Thousands of Lutheran teachers, school administrators, directors of Christian education, directors of Christian outreach, and other educators are 
Convocation booklets with registration forms are scheduled for mailing by late September to the 4,000-plus members of LEA, a Synod Recognized Service Organization that holds its national convocation every three years. Online registration is available through the LEA Web site at www.lea.org, where the convocation booklet also appears.
“Fountains of Faith and Knowledge,” taken from Psalm 26:5-10, is the theme for the 2008 convocation. Its planned program will include worship, more than 200 sectionals for professional growth, plenary presentations, and two banquets. Also in the planning are nine in-depth pre-convocation workshops.
Featured plenary leaders and speakers will include:
- Dr. R. Reed Lessing, professor of exegetical theology at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, convocation keynoter, whose topic is “The River Runs to Us an
- Dr. John Nunes, president of Lutheran World Relief, Baltimore, convocation worship coordinator.
- Banquet speaker Ken Davis, a Christian humorist and motivational speaker from Franklin, Tenn.
- Chris Bergmann, music coordinator, St. Louis.
Offered in five convocation sessions, sectionals will cover an array of topics with dozens of presenters, including:
- “Lutheran Schools of the Future,” with William Cochran, director of LCMS School Ministry, St. Louis.
- “The Holy Land, a Fifth Gospel: Teaching Scripture through Living Stones,” with Dr. Mitri Raheb, a Lutheran pastor and head of the Dar al-Kalima School and Academy, Bethlehem, Israel.
- “Characteristics of an Effective Communicator,” with Ken Davis.
- “Fun and Frolic in the Fountain,” Dr. Richard Bimler, former president of Wheat Ridge Ministries, Itasca, Ill.
- “Being Real,” Dr. Judith Christian, director of LCMS Children’s and Family Ministry, St. Louis.
- “Outreach through Lutheran Schools,” Dr. Willie Stallworth,
- “Say Yes to No,” Dr. David Walsh of the National Institute on Media and the Family, Minneapolis.
Various registration fees apply, based on whether registrants are LEA members, emeriti, students, or exhibitors. An additional $50 fee should be added for each registration submitted after Jan. 15.
Special convocation rates are being offered by a number of hotels within walking distance of the convention center.
For specific registration and housing rates and for more information, go to the LEA Web site at www.lea.org.
Posted Sept. 19, 2007
