HKIS and its founding church end ties in settlement

Hong Kong International School Association Limited (HKISAL) and the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) have settled their legal dispute in a confidential mediated agreement, officially dissolving their governance relationship. The disagreement began in September 2025 when the US-based church, which founded the Hong Kong International School (HKIS) in 1966, filed a lawsuit against the school’s operator.

The LCMS accused the school of deviating from its original mission by focusing on serving affluent students, contradicting the terms of their operating agreement.

HKIS announced on Tuesday that it had ceased its search for a new head of school. The leadership at the school will remain unchanged, continuing to operate under the board of managers, while HKISAL will maintain its role as operator of both campuses: Repulse Bay and Tai Tam. In their statement, the school reassured parents and stakeholders that the settlement would not lead to additional tuition hikes and that no philanthropic donations would be used to cover costs.

Harold Kim, a member of the HKIS board of managers, expressed satisfaction with the mediated resolution, acknowledging the LCMS’s founding role in establishing HKIS’s Christian identity. He emphasized the school’s commitment to delivering an outstanding educational experience.

The LCMS also expressed contentment with the mediation, noting that the agreement allows HKISAL to pursue its vision while the church receives a monetary settlement reflecting its historical contributions. Christian Preus, chairman of the LCMS board of directors, noted that the lawsuit was taken reluctantly, as the church preferred not to proceed with legal action.

The LCMS argued that HKIS had strayed from its founding vision over time, focusing on financial success and high academic performance, rather than its original mission of providing quality education for all students.

Preus emphasized that the outcome provides a fair resolution to the LCMS's long-standing concerns and enables the church to pursue its mission without the dispute's hindrance. This allows the LCMS to use its resources more effectively in the future.