February 2017
By Jackie Bussert
Rev. Karl Koeppen, senior pastor at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church and School in Bourbonnais, Illinois, has received the LCMS Northern Illinois District’s School Shepherd Award for 2016. In December, a presentation was made to Pastor Koeppen in front of his congregation, by Keith Wilharm, the district’s National Lutheran School Accreditation commissioner. This is the first year that the vital relationship between a pastor and the congregation’s school has been singled out for recognition.
Wilharm explains. The national Lutheran School Ministry office instituted the concept of a School Shepherd Award to single out exemplary relationships identified as part of each year’s school accreditation candidates. The problem was, it would only recognize one pastor in the entire Synod.
“We thought it would be great if our district could sponsor an award identical to that, but focusing on a school and pastor relationship from only our district,” Wilharm said.
Supplied with criteria identified by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, visiting teams were alert for unique relationships as they made their regular accreditation visits during 2016. The decision to select Pastor Koeppen was unanimous.
The visiting team described Pastor Koeppen as a team player who “possesses great insight into the needs and strengths of the school” and who has an excellent partnership with the school administrator.
St. Paul’s principal, Jim Krupski, commented on Pastor Koeppen’s “deep interest in the school as a center for bringing the children into a close relationship with their Lord.” Krupski especially cited visits to classrooms and school activities, and active accessibility to students and their parents.
“Pastor Koeppen sees the school as a significant mission outreach to the greater area surrounding our community,” Krupski added. “He deeply believes in the school and supports the staff as we work as a team to teach the young.”
NLSA team captain Kathy Sluplik took note of how Pastor Koeppen had guided the school through a capital campaign, a building process, and a move to a new location when the congregation and school relocated from Kankakee to Bourbonnais in 2008-2009. “He provides the school with supportive financial leadership,” she said.
The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, which operates the second largest private school system in the U.S., provides for an accreditation cycle every five years for all school levels, preschool through grade 12.
Wilharm, on behalf of the District’s Accreditation Commission, appoints a trained team captain who selects six peers to make a two-and-a-half-day visit to the church and school following a lengthy self-study process by the school itself. The team interviews constituents, reviews materials and makes recommendations for growth as well as granting accreditation.
The special recognition of the School Shepherd Award helps the Lutheran school system both identify and honor pastors who have high commitment for Lutheran schools and also identify the practices and actions that lead to positive impact for all churches with schools.