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Records continue to change lives

by Rachel Kuchel

What continues to amaze me working at Lutheran Archives is the myriad stories contained in the archive, the stories in one item or one box of records, and the myriad ways those stories or records have impacted lives.

In June a box of records was deposited at Lutheran Archives by former Finke River Mission (FRM) staff Pastor Paul Albrecht, Garry Stoll, Roger Fargher and Marion and Mark Schubert. The records were from FRM for the years 1972 to 1982. They are documents that surround the pivotal event of the 1982 handover of the title to the former Hermannsburg Mission lease to five Aboriginal clans as five individual land titles.

This has been the only instance in Australia of land titles being granted to representatives based upon their traditional custodianship – as opposed to one title being granted across land that might have multiple traditional custodians. Aboriginal leaders made 18 individual submissions to Parliament that were instrumental in the success of this event.

The records document the process undertaken by FRM staff to achieve this landmark event, including the changes in LCA policy and the Aboriginal Land Rights Act at Federal Government level.

HOW THE HISTORIC DOCUMENTS WERE SAVED

Seven years ago, a group of former FRM staff began to collect the records and Marion, a former part-time worker at Hermannsburg from 1978 to 1985 while Mark was a teacher and principal there, began retyping individual documents as many were beginning to fade. She later contacted me at the Archives to determine how we could work together to preserve them. This resulted in the records being digitised at the Archives and collated, listed and described by Garry, Roger, Marion and Mark.

It has been a long process, but the records are now at Lutheran Archives available for research. Our FRM collection already contained copies of the 18 submissions to Parliament, but these records provide the context to this event.

It is always my desire that Lutheran Archives records continue to impact lives, inform us, provide hope, healing or understanding, and even influence or shape current decision-making – both within the LCA and, potentially, at government level. I hope that these records can perhaps now be used by government agencies to show them a path they could use in recognising and granting traditional Aboriginal land custodianship.

Rachel Kuchel is Director of Lutheran Archives.

This is an excerpt from a story that appeared in the Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) newsletter under the headline ‘Handing back land to families at Hermannsburg’.

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Learning to grow together

Two years on from the start of their Grow Coaching journeys, members of Chinchilla parish and Dalby congregation in Queensland’s western Darling Downs have grown in ways that have brought life and vibrancy to their faith communities.

Each member of their Grow teams now is equipped to share what they have learnt about intergenerational ministry with their congregations. The LCANZ’s Grow Ministries team will continue to support them as they continue to build an intergenerational culture.

Grow Ministries began the ‘gathering’ phase of coaching congregations in October 2019, led by Rachel Schilling. The Chinchilla and Dalby teams met over two years at both locations. During this time, learning and growing took place through weekend workshops. Their journeys involved re-thinking any preconceived notions of church and how these contrasted or aligned with effective child, youth and family ministry – that is, intergenerational ministry – and how to put this new paradigm in place.

Grow Ministries representatives Pastor Nigel Rosenzweig and Vicki Rochow joined several of the workshops, bringing a fresh approach to the events. They even managed to hold a workshop in 2020 despite most of Australia being in lockdown.

Grow Coaching clusters are in progress in Perth, Adelaide and the Adelaide Hills, with each consisting of two or three congregations. These clusters provide members with ideas, encouragement and support on their journeys of learning and implementing new ways of doing ministry.

To learn more about Grow Coaching, Grow Ministries or our ‘Rethinking Faith Formation’ congregational workshops, contact Grow Director Jodi Brook at jodi.brook@lca.org.au or by phoning 08 8267 7300.

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New resource explains Lutheran worship

The LCANZ’s Grow Ministries and the Commission on Worship (CoW) have teamed up to produce a comprehensive and informative new booklet explaining Lutheran worship.

‘Why we do the things we do in our Lutheran worship’ explains in clear, simple language each part of the worship service. It also contains passages from Scripture showing the biblical basis for what we do in Lutheran worship. The 28-page resource is ideal for family discussions, confirmation classes and for any member of our congregations wanting to understand why we do what we do in worship.

You can download ‘Why we do the things we do in our Lutheran worship’ free from CoW’s Worship Planning Page at www.lca.org.au/wpp/new-resource-why-we-do-the-things-we-do-in-our-lutheran-worship/

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Chance to recognise carers

by Anna Kroehn

National Carers Week, marked this year from 10 to 16 October, is a time to recognise and celebrate the 2.65 million Australians and 430,000 New Zealanders who provide unpaid care and support to a family member or friend. Many people in our Lutheran communities are carers and we remember and celebrate them this month!

RESOURCES FOR REFLECTION

Messages of Hope by Lutheran Media has excellent resources that reflect the reality of being a carer and offer hope through this season. Episode 2 of the ‘Chronic Pain’ series at www.youtube.com/watch?v=BKlaRVk6rUY&t=2s explains what it means to be a carer and how to support carers. You can order a discussion guide at www.messagesofhope.org.au/product/chronic-pain-ebook/ to use as a Bible study with your small group or family; it can also be packaged with the Chronic Pain DVD series available from www.messagesofhope.org.au/product/chronic-pain-dvd/

Let’s give thanks to God for carers, honour their work, and support them in this essential role.

IDEAS FOR A CELEBRATION

  • Download the Christian Care Sunday resources at lca.org.au/ccs and plan to include a prayer for carers in your worship service in Carers Week.
  • Host a morning tea for carers to chat and connect – perhaps even virtually over Zoom.
  • Celebrate the carers in your community with a card, a coffee voucher or chocolate bar, or a prayer of blessing. Order cards or tracts from Lutheran Tract Mission https://www.ltm.org.au/

If you would like support to celebrate National Carers Week or Christian Care Sunday in your congregation, email me at anna.kroehn@lca.org.au

Anna Kroehn is the LCANZ’s Christian Care Sunday project officer.

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ALC’s Tangara magazine is out now

The 2021 edition of Tangara is out now. The annual magazine produced by Australian Lutheran College (ALC) students, Tangara this year features the theme text 1 Peter 4:10b and has a focus on serving God and one another with the unique gifts we each have.

In this year’s Tangara you’ll find ALC student profiles, staff and ordination photos, feature articles about campus life, a few laughs and even a couple of long-lost refectory recipes!

Order your copy now by emailing tangara@alc.edu.au – you can even place bulk orders for your congregation. Tangara 2021 costs $10.00 including postage.

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Holding onto hope through lockdown

With many people struggling through COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions, it can be difficult to remain hopeful.

Many of us are also still coming to terms with what the pandemic means for the way of life that we used to have. Will things ever be the same again?

In your Messages of Hope radio spots, podcasts and videos, people who are living through these challenges share their insights and encouragement to give you hope. There’s a short video at YouTube.com/messagesofhope entitled ‘Getting through Coronavirus. What worries you the most?’ that may be helpful.

At messagesofhope.org.au you can watch short videos, listen to interviews and discussions and read more about the hope Jesus Christ offers us all through these times. These stories are shared on radio and social media platforms, too, at: Facebook.com/messageshope and YouTube.com/messagesofhope

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Page 2 – October 2021

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Thank you!

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Shine Gifts of Grace

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LCA Constitution review interim report released

The LCA/NZ has released an interim report detailing the vision, recommendations and principles for a new constitutional framework for the church, along with church member feedback on the current constitution.

The General Church Board (GCB) is conducting the review of the 54-year-old constitution on behalf of General Synod. The interim report is the culmination of Phase 1 of the review process. The review aims to develop a constitution that serves the church well in being faithful to Christ, living out the gospel and thriving in the 21st century.

To date, approximately 250 church members have engaged with the review process. Some people have completed surveys, others have written submissions, some have participated in working groups, and still others have been involved in telephone interviews.

The purpose of the Phase 1 Review was to identify and analyse the key issues and establish the key principles that will be presented for approval as the framework that will guide the development of a new constitutional structure, Executive Officer of the Church Peter Schirmer said.

‘The aim is to achieve a constitutional framework that has longevity and reflects who we are, why we exist, how we are governed, is consistent with contemporary standards, and is of such a nature that requires minimal changes over time’, he said.

He said in 2021 the church would decide if, when and how it would move into Phase 2, planning for the actual updating of the constitutional framework. Submissions to the review show that most church members support having new, easier-to-read documentation. They would also like to see our separate General and District Synods constitutionally linked and working together more. And they would like to simplify the definition of ‘membership’ of congregations to bring our definitions in line with typical practice.

The detailed two-volume Interim Report provides a fuller outline of changes church members would like to see. The most significant suggested improvement is to regroup our current large document into three separate but related documents – a ‘Church Charter’, a ‘Book of Rules’ and a ‘Constitution’ for our legal structure.

The ‘Church Charter’ would be based on Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions and would perform a modern-day function similar to that of the Theses of Agreement in 1966. The ‘Book of Rules’ would be a collection of the standard operating regulations, policies and procedures of the LCA/NZ. We would continue to have a legal document in order to have a legal structure, meet secular requirements and provide legal protections for our church.

Links to the interim report have been emailed to all pastors, congregation chairs and 2018 General Synod delegates. You can also find out more about the review and read both volumes of the report online at www.lca.org.au/constitution-review

Please provide your feedback on the report and its recommendations, along with any ideas you have about updating the LCA/NZ constitution, to your local district. Contact details are on the Constitution Review webpage.

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