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‘Open Arms’ for Synod 2027

God’s abundant gifts and our calling to share them generously will be the thematic focus of next year’s 22nd Regular Convention of General Synod to be held from 1 to 4 October 2027 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The theme, Open Arms, and its tagline, Receiving Abundantly – Sharing Generously, along with a logo, have been approved by the LCANZ General Church Board. The theme is based on 2 Corinthians 9:8 and echoes the final line of Robin Mann’s well-known worship song Reaching Out: ‘We’ve been given so much, people, let’s all share. Reaching out with open arms.’

LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith said the theme focuses on ‘the mission of God at work amongst us’.

‘We are sent into the world to give as we have been given to, with open arms to the neighbour and to the poor and needy,’ Bishop Paul said.

He said the theme also reflects the church’s shared purpose as it gathers for Convention.

‘We join in Convention as sisters and brothers in Christ with this common mission, to support each other and to encourage each other to reach out with open arms, to the glory of God.’

The General Synod logo was created by Elysia McEwen, graphic designer for The Lutheran. It features a figure with open arms representing the people of the church serving in Christ, supported by a cross symbolising the grace received through Christ. Flowing lines represent God’s abundance, life, growth and generous sharing, while drawing on the flames of the LCANZ logo to reflect the work of the Holy Spirit.

Secretary of the Church Dr Nigel Long has encouraged parishes to begin planning and budgeting for Convention, elect delegates early and arrange accommodation as soon as possible.

Key dates for Synod 2027

October 2026: Lay delegate allocations advised

31 March 2027: Delegate appointments and proposals due

26–29 September 2027: General Pastors Conference

1–4 October 2027: Convention of General Synod, Brisbane

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What young people wish the church knew

We asked a group of young people from across the LCANZ about church, faith, belonging and leadership. The responses below represent a cross-section of their reflections, highlighting the importance of relationships, invitations to participate, meaningful responsibility and communities where young people are known, heard and valued.

BELONGING BEGINS WITH BEING KNOWN

‘I feel like I belong when people know my name and I have someone to sit with during church. My sense of belonging increases when things are happening during the week that are specifically aimed at my interests and stage of life, helping me build friendships and deepen connections.’
Kelsey, 26, St Paul’s Caboolture Qld

‘The feeling of belonging in my church comes down to so many things. It has included having conversations and cuppas after a service, being involved in church or wider community activities and groups, and being able to discuss one’s faith openly while being supported to continually grow in Christ.’
Ian, 25, Bethlehem Adelaide SA

‘I feel I truly belong when the church feels like home, a place where I am embraced and accepted simply for being there. For me, true belonging starts with a simple welcome, but it also goes beyond this. It means feeling deeply known, loved, supported and cared for, exactly as I am.’
Jayden, 23, Our Saviour Rochedale Qld

SOMETIMES WE NEED AN INVITATION

‘It would be nice if older members had more of a relationship with teenagers and young adults so those mentoring relationships could develop. We need an invitation. Sometimes it’s too hard to ask, or it seems like older members think they should do everything themselves or expect us to volunteer. Sometimes we just need an invitation to help out, serve or lead.’
Jenna, 19, Our Saviour Aberfoyle Park SA

‘Young people want opportunities to contribute and lead now, rather than being seen only as the future of the church or being looked upon as “too young”.’
Jess, 23, Our Saviour Aberfoyle Park SA

‘The church makes an effort to listen to young people’s ideas, but at times I still feel like we get pushed aside or treated like we are younger than we are. Over the past 18 months, with mentoring from senior congregation members, we have grown a young adult ministry to around 20 to 30 regulars.’
Sam, 19, St John’s Tea Tree Gully SA

RELATIONSHIPS MATTER

‘Young people are interested in discipleship, and the way to disciple them is through intentional relationships and authentic connection. There is no “secret sauce” for building that relationship, but young people are not a mystery or unknowable demographic. See them and connect with them as you would anyone else, and you’ve cracked the code!’
Aiden, 24, Our Saviour Rochedale Qld

‘I wish the church better understood the value young people place on authentic relationships over scheduled programs. Many young people desire genuine connection and want to see faith in action. We care deeply about others and want to see the church step outside its walls to serve the wider community.’
Jessica, 21, St Michael’s Hahndorf SA

‘The congregation doesn’t treat us any differently, and people genuinely want to get to know me.’
Daniel, 19, St Paul’s Christchurch Burwood NZ

THERE IS NO SINGLE ‘YOUNG PERSON’

‘I wish the church better understood how overwhelming life is between school, work and extracurricular activities, and the difficulties of balancing church with these things. Also, in general, rising mental health conditions and neurodivergence, and how they affect young people.’
Sam, 16, St John’s Perth WA

‘Not everyone is the same, with the same interests and serving capabilities.’
Rachel, 23, Good Shepherd Para Vista SA

‘Young people love and crave traditional worship. My particular church does a great job of this, but a majority of the young Christians I speak to wish their church was more traditional in its worship styles.’
Lauren, 22, Bethlehem Adelaide SA

YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ALREADY SERVING

‘The church is trusting of us as young people and provides us with a space where we can be fulfilled and fulfil our calling in ministry. Young people are in the Lutheran Church. We aren’t necessarily in every single congregation, but there are pockets where youth and young adult ministries are thriving.’
Bethany, 23, Golden Grove SA

‘I’m involved in our church band, which I absolutely love. It allows me to play with others in the church I probably wouldn’t usually talk to, and it makes me feel seen and known. Our young adult group has also allowed us to express who we are as Christians to others from outside our church who have come along.’
Alyssa, 20, St John’s Tea Tree Gully SA

‘We want to stay connected within our church. I am blessed to be part of the barbecue team and use my gifts to serve others and stay connected with the congregation.’
Noah, 15, St Petri Nuriootpa SA

THERE ARE SIGNS OF HOPE

‘Seeing new faces at youth camps and youth group, where I can see them making lifelong connections and steadily growing in their faith, gives me hope. When a teenager you’ve led on camps for three years answers a Bible study question with such profound understanding that you reflect on your own interpretations, you can see the work of God shining through.’
Gwen, 25, St John’s Perth WA

‘Initiatives like Ignite at Luther College that are run by young people for young people give me hope for the future of the church.’
Sylvia, 25, St Paul’s Box Hill Vic

‘What gives me hope are the amazing youth and teens at my church.’
Georgia, 23, Wyndham Hobsons Bay Tarneit Vic

The responses reveal young people who care deeply about the church and want to be part of its life. They want to be known, invited, listened to and trusted. Often, engaging younger generations begins with something simple: a welcome, a conversation, an invitation or a willingness to walk alongside one another in faith.

What helps you feel that you belong?

Among the 26 responses:

  • 17 mentioned warm relationships, welcome or feeling known.
  • 12 mentioned peers or people at a similar stage of life.
  • 11 mentioned opportunities to participate, serve or use their gifts.

Belonging was the strongest theme to emerge from the survey.

‘Sometimes we just need an invitation to help out, serve or lead.’
Jenna, 19, Our Saviour Aberfoyle Park SA

What does the church do well in supporting young people?

Among the 26 responses:

  • 15 highlighted youth groups, camps or young adult ministries.
  • Many also mentioned encouragement from older members.
  • Others valued opportunities to lead, serve and contribute.

Young people consistently recognised the importance of spaces where faith and relationships can grow.

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Shaping generations of young Lutherans

by Lyall Kupke

For more than 40 years, the Luther League was associated with the youth movement of the Lutheran Church in Australia.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Australian Luther League. Separate Luther Leagues existed in individual congregations before this; however, on 2 March 1926, delegates from 11 youth societies met in Gawler, South Australia, to form a combined organisation called the Australian Luther League. Those societies were Adelaide, Balaklava, Birdwood, Eudunda, Gawler, Hectorville, Rosedale, South Kilkerran, Tanunda, Tweedvale (Lobethal, as it was then known) and Waterloo (or Carlsruhe).

Youth organisations were not new in the church. In the 19th century, many congregations had them. They were known as the Jugendverein, Jünglingsverein or Jungfrauverein (youth society or young girls’ society). As English became the first language of most young Lutherans in Australia in the 20th century, they became the Lutheran Young People’s Society or Luther League. Some began as literary societies run by local communities or congregations.

All aimed to keep young people connected to the church and provide alternatives to popular secular forms of entertainment. The loss of young people from the church following confirmation was noticeable.

In the 1920s, both Lutheran churches – the Evangelical Lutheran Synod of Australia (ELSA) and the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in Australia (UELCA) – supported this youth movement. The new generation of young Australian-born, English-speaking pastors led the formation of many youth societies in their congregations. But they existed individually. They began to look for a broader body to support them and bring them together.

The Australian Luther League became the peak body for the youth in the ELSA in 1926. A few years later, the UELCA formed the Lutheran Young People’s Association, and the South Australian branch was called the Luther League of SA.

The 1st Convention of the Australian Luther League was held at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adelaide on 6–7 October 1926. Twenty-eight youth societies were represented, including some from Victoria and New South Wales. The constitution was adopted and the executive committee elected: President Martin Kriewaldt, Vice-President William Thiele (from Melbourne, Victoria), Secretary Norman Schodde, Treasurer Will Temme and Pastor Otto E Thiele (from Horsham, Victoria).

The national church papers (The Australian Lutheran and Lutheran Herald) included regular sections for their youth. Within a few years, both churches were publishing dedicated youth periodicals. The ELSA produced the Luther League Monitor from 1932, while the UELCA published The Lutheran Youth from 1934.

Bible study or discussion on various topics was a priority for most meetings. The range of topics reveals the issues of concern of the day: ‘How can a young Lutheran benefit the community (and the church)?’, ‘What are the doctrinal differences between the ELSA and UELCA?’, ‘Is it permissible to play cards?’, ‘Should all war debts be cancelled?’, ‘Whom shall I marry?’ and ‘Mixed marriages and divorce’.

Following a short business session, meetings concluded with various social activities: recitations, music, singing, debates and, finally, supper. The topics for debate in the 1930s included ‘Will motor traffic finally do away with railway traffic?’, ‘Picture shows have an ill effect on the modern youth’ and ‘Drinking is a greater evil than gambling’. After that debate, the pastor reportedly warned against both evils!

Concerts were regularly organised, and neighbouring societies, even from the other synod, were invited to attend. Annual state conventions gave young people opportunities to meet, and many met their future spouses. Service in the church was also actively encouraged, with Sunday school teachers’ and young people’s conventions helping equip members for teaching.

Scholarships were established for students preparing for teaching and pastoral ministry, and the Australian Luther League later provided important support for deaconesses. Mission support was another significant aim, and letters from those involved in mission work were eagerly received by their home youth societies.

The Australian Luther League started Stamps for Mission in 1938, and the program continues today. Ern Unger, from Parkes, New South Wales, was the stamp receiver for 65 years. The first project was the building of hospitals in what is now Papua New Guinea. Luther Leaguers regularly held stamp cleaning and sorting nights.

The Luther League encouraged young people to become involved in their local congregations. In 1939, it was reported that the Walla Walla, New South Wales, church hall extensions had been planned, executed and financed almost entirely by the Lutheran Young People’s Society.

During World War II, youth societies kept in touch with those in the armed forces. Young people of the Bethlehem congregation in Brisbane hosted soldiers and nurses during the war, including many Americans, at the Lutheran Service Centre in their church hall. The youth of Nhill, Victoria, assisted staff from the Service Commission, which sent regular letters and literature to service personnel.

After the union of the two main Lutheran synods in 1966, the youth movement took on a different name and changes occurred. Many Luther Leaguers went on to serve in their local congregations or in the wider church. For more than 40 years, the Luther League and Lutheran Young People’s Society provided valuable training and experience, preparing many for a lifetime of service to the church.

Lyall Kupke served as LCA archivist from 1995 to 2014 and is a member of Zion Lutheran Church, Glynde SA.

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Typewriter fingers and flying thumbs: a communicator’s view of change

by Linda Macqueen

‘Hold up your right hand,’ I told a group recently. ‘Now touch your palm with your ring finger … but keep the other fingers pointing up.’

The young ones looked at me like I’d asked them to solve quantum physics before breakfast. Their fingers wobbled around like overcooked spaghetti. Meanwhile, the ‘old people’ – my people – executed the move with the grace of seasoned concert pianists.

Why? Because we learnt to type on manual typewriters. Those machines were basically gym equipment with letters attached. If you didn’t develop strong ring fingers, you simply didn’t get through Year 10 Typing.

Of course, the younger generation has us beat in the thumb department. Their thumbs fly across their phones like caffeinated hummingbirds. Mine move with all the speed and confidence of a sleepy sloth.

But that’s the point: our bodies adapt to technology without us even noticing. So do our homes, our cars and our expectations. Most of us have welcomed these changes – even if we occasionally mutter about ‘kids these days’ while trying to remember our Netflix passwords.

So why, when it comes to technology in the church, do we sometimes get nervous? After 26 years in church communications, I’ve learnt that Christians can embrace new tools with confidence. God has been using human inventions for his purposes since long before any of us were born.

Back when communication meant paper cuts and postage stamps

When I started as editor of The Lutheran in 1999, the magazine was the LCA’s one and only official communication tool. One! Imagine that. Today, we have more channels and platforms than a smart TV knows what to do with. But back then, if you wanted to find out what was happening in Lutheran Land, you waited patiently by your mailbox for the next edition of your beloved magazine.

Everyone received the magazine automatically when they were confirmed. It was like a rite of passage: baptism, confirmation, The Lutheran subscription.

And honestly, it worked beautifully. People loved it because it was their only window into the wider church. No notifications. No inbox overload. No ‘I’ll read it later’ tabs that never get opened. Just a magazine, a cuppa and a quiet moment. Peace. Encouragement. Connection.

Then the digital floodgates opened

Fast‑forward a few years, and suddenly we had websites, email newsletters, videos, podcasts, livestreams and, of course, social media. Social media is a bit like Vegemite: some days you love it, some days you wonder why you ever let it into your life.

The challenge wasn’t just learning new tools – it was learning them at the speed they arrived. Just when you’d mastered one platform, another one popped up, usually with a name you couldn’t spell, much less pronounce.

And here’s the twist: more communication didn’t automatically mean better communication. In fact, people started drowning in it. Today, most of us want our news in tiny, snack-sized pieces we can skim between mouthfuls of Vegemite toast.

But the biggest change hasn’t been the technology. It’s been the rise of the echo chamber. People now curate their own little worlds of information and react strongly to anything that doesn’t fit. That’s not a tech problem – that’s a human‑heart problem, and those have been around since long before smartphones.

Every generation has its ‘newfangled menace’

Most people in the church have embraced new technologies because they were already using them everywhere else in their lives. Often, they were just waiting for the church to catch up – patiently, mostly.

That said, church people are traditionally cautious people. While browsing old editions of The Lutheran, I found a gem dating from the early days of television. The editor warned that TV would ‘pander to the lust of the eyes’ – which is a church‑magazine way of saying, ‘This thing might steal your soul.’

But, also, he admitted it had ‘wonderful and unlimited possibilities for good’.

Sound familiar? Every new technology arrives wearing the same two labels: Potential Danger and Potential Blessing.

Whether it’s television, the internet, smartphones or now artificial intelligence (AI), Christians have always had to decide whether to fear the tool or use it faithfully.

What hasn’t changed – and never will

The pace of change today is dizzying. Predicting what church communications will look like in 10 years is like predicting what teenagers will be wearing next summer.

But one thing has never changed: God communicates.

From burning bushes to handwritten letters, from the printing press to podcasts, God has always used the tools of the age to reach his people. Jesus himself is God’s ultimate communication – the Word made flesh.

Our job as Christian communicators isn’t to cling to old methods or chase every shiny new gadget. It’s to keep pointing to Jesus, saying, ‘Look – see how much God loves you’, using whatever tools God places in our hands.

Why we can embrace technology with confidence

If our fingers can adapt from typewriter keys to touchscreens, and if we are content for our cars to give us directions, book our dentist appointment and remind us to buy milk, then surely the church can adapt, too.

Technology isn’t the enemy. It’s a tool – one that can be used for good or ill, like every tool since the Garden of Eden. The printing press helped Martin Luther spread the gospel. Radio carried sermons into remote communities. The internet has connected congregations across continents.

And yes, even AI – the newest kid on the block – can be used by God in ways we can’t yet imagine.

We don’t need to fear the tools of our age. We simply need to use them wisely, humbly and with our eyes fixed on the One who never changes.

Because while the methods shift, the message remains the same: Jesus Christ came to save the world – and he still wants everyone to hear it and believe it.

Linda Macqueen served 26 years as editor of The Lutheran and communications manager for the LCANZ.

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A call nurtured through every season

by Elise Mattiske

Jordan Moore first sensed a call to ministry when she was a teenager, and that call has continued to grow through each season of her life – from youth group and camping ministry to living overseas, theological study, motherhood and serving her congregation.

Now living in the northern suburbs of Brisbane, Queensland, with her husband Thomas and their two young children, Jordan is continuing her ministry formation while caring for her family, which she says keeps her ‘busy, joyful and exhausted’. ‘Adding part-time theological study and pastoral formation keeps things very full,’ she says.

Jordan is gaining ministry experience at Living Faith Lutheran Church in Murrumba Downs, Queensland, where she attends church council meetings and, as a pastoral ministry student, leads the liturgy and preaches monthly. Beyond her congregational involvement, she is also a member of the LCA’s Advocacy for Women in Pastoral Ministry team.

Jordan’s journey towards ministry began during her childhood at St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Box Hill, Victoria.

‘My faith became very strong in my teenage years – youth group and camping ministry were very important to me, and I always had a sense that I would love to work in some type of ministry,’ she says.

While in high school, she began presenting the children’s address during worship, and one conversation planted a seed that would continue to grow. ‘After one service in particular, the then chairperson of the congregation asked me if I had ever considered pastoral ministry,’ she says.

At the time, women could not be ordained in the Lutheran Church of Australia. However, Jordan says the encouragement she received from her congregation, along with the example of other women pursuing ministry, helped her continue to consider where God might be leading her.

‘It made me think that pastoral ministry was still worth pursuing and that the door might open one day,’ she says.

After finishing high school, Jordan became the youth ministry coordinator at St Paul’s, where she discovered a deeper passion for Word and Sacrament ministry.

‘When I became the youth ministry coordinator, I was going to be leading youth group, organising youth camp and teaching confirmation classes,’ she says. ‘My pastors encouraged me to do some formal theological study to support me in my role.’

This led her to Australian Lutheran College (ALC), where the ability to study remotely was particularly significant. ‘Even in those pre-COVID times, there were several units available to study remotely,’ she recalls. ‘Especially important was one called “The Christian Faith” – it was basically Lutheran Theology 101.’

Theological study also deepened her understanding of her Lutheran tradition. ‘Even though I’d been a Lutheran my whole life, I didn’t know much about where we fit among other denominations and what makes us unique,’ she says. ‘Since learning more, I’ve become more and more passionate about being a Lutheran Christian.’

After Jordan and Thomas married, they moved to the United States for Thomas’ career. Although she did not expect to continue theological study overseas, COVID-19 opened new possibilities.

‘When COVID opened everything up, it made me so happy to be able to continue progressing in my calling,’ she says. ‘We always prayed for the opportunity to move back to Australia, so it was nice for me to be able to use that time overseas effectively.’

Continuing theological study while raising young children has brought its own challenges. ‘After we had our kids, I definitely found the study a bit more challenging,’ Jordan says. ‘It was much harder to get my Greek vocabulary to stick when the sleep deprivation kicked in.’

However, ALC’s distributed learning model enabled Jordan to continue. ‘Fundamentally, it made it possible,’ she says. ‘I truly don’t know what would be happening if I still needed to relocate to Adelaide for full-time study. I don’t think it would have been possible.’

Studying at a distance brought both joys and challenges. While the time difference during her years in California sometimes made attending lectures easier, participating online while others were in a physical classroom could be difficult.

‘The lecturers did their best to include me, such as by specifically asking me to share my thoughts, but the slight time delay and inability to read the social cues in the room make it hard to “jump in” to the discussion,’ she says.

Reflecting on the path that has led her towards ministry, Jordan says several things have sustained her along the way. ‘The joy of Jesus in my life!’ she says. ‘Also the encouragement of my childhood congregation of St Paul’s, the numerous people who have expressed to me that they feel I have a call to pastoral ministry, my own sense of call, and the support of ALC staff and the flexibility they provide.’

For now, Jordan is embracing motherhood while continuing to grow in ministry. ‘It means a lot to me that I can be home with my children for these few years before they begin school,’ she says. ‘I enjoy chipping away at my theological study and formation, as it’s nice to have more stretching things to think about beyond which playground to go to and what we’re having for dinner.’

Looking ahead, Jordan hopes to be ordained once both her children are at school. She is enjoying preaching and leading worship more regularly and believes parish ministry may be where God is leading her.

Her encouragement to others considering theological study is simple: explore the possibilities.

‘The ALC staff have been so helpful and accommodating,’ she says. ‘All the students are on unique pathways, and the staff are brilliant at coordinating things so that study is something all of us can engage in. Just reach out and see!’

Elise Mattiske is the LCA publications editor.

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Local Mission Fund enters second year

The LCANZ’s Local Mission Fund is entering its second year, with projects from its first two funding rounds now underway across the church. Established in 2024, the fund provides grants that help congregations, schools and agencies develop new ways to share the gospel and serve their communities.

Jodi Brook, who oversees the Local Mission Fund, said the first round of funding demonstrated the creativity and commitment to mission that exists across the church.

She said the fund’s impact has extended beyond financial support, with recipients reporting that the process has ‘encouraged collaboration, strengthened local partnerships and helped their congregations be more intentional about mission’.

Projects supported through the fund have reflected a wide range of mission opportunities, including youth ministry, cross-cultural outreach, learning initiatives and new expressions of church.

At Our Saviour Lutheran Church, Aberfoyle Park, South Australia, funding has supported the creation of a campus missional engagement leader role, helping strengthen connections between the congregation and Our Saviour Lutheran School.

Congregation member Julie Slaghekke said the role had grown out of a vision to see the congregation and school ‘not as two separate ministries, but as one campus with a shared mission’. She said the congregation was already encouraged by the opportunities emerging through stronger relationships with the school.

At Wodonga Lutheran Parish, Victoria, funding has helped strengthen ministry partnerships with co-located Victory Lutheran College. Ministry Coordinator Lisa Enever said family chapel attendance had increased, with many college families, parish members and new young families attending regularly. Regular class visits, family chapel and shared events had helped more students see the parish as ‘their church’, she said.

Building on its existing ministries, Zion Lutheran Church in Glynde, South Australia, is developing the Glynde Cross-Cultural Ministry Centre, a three-year multicultural ministry project.

Chairperson Tim Eckert said Local Mission Fund support had strengthened the congregation’s cross-cultural ministry and created new opportunities for connection and discipleship.

‘Individuals who first connected through English classes or family programs are volunteering, participating in worship, joining Bible studies and contributing their gifts within the life of the church community,’ he said. ‘New friendships have formed across cultures, barriers have been broken down, and our congregation is increasingly reflecting the diversity of the community we serve.’

Expressions of interest for the 2027 Local Mission Fund close on 20 August. The fund provides seed grants of up to $10,000 and major project grants of up to $100,000. Find out more at www.lca.org.au/local-mission-fund

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Sharing our Lutheran stories

LCANZ churchwide entities shared stories of Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand with church members and the wider community through an exhibition, guided tours, workshops and presentations during South Australia’s History Festival in May.

The new Church House Exhibition Centre opened its doors at 139 Frome Street in Adelaide for the first time on 5 May in time for the month-long celebration of history and community connections. Dozens of LCA members, as well as people with no connection to the church, visited the centre in its first six days of operation to explore exhibits focusing on the mission and service of Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand.

The ground-floor space, which is open on an ongoing basis, shares stories through information panels, historic and current-day photos, interactive audio-visual displays, and rare artefacts and artworks, with much of its content sourced from Lutheran Archives. Bookings are not required to visit during regular opening hours from Tuesdays to Thursdays (see www.lca.org.au/exhibition-centre for current times); however, emailing ahead to exhibitioncentre@lca.org.au is recommended for guided tours and group visits.

Lutheran Archives staff provided guided tours, workshops and a course among the more than 550 events that comprised the annual history festival last month. Archivists led walking tours on German Adelaide culture and community, while also hosting a three-week genealogy course and workshops on reading historic German documents and researching German–Australian family history. The course and workshops were held at the Archives’ base in Bowden, Adelaide.

Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) presented a talk titled ‘Home via Hermannsburg: William Wilkinson’s 847 Day Top End Red Centre Quest’ at Immanuel Lutheran Church, North Adelaide, while the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) Library hosted special viewings and discussions featuring rare books from its collection, with one session booked out.

The Church House Exhibition Centre still has openings for volunteers. If you live in Adelaide and would like to serve in this way, please email exhibitioncentre@lca.org.au

For more information, visit www.lca.org.au/exhibition-centre

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Small acts of care, lasting impact

by Elise Mattiske

Seeing how small acts of care can change a life has shaped the way financial counsellor Peter Schirmer walks alongside people experiencing hardship today.

He spent the first eight years of his life in India, among communities where survival was often uncertain and daily life was shaped by adversity.

One story, told and retold in his family, left a lasting impression on his life.

A young mother once came to his family’s home with an infant suffering from malnutrition. Peter’s own mother responded with a simple act of care, supplementing the baby’s feeding with milk formula. Over time, the child recovered.

Years later, when Peter’s family returned to India to visit, they met that same mother and her child, now a healthy young man.

‘It was a very poignant moment,’ Peter says. ‘It impressed on me how even seemingly small acts of mercy can have lifelong positive consequences.’

That ‘thread of service’ has run through his life ever since – from years working with Australian Lutheran World Service, including in disaster response and refugee support, to senior leadership roles in the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCANZ), and now into the deeply personal work of financial counselling with Lutheran Care, a community services organisation supporting vulnerable people in South Australia and the Northern Territory.

After nearly a decade as executive officer of the LCANZ, he began to reflect on what the next stage of life might look like. Rather than stepping away into retirement, he felt drawn closer to the frontline.

As cost-of-living pressures intensified across Australia, Peter saw a growing need, not only among those familiar with financial hardship, but also increasingly among families facing it for the first time.

Encouraged by the insights of an experienced financial counsellor, he recognised that his own experience could be harnessed in a more personal way.

‘It felt consistent with that same thread of service,’ he says. ‘The only “downside” was that I had to re-engage the academic side of my brain and complete a diploma of financial counselling!’

Peter lives in Adelaide with his wife, Janette, and is a member of Glynde Lutheran Church, a community he values for its rich cultural diversity. His work with Lutheran Care is varied and often complex.

Financial counsellors offer free, confidential and non-judgemental support to people experiencing financial difficulty. The role is not to direct clients, but to equip them with options and walk alongside them as they make decisions.

A typical day might involve negotiating with utility companies, setting up hardship arrangements with creditors, helping someone build a workable budget or connecting clients with concessions and support services.

Often, the challenges go far beyond finances. Peter engages with a wide cross-section of society, including people who have experienced domestic and family violence, relationship breakdown, job loss, disability or long-term financial stress.

And yet, he is careful to emphasise what he sees beyond the hardship.

‘In these people, I see not only their challenges and problems, but individuals with strengths and potential,’ he says.

Even when outcomes fall short of what someone hoped for, the goal remains the same: that they are treated with dignity, given a ‘fair go’ and achieve the best possible result that offers them hope for the future.

‘I feel a great sense of privilege to meet people who have been brave enough to come forward and seek help,’ Peter says. ‘It is not an easy step to take, especially when they may be experiencing feelings of failure and vulnerability.’

There is also a responsibility to listen well, to recognise the strengths each person brings and to walk alongside them to find the best outcomes for their circumstances.

‘It can be challenging and confronting but always underpinned by a sense of hope that this person is loved by God,’ he reflects, ‘and that I’m part of his mission to share it through practical action.’

One encounter, in particular, has stayed with Peter.

A single mother with four children came seeking help, overwhelmed by debt and mounting pressure from creditors. Through negotiation, those debts were waived on compassionate grounds, lifting an immediate burden.

At a follow-up appointment, she brought a stack of unopened letters, too afraid to face what they might contain. Together, they opened them.

Inside were multiple traffic fines, now totalling more than $3,000, with the risk of losing her licence and car registration.

‘That would have had significant consequences for her day-to-day life and wellbeing: school runs, access to shops, social engagement, the ability to find work,’ he explains.

Together, they worked out an affordable repayment plan, easing the pressure and preserving her independence.

‘It was a huge relief,’ he says.

Moments like that are why the work matters.

For Peter, hope is not abstract.

‘I see the sign of hope, which is Jesus,’ he says. ‘Through his suffering comes the promise of hope for everyone.’

That ultimate fulfilment may still lie ahead, but Peter sees its signs already.

‘I see it in the people I meet – people with God-given dignity, gifts and strengths,’ he says. ‘And I see it in the resources around us that help people move towards lives with less stress, greater dignity and more security.’

Sometimes, it begins with something as simple as opening a letter together or offering help when someone dares to ask.

Elise Mattiske is the LCA publications editor.

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When words fail, faith remains

by Karen Dymke

I spent my life working with words. As a teacher, presenter and facilitator, language was my calling and my craft – the tool I used to teach, encourage and connect with others. Now, slowly and unexpectedly, those words are slipping away.

I was brought up in a Christian family where church on Sunday was simply part of life, and from an early age, I wanted to be a teacher, just like my mum. I studied at Lutheran Teachers College in suburban Adelaide, and I taught in Lutheran schools before becoming what I often called a ‘teacher of teachers’, running workshops and facilitating professional learning across Australia.

Communication and language were central to my life and vocation. Words were my tools. Then something strange began to happen.

While presenting, I started mixing up pronouns – saying ‘she’ instead of ‘he’. Occasionally, I would say completely wrong words, like calling a glass an elephant, even though I knew perfectly well it was a glass. I felt as though I had lost my mojo. Something wasn’t quite right.

In response, I took what I called ‘long service leave’ – unpaid, because I ran my own consulting business, Thoughtful Works. My husband Jonathan and I travelled widely, exploring the Kimberley, hiking in New Zealand, crossing the Nullarbor, visiting Karijini National Park and even swimming with whale sharks at Exmouth. But every time we returned home, the problem picked up exactly where it had left off.

In the middle of a speech, I suddenly stopped – only for a few seconds, but it felt like five minutes. This was deeply unsettling for someone who had always had the gift of the gab. I used to say I could talk underwater with a mouthful of marbles. Suddenly, I was losing my words.

I saw an integrative doctor, worked with a trauma therapist and sought counselling support, wondering whether stress might be the cause. I also spoke with friends. One friend joked she had used up all her red wine in her youth. I half-believed I might have used up my words in the same way.

I continued presenting professionally, although I knew something wasn’t right. One day after a workshop, a woman said quite bluntly, ‘You are not as bright as you used to be.’ It hurt to hear, but she was right. Something was wrong.

Then, last April, everything changed. After a PET scan, the specialist told me I had frontotemporal dementia – the language variant.

He said I had seven to ten years to live. Seven to ten years. That is how calmly he said it, almost as if it were a weather report.

We left the office stunned, unable to breathe, let alone speak. We were encouraged to seek a second opinion.

Another specialist conducted further tests and explained the diagnosis differently. They said I had primary progressive aphasia, the non-fluent variant – a subtype of frontotemporal dementia. It was still difficult news, but it finally made sense.

The irony is not lost on me. I spent my life loving language, and now my brain is slowly packing it away, piece by piece.

Only about four per cent of people with dementia have this variant. Actor Bruce Willis has it too. I have always been a bit of a rare bird, so perhaps it is fitting that I would receive a rare diagnosis.

Writing is no longer easy. The words come more slowly, and speaking is harder still. But I still have stories to tell.

The diagnosis came the day before Good Friday. My husband Jonathan came to church with me, and we both sobbed as the whole congregation gathered around us. It was heartbreaking, and, somehow, very holy.

We have been grieving ever since, though that grief has changed over time. At first, it was overwhelming. Now, it feels more tender, even gentle.

Because my life and vocation had always centred on teaching and communication, I initially felt completely lost. I was not angry with God, but I was frightened. I found myself asking the ancient question: Why me? Where am I now, God?

So, I returned to something that had helped me before. I participated again in the Focused Living course at St Paul’s Lutheran Church Box Hill in Victoria, which I had first completed 10 years earlier. I began asking again: What is my purpose now? What is my calling?

The first answer was simple but profound: I am held in the arms of God. I am a beloved and baptised child of God. He made me, and he will sustain me.

What feels important now is contributing where I can and cherishing time with family and friends.

We continue to live fully. I have become a dementia advocate, speaking while I still can, and recently appeared in The Australian newspaper, highlighting that dementia is now the leading cause of death in Australia. My husband and I have also recorded a podcast called Holding the Moment, where we discuss intimacy and dementia. In July, we intend to travel to Vietnam with our whole family.

As I journey with Christ, I am learning to create a safe and loving space for myself, my family, my friends and my church community. I hope to bear witness to Jesus Christ through vulnerability and honesty, speaking courage, faith and hope into the lives of those around me.

Our pastor at Box Hill, who is himself living with stage 4 cancer, recently shared these words: ‘The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still’ (Exodus 14:14).

To anyone facing illness, loss or uncertainty, I would say this: be brave if you can, be active if you can and stay connected as much as possible.

And when you cannot do those things, simply wait on the Lord.

As Paul writes in Romans, suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.

My life has certainly not gone as planned. Yet I can still say with deep gratitude that I have had a fortunate life, and through every unexpected turn, God has been with me.

And as I walk through the shadowed valleys ahead, my hope remains in him.

Karen Dymke is a retired educator, having taught in schools, TAFE and at La Trobe University, and is a member of St Paul’s Box Hill Vic.

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Faith quietly caught along the way

Jesus once said, ‘By their fruit you will recognise them.’

This was certainly true for Lam Vuong, who first encountered the Christian faith through the quiet witness and everyday fruit of the people around him: Lutheran teachers who spoke openly of their hope, a boss whose integrity matched his words and friends whose faith was evident in how they lived and worked.

Born in Vietnam into a Buddhist family, Lam grew up in a home where worshipping ancestors was an important part of spiritual life. His mother, who had been educated in a French Catholic school, valued the discipline and structure she had experienced there and later sought similar schooling for her children.

As Lam grew older, he encountered Christians whose faith was expressed quietly but consistently. Lutheran teachers spoke openly about their beliefs, and later, in the workplace, he noticed the same integrity in colleagues whose faith shaped the way they led and worked.

Over time, that quiet witness sparked Lam’s curiosity. ‘They practised what the Bible preached,’ Lam reflects. ‘They walked the talk.’

Lam says it was their daily conduct and down-to-earth nature that made the greatest impression. Seeing colleagues live out their faith in ordinary workplace interactions showed him that belief was not just something people talked about, but something they lived.

He also began reflecting more deeply on life and faith. The deaths of close relatives made him wonder about questions many people wrestle with: Why does suffering exist? Why does God allow violence? Is there an afterlife, and will loved ones meet again?

The search became more personal when Lam and his wife Serina began exploring schooling options for their sons. Through friends, they were introduced to Concordia College and St John’s Lutheran School in Unley, in suburban Adelaide. Although their son had already been enrolled elsewhere, meeting principal Michael Paech left a strong impression.

‘He was particularly engaging, down to earth and caring,’ Lam says. ‘You could feel a genuine vibe about him, and we immediately knew this was the school and environment we wanted our boys in.’

Around the same time, the family began attending St John’s Lutheran Church in Unley. Lam remembers being struck by the calm atmosphere of worship.

‘Everyone was welcoming,’ he says. ‘We just wanted to go somewhere that was traditional and authentic.’

When they were invited to join an Alpha course – which explores the basics of the Christian faith – at the church, Lam and Serina decided to attend.

‘It was casual – friendly people, no pressure. We talked a lot and asked lots of questions. It made us feel part of the family.’

Through those conversations and relationships, their understanding of faith gradually deepened, along with their sense of belonging within the church community.

‘The “why” of having God as part of our lives clicked with us,’ Lam says.

When it came to baptism, Lam says he felt both eager and uncertain. The step was ‘a bit daunting’, he says, and he was ‘not sure what to expect’, but it also felt like the right time.

Looking back now, Lam says faith has brought him a deep sense of reassurance.

‘I feel that God is closer, and having a father look over you, to guide and bless – a strong presence in times of joy and sadness,’ Lam says.

Today, Lam describes church as ‘a sense of family in faith’ and ‘a sense of belonging to a faithful community’. Away from the noise and pressures of everyday life, he says it offers ‘a place of reflection and prayer and a safe community’.

Faith has also shaped the way he notices God at work in everyday life.

‘God turns up when I need help the most and also when I seek guidance,’ he says. ‘Messages come in different forms and from people, but you know God is at work.’

Certain Bible stories have taken on special meaning for him, including the parable of the talents, Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness and the parable of the lost sheep.

Looking ahead, Lam hopes his family will continue to grow in faith and remain connected to the congregation that welcomed them.

For those curious about faith but unsure where to begin, his advice is simple: ‘Ask a friend who is attending church, tag along, ask questions, have an open mind and open heart. Avoid the naysayers,’ he says.

For Lam, seeing faith lived out in the lives of others was the simple beginning of his own journey.

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