HOUSTON—“I’ve been stretched. I’ve been strengthened in the faith,” Dr. Mary Beth Gaertner told the 63rd Regular Convention of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod during sessions July 15.
Gaertner, the principal of Salem Lutheran School in Tomball, Texas, was introduced to the convention as the 1,000th teacher enrolled in the teacher colloquy program through CUEnet, the nationwide technical network of the LCMS Concordia University System. The colloquy instruction, launched in 2001, allows Lutheran school teachers to obtain the theological instruction and other necessary courses to become rostered as teachers in the Synod.
“We have an enormous, long distance to go,” said Heather Stueve, professor at Concordia University, Portland and coordinator of the CUEnet teacher colloquy program, as she introduced Gaertner. “We have 11,000 teachers in our schools who are without this training.”
LCMS congregations operate 2,488 early childhood, elementary, and high schools, enrolling 280,000 students. The schools employ 18,000 teachers.
The theme of the July 14-19 convention is “One Message—Christ! His Love is Here for You!”
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