Genesis Project School Study Update 6/21/23
Earlier this year, we as a congregation voted to partner with the three other Coulee Region LCMS Churches in Wisconsin (Shepherd of the Hills, Prince of Peace, and Gift of Grace) to enter into a feasibility study for an LCMS parochial school in the area.
The Genesis Project is an initiative out of our church body’s national headquarters in St. Louis which works to start new schools in our Synod. Upon submitting the required preliminary information, we have been accepted into the program and will be assigned a consultant shortly. This consultant will coach us through this process as we prayerfully consider if a new school is achievable and appropriate for our area.
Jim Magnuson, a layman at Shepherd of the Hills, is the primary contact person and is the main conduit between St. Louis and our steering committee and he is taking the lead on assigning projects and tasks to our steering committee.
Including Jim, the steering committee consists of sixteen laypeople from the four churches with the four pastors being ex officio members for a total of eighteen individuals. Besides providing input, they are volunteers who can help execute the research tasks assigned to us by the Genesis Project Coordinators in St. Louis.
On Monday, June 12th, 2023 we had our first meeting of the steering committee at Prince of Peace. It was a chance to put faces to names, answer preliminary questions, and have a list of things to think about.
Altogether, we are hoping to have this project completed within twelve months. At the end of this time, the steering committee will present its findings to the congregations and give a recommendation as to whether or not planting a new school is feasible.
What Can I Do?
Stay Updated!
You may visit faithonmain.com/GenesisProject for more information. We want to be as transparent as possible communicating clearly and often to our area LCMS churches.
Pray!
James encourages us writing, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (James 5:16b). Prayer is powerful, and pray for the steering committee, and pray for discernment that the path may be made clear on starting a new school.
Fill out this Survey
The Genesis Project coordinator has asked parishioners from the four congregations to fill out this simple, anonymous, ten question survey. Visit faithonmain.com/ChurchSurvey or scan the QR code to the right. We want a wide variety of thoughts and input so we can get a full picture of our congregations’ willingness to take on such a task. Even if you don’t have young children, please fill this out!
Think About Community Members to Fill out a Community Survey
The steering committee will meet again soon, and one of the tasks we have been given is to distribute a community survey to get a feel for the thoughts and opinions of non-member families. We as a committee will be discussing the best way to distribute such a survey, but at this time, keep an eye out for a link to that survey and be thinking about friends, neighbors, and relatives in the Coulee Region who you may want to ask to fill out a quick six question anonymous survey.
Genesis project files
- The original resolution that was proposed to the congregations early 2023.
genesis_resolution_western_wisconsin.pdf - An update from the Magnusons reported to the congregations in Spring 2023
2023_may_genesis_project_update.pdf - A half sheet insert for bulletins and newsletters from June 2023
2023-06-21_genesis_project_school_study_update.pdf - A half sheet insert for bulletins and newsletters from July 2023
2023-07-26_genesis_project_school_study_update_online.pdf
Congregation Survey
Scan QR Code or visit this website to take the survey.