Part of a 13-volume series designed to help Lutheran communities assess the feasibility of starting a Lutheran elementary school and to assist ongoing schools in current operation, this volume focuses on the response of Lutheran elementary schools to community changes. The publication begins by discussing the problem of sensitizing congregations to changes in ethnic composition, age, or number of children in the community and to the effects these changes can have on the church and the school. Collection and utilization of data on community change are discussed. The second section presents guidelines for responding to change intended to enhance the probability that planned change can occur. Areas covered include conducting an assessment of readiness for change, being a leader who can respond to change, and dealing with anxieties concerning change. Two sections deal with responding to urban change and responding to rural change. The urban change section stresses the idea that in spite of problems, center-city elementary schools are an excellent evangelism outreach of the parish. The rural change section suggests an interparish school in areas where enrollment is small. A final section contains an annotated bibliography of resources for dealing with change. (Author/JM)