Concordia Nebraska hosts Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education annual summer conference

by Amy Crawford

Seward, NE (07/31/2024) — The Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE) presented its annual summer conference, themed "Cantate: Sing to the LORD a New Song," at Concordia University, Nebraska July 23-26, 2024. Concordia Nebraska professor Dr. Gabriel Haley currently serves on the CCLE board of directors.

The conference featured a variety of presentations highlighting topics such as classical education, curriculum resources, education methods, special needs students, essay writing, curriculum mapping and more.

"This conference is an amazing opportunity for administrators, educators, parents and others to gather to learn about classical Lutheran education and to discuss best practices, trends and techniques," said CCLE President Rev. Stephen W. Kieser. "In addition, this is an opportunity for our conference attendees to worship together and enjoy camaraderie together. We enjoyed an educational, enriching time of fellowship and learning."

Conference plenary presenters included Rev. Mark DeGarmeaux, whose presentation was titled "Hymns as Declaration, Doctrine and Doxology," Rev. Dr. David Petersen, whose presentation was titled "Militant Praise against Polytheism: A Call for Full-Throated and Unapologetic Confession in an Age of Apostasy based upon the Psalter and the History of Israel," and Rev. Dr. Christian Preus, whose presentation was titled "Return to Reality: Praying and Living the Psalms."

Enjoyed by more than 400 guests of all ages, the conference also included fellowship and worship opportunities, numerous presentations from a variety of speakers, children's and teen-focused programming, and organ concert, a fellowship dinner and awards presentations.

Many Concordia Nebraska faculty participated in or presented at the event. Associate professor of theology and philosophy Rev. Dr. David Coe gave a presentation titled "Where Charity and Love Prevail: Aristotle on Humility and Friendship." Associate professor of music Dr. Elizabeth Grimpo gave a presentation titled "Built on the Rock: Communicating Text Through Music." Professor of music Dr. Jeffrey Blersch also presented an evening organ concert at the event.

Haley gave an overview of the university's classical liberal arts program to teens attending the event. Music department chair and professor of music Dr. Kurt von Kampen provided choral instruction to teens and directed a classical Lutheran youth choir at the event. Assistant professor of art Justin Groth led a three-part ceramics class for a number of teens who attended the conference. Assistant professor of theology, philosophy and biblical languages Rev. Dr. John Genter led teen attendees in studying ancient Bible manuscripts while copying and illuminating a text of Scripture on sheets of vellum. His workshop also featured a realistic replica of Codex Vaticanus, the oldest codex (4th century) of the entire Bible in existence.

The annual conference is attended by pastors, school administrators, educators, homeschool families and the general public.

The CCLE summer conference will take place at Concordia University Wisconsin in 2025. Next year's event is the 25th conference for the organization and is scheduled to occur July 15-18, 2025.

The Consortium for Classical Lutheran Education (CCLE) exists to promote, establish, and equip individuals and schools committed to confessional Lutheran doctrine and a classical approach to education. CCLE will advance and promote classical education within the context of confessional Lutheranism among students, faculty, administrators, pastors and home educators by providing standards, conferences, professional development, resource materials and consulting services. For more information, please visit www.ccle.org

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