Community Bridge-Building Guide for ELCA Schools and Learning Centers

Community Bridge-Building Guide for ELCA Schools and Learning Centers

A guide for Pastors, Deacons, Directors, Principals, and other leaders to help strengthen connections between church, school, and family.

Welcome to Weekday Educational Ministry

Every family that walks through your doors brings unique gifts, experiences, and perspectives that enrich your community. This guide helps you build authentic relationships that honor each family’s journey while creating natural pathways for deeper engagement with your partnering ELCA congregation—rooted in radical welcome, grace, and justice.

Part 1: Creating Welcoming Spaces

Getting to Know Each Other:

Send a personal welcome letter from both the principal/director AND the pastor
Include a simple “Our Family” form asking about traditions, celebrations, and preferences
Provide a visual guide to your school/church community with photos and friendly faces
Share your school’s story: Why was it founded? What makes it special?

Building Initial Connections:

Assign family ambassadors (current families) to new families
Host informal “Coffee & Questions” sessions regularly (best led by both church and school leadership)
Provide ELCA Lutheran Identity resources (links and see section below)
Schedule brief, no-pressure meet-and-greets with teachers and staff from both church and school

Deepening Relationships:

Follow up with personal phone calls, texts, or notes (ask a church committee to send cards or notes)
Invite families to ongoing church events and activities
Share success stories and events from the school or center in announcements, bulletins and newsletters.
Offer opportunities to congregation members to train to be volunteers based on their interests and availability

Ongoing Partnership:

Rostered Leaders: conduct regular, friendly check-ins about families’ experiences
School Leaders: Find ways to celebrate families’ contributions to the community
All Leaders: Identify ways for deeper engagement that match their comfort level

Language That Welcomes

Instead of saying: “Our church believes…” Try: “In our ELCA Lutheran tradition, we value…”

Instead of saying: “You should attend worship…” Try: “Many families find our Sunday community meaningful…”

Instead of saying: “We expect families to…” Try: “Families in our community often enjoy…”

Instead of saying: “Lutheran schools teach…” Try: “ELCA Lutheran schools are known for our welcoming approach…”

Part 2: Understanding Your Community

Family Backgrounds Assessment

Create a simple, optional survey to understand your school community better:

Faith Background: What spiritual traditions, if any, are important to your family?
Cultural Heritage: What cultural traditions do you celebrate?
Learning Preferences: How does your child learn best?
Service Interests: What causes or volunteer activities interest your family?
Communication Style: How do you prefer to receive school updates?

Building Your Bridge Map

For each family, consider:

Where are they now? (spiritually, culturally, educationally)
What are they seeking? (community, academic excellence, values alignment)
What bridges can we build? (shared interests, mutual support opportunities)
What does partnership look like? (volunteering, attending events, spiritual growth)