christian education. I am surprised as I attended a small Missouri synod Lutheran church that nonetheless offered a kindergarten to eighth grade education for the children of congregants. Many Lutheran churches here have schools. Why don't more churches offer a Christian education?



colliefan -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/16/2008 1:40:56 PM)

quote:

Why don't more churches offer a Christian education?


I am guessing the $$$ involved in such an undertaking. It would be like operating a not-for-profit business.



upNORTder -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/16/2008 4:47:28 PM)

The church I attended had around one thousand congregants, the school had about 125 pupils from k through eighth grade. Grades 1 & 2, 3 & 4, 5 & 6 and 7 & 8 each shared a classroom and the teacher. The teacher would teach some courses alternately, some together. Biblical teaching was integral. I believe that there was and is some government aid availale to such schools. They did charge tuition based on whether you were a member of the church or not. Seems a better use of funds than a cappuchino bar.



upNORTder -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/16/2008 4:49:30 PM)

quote:

It would be like operating a not-for-profit business.



Churches are supposed to be not for profit.



rcjames -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/16/2008 4:57:27 PM)

There are a lot of "Christian (Church)" schools in Oklahoma and texas.

Thanks
RC



TrustingGod -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/16/2008 8:59:51 PM)

I'm in Ohio and many churches in our area do provide private schools. In my small town alone, we have 2 Christian schools and one Catholic school. The school at my church is k-12 and we have preschool. The one around the corner is offering k-6 (I believe). The Catholic schools offers k-8.

Starting a school is a HUGE undertaking. We started very small (I want to say around 20 kids maybe) and grew each year (adding a grade a year). You have to have a financial base within a church to make this type of commitment. Salaries, insurance (for the school and for the employees), books, supplies, desks, building/space, administrators, state requirements, etc. Very time consuming and very expensive. WELL WORTH IT but understandably not feasible for all churches.

Just like different Christians have different gifts, I believe that different churches have different focuses. If we had a lot of small Christian schools instead of one large one, our enrollment would be split up within the community. We've had a high school for about 8 years and this year we are in our 3 year of a football program - took a long time to come and our first year team had around 16 players. If there were several schools in the city, our "player" base (for any sport or band or other activity) would be thinner. TO offer the quality programs, you have to the student base to support them.



ayani -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/26/2008 6:57:55 PM)

From my experience in my town:

The Christian Schools here are shrinking and disappearing here. Seems like the parents who would in the past have enrolled their kids in a parochial school are instead home-schooling. People can't or don't want to pay many thousands of dollars a year in tuition. Even many of the Catholic schools are in real decline.

Only a really big and wealthy church could afford to sponsor a school, or devote the volunteers.

The big mega-churches are extremely market-conscious, and do extensive surveying. I suspect they find that private school education is nowhere on the priority list of their young family members.



cog41 -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/28/2008 10:54:51 PM)

I'm with colliefan, it's the $$$$ and also quality staffing.



csl7037 -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (8/29/2008 7:00:49 AM)

My kids go to a fabulous school of about 500 students run by a Baptist Church. There are lots in this area but, frankly, very few provide the kind of quality that our school does. It's a huge undertaking!! You can't just put some chalkboards in a room and call it a school which is what some around here seem to do.



kleimoladmk -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/4/2008 11:08:48 PM)

I am a kinda-sorta pastor in the LC--MS. Two of the congregations I have served had Christian day schools. Yes, they are expensive operations. And it is also true they are poorly funded. Public teachers often complain that they aren't paid enough for the work they do. Lutheran School teachers often are paid 1/2 of what a public school teacher makes.

How do Lutheran schools survive? Often by the involuntary offerings of the staff of the congregation.

By the way, I believe every family with children in the school should be charged for books, supplies and pay tuition. That is the only way a Christian Day School can be operated with fiscal responsibility and Christian integrity . . . that means "one who teaches is worthy of double honor" . . . in other words, Christian day school teachers (and pastors) should be paid double what public school teachers (or, in the case of pastors, their equivalent) are paid.

Just a comment about this statement "2 Christian schools and one Catholic school" . . . Two points . . . first, all Christian denominations are "catholic" as in "one christian (the original word was catholic) and apostolic church". Second, last I heard, the Roman Catholic Church is also a Christian denomination. Therefore the community in question has three Christian schools. Just to be fair, what are the denominations of the other two schools?



JesKlu -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/5/2008 11:10:51 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: kleimoladmk

I am a kinda-sorta pastor in the LC--MS. Two of the congregations I have served had Christian day schools. Yes, they are expensive operations. And it is also true they are poorly funded. Public teachers often complain that they aren't paid enough for the work they do. Lutheran School teachers often are paid 1/2 of what a public school teacher makes.

How do Lutheran schools survive? Often by the involuntary offerings of the staff of the congregation.

By the way, I believe every family with children in the school should be charged for books, supplies and pay tuition. That is the only way a Christian Day School can be operated with fiscal responsibility and Christian integrity . . . that means "one who teaches is worthy of double honor" . . . in other words, Christian day school teachers (and pastors) should be paid double what public school teachers (or, in the case of pastors, their equivalent) are paid.

Just a comment about this statement "2 Christian schools and one Catholic school" . . . Two points . . . first, all Christian denominations are "catholic" as in "one christian (the original word was catholic) and apostolic church". Second, last I heard, the Roman Catholic Church is also a Christian denomination. Therefore the community in question has three Christian schools. Just to be fair, what are the denominations of the other two schools?


Hello Pr Dale,

I'm in the LCMS too. Aren't they talking about a different way to fund the schools so more children go to the schools. Like the congregation or something spends a bit of money to make tuition cheaer. I don't know, I think that's what I read in my district newspaper. Please tell me if I am mistaken.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Jessica



JesKlu -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/5/2008 11:14:21 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: upNORTder

Over the years on this forum many people have talked about the sevices that their church provides, coffee bars, restaurants etc. Many on this forum also criticize (usually with good reason) public schools. I don't think I have ever heard anyone talk about thier super God mall churches providing a Christian education. I am surprised as I attended a small Missouri synod Lutheran church that nonetheless offered a kindergarten to eighth grade education for the children of congregants. Many Lutheran churches here have schools. Why don't more churches offer a Christian education?


Many churches have a hard time funding education. It all depends if it is a priority. In the history of the LCMS, we have made Christian education for our children a huge priority. I know the LCMS has the largest protestant porochial school system in the country. And nationwide, the second largest private school system, just right behind the Roman Catholics.

I think it just depends on the funding, and if parents can even afford it.

Your sister in Christ Jesus,
Jessica



mcleod -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/5/2008 11:30:27 AM)

You know I believe that every person can have a christian education. First at home, then in a school enviroment. All we would need to do as a body of believers change our way of spending on great big buildings. Start focusing on chlidren and the future they hold and go forth with that.
Wait a second instead of certian so-called and the exspensive toys. We could petition those who give money to that problem and give it to a christian education. Where we could act like the goverment and have every child no matter how rich or poor go for free. And such possible change things in our world for the better.

Amen



JesKlu -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/5/2008 12:21:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mcleod

You know I believe that every person can have a christian education. First at home, then in a school enviroment. All we would need to do as a body of believers change our way of spending on great big buildings. Start focusing on chlidren and the future they hold and go forth with that.
Wait a second instead of certian so-called and the exspensive toys. We could petition those who give money to that problem and give it to a christian education. Where we could act like the goverment and have every child no matter how rich or poor go for free. And such possible change things in our world for the better.

Amen


Yes all the regular ed kids go to school for free. But what about the special needs kids? I'm talking about those with severe learning disabilities that make it impossible for them to function in the regular classroom setting. These are the kids that have to be in a special ed classroom. And where will Christian schools get the funding for that? The government doesn't fund them. So these kids have no choice but to go to public school.

I think your dream for ALL Christian kids going for free just might not be realistic.

Your sister in Christ Jesus,
Jessica



mcleod -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/5/2008 12:56:45 PM)

Hello Jessica, I heard that same kind of talk out of the church in my earlier years. On even helping the poor. Where there is a will then God says there is a way. Iknow of billioneirs who go to church in our area. Which I don't want to seem judgemantle in that area. But Jesus finish one of his stories with this thought. " But God said to him you fool! This very night your life will be demand from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself.
This how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself, but is not generous towards God".

We could eliminate a lot of goverment programs. Get the goverment out of our lifes and teach children the right way to live.



JesKlu -> RE: Why don't more churches offer a Christian education? (9/6/2008 8:15:07 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: mcleod

Hello Jessica, I heard that same kind of talk out of the church in my earlier years. On even helping the poor. Where there is a will then God says there is a way. Iknow of billioneirs who go to church in our area. Which I don't want to seem judgemantle in that area. But Jesus finish one of his stories with this thought. " But God said to him you fool! This very night your life will be demand from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself.
This how it will be with anyone who stores up things for himself, but is not generous towards God".

We could eliminate a lot of goverment programs. Get the goverment out of our lifes and teach children the right way to live.


What then would the church do then for special needs kids who cannot function in a normal classroom? I asked a very clear question.

Special education is expensive, the christian schools barely have enough funding for those services, only public schools do who get federal and state funding. Trust me I know, I am a Special Ed major.

If we take Christians out of the public schools, there will be no one left to witness to those poor lost souls.

There is no one size fits all for education. There should be plenty of options available, which there is. Public education, private education (Christian or not), and homeschooling.

Your sister in Christ Jesus,
Jessica



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