If you've had any exposure to Lutheran HSs, this should come a no surprise. Further, if a survey of theology were conducted at the 66 other LHSs, it should come as no surprise to you that the theology taught at these schools is a Lutheranism watered down with a huge dose of protestant evangelicalism. What I'm asserting is that LCMS-affiliated HSs are junior versions of the current conditions at Valpo.
We're intent on doing something different:
* First, as is true of only 3 of the 66 LCMS HSs, we're operating SSLHS as a single congregation, in order to have more effective control of the theological direction of the HS (and we are by far the smallest of these congregations). [SSLC is the only confessional congregation in our circuit. The other congregations are not only providing no support for the HS, they're actively opposing it because we refused their demands that we turn the fledgling school over to an association. Half of our 9th grade comes from their congregations, and each of these families continue to receive regular hassle from their own congregations.]We believe that this venture in confessional Lutheranism can make a positive impact in reaching and keeping confessional Lutheran kids not only here in the Springs but also in other places as well.* Second, we're operating the HS on the classical education methodology (the only LCMS HS to do so).
* Third, we're operating the HS on the cutting edge of technology. There is no "Media Center" in our plans. Instead, every student has a computer on his/her desk in every classroom, interconnected to each other and the internet through our first (of eventually four) HP servers. Our web-based consultant is Dr. Wayne Lanning (Prof at UNLV and consultant for the State of Nevada secondary schools web-based education project).
* Fourth, we are recruiting homes from within our congregation who are willing to provide a family settting for out-of-area students to attend SSLHS.
* Fifth, we're intentionally developing this HS as a model for duplication by other congregations interested in a classical and confessional HS, and our congregation is committed to making our studies, curriculum, and personnel available to them.
And now comes the "crass" part, promised above:
All in all, this is a huge project, well beyond the means of a small congregation. After congregational support and student tuition ($4250 per year), a full 20% of the HS budget needs to be supported by "third source" funding (i.e., interested people and organizations beyond our congregation). Frankly, we're going to need confessional pastors, confessional congregations, and confessional laity to be our "association," if we're going to be fiscally successful in this venture.
I appeal to you to help us find the financial support for the success of our HS and its five goals.
Pastor Bob Schaibley