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Global mission leaders gather

The New and Renewing Churches department of the LCANZ is hosting the International Research Consortium’s (IRC) annual conference in Adelaide this month, including an Open Day. The IRC is an ecumenical group of mission practitioners, scholars and church leaders from around the world who study, reflect on and research ‘missional’ local churches, including new church plants, and the systems that support them.

The Open Day, which will be held on 29 June, will feature the theme ‘Riding the Waves of Change’. Guest speakers will be Rev Dr Ian Robinson, Emeritus Scholar in Mission and Leadership from the United Theological College in Sydney; Dominee Danie Mouton, Executive Officer of the Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Eastern Cape in South Africa; Professor Patrick Keifert, of Church Innovations USA and Revd Canon Dr Nigel Rooms, of the Partnership for Missional Church, from the Church of England’s Church Mission Society.

The LCANZ’s Pastor for New and Renewing Churches Nathan Hedt will open the day, while Dr Tania Nelson, the LCANZ’s Executive Officer – Local Mission, will facilitate a panel discussion to conclude the event. For more details, go to www.newandrenewingchurches.org.au/events/

Registrations for the Open Day can be made at https://cvent.me/gekRD9

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Guilt and forgiveness

by Richard Fox 

Worrying about what others think of you? What if they knew about some of your darker secrets?

Hurtful and selfish things we have said or done in the past often leave us feeling guilty and can make us ashamed of who we are, especially when we are reminded of our failures.

Thankfully, there is hope with Jesus Christ, who deals with our guilt and shame and sets us free from them. Thanks to his death and resurrection and the forgiveness that he freely gives, we are saved and restored to a right relationship with God. We can now have peace knowing that what gives us guilt has been dealt with by Jesus Christ and his saving love.

A RANGE OF READY RESOURCES TO HELP

Your Messages of Hope has many resources to help you and people you know deal with guilt and shame.

Online at www.messagesofhope.org.au/guilt, you’ll find videos, podcasts, booklets and PDFs sharing stories about guilt, shame and regrets, and the hope and freedom we have in Jesus Christ.

You can watch a range of videos about coping with guilt or listen to podcasts entitled ‘Karl’s dark secret’, ‘Freedom from shame’, and ‘Why did I do it?’. And you can read booklets titled ‘Forgiveness’, ‘Unlocking the prison of guilt’, and ‘Regrets, reality and restoration’.

As Martin Luther said, ‘So when the devil throws your sins in your face and declares that you deserve death and hell, tell him this: “I admit that I deserve death and hell, what of it? For I know One who suffered and made satisfaction on my behalf. His name is Jesus Christ, Son of God, and where he is, there I shall be also!”’

Richard Fox is Director of Lutheran Media.

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What can I do if my child loses faith?

by Vicki Rochow

Being a parent is one of the toughest jobs on the planet! Parenting is not an exact science and, in the end, the best we can do is to do our best, and hope it is enough.

Some Christian parents face the burden of their children turning away from their faith and no longer coming to church. You may have done all the ‘right’ things – taken your child to worship, shared your faith at home and encouraged them in their faith journey, and yet they still make the decision to stop believing or they may have an inactive faith.

If this is your story, you may feel you have failed. You may feel grief, disappointment and guilt. God’s solution to the problem of guilt is forgiveness. If you feel guilty about failing as a parent, be assured of his forgiveness. You may need to forgive your child. You may also need to forgive the church for its failures.

ONE FAMILY, TWO DIFFERENT STORIES

One friend shared her story of her two children. One has a rich and personal relationship with God, the other does not. Both children were brought up in the same home, with similar experiences.

But one child received care and love through adult mentors and formed relationships that nurtured and encouraged their faith. The other child did not. One child found a way to contribute to congregational life through their gifts and talents. The other child didn’t feel like they belonged. Did these relationships and opportunities have an impact on faith development?

MANY FACETS OF FAITH DEVELOPMENT

We have learnt at Grow Ministries that to grow our faith we must have a multi-dimensional experience. The faith we learn at home is only part of that experience. As children of God, we are part of a bigger family. Acceptance and love from our congregational family have a major influence on how our faith grows.

As parents, we do our best, and sometimes we fail. Thankfully, God’s forgiveness overcomes our shortcomings. He does not love and accept you because you are a perfect parent. He loves and accepts you because he is the perfect parent!

As a Christian parent, you have been given the amazing gift of faith. Because of that, we trust that God has your child in his hands. Continue to pray for them, encourage, accept and be gracious to them, just as our God is to us. Openly live by grace and do not give up.

BIBLE STUDIES SUPPORT PARENTS

Grow Ministries has a resource for parents who face the heartache of having their loved ones turn from the Christian faith. Called Parents in Pain, it is a series of four Bible studies created for parents to come together to share, support, and encourage one another in a group setting. You can buy Parents in Pain at www.growministries.org.au/product/03-parents-in-pain-2/

Vicki Rochow serves in communications for Grow Ministries.

For more resources that support parents, families and congregations in nurturing faith, go to www.growministries.org.au

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Church@Home June 2022

Nurturing faith in between Sundays

With many people still facing uncertainty, grief or economic pressures due to the COVID pandemic, plus the devastation of floods and bushfires close to home and war overseas, we can all benefit from reading or hearing some encouraging words and experiencing a sense of God’s closeness. Nurturing our faith at home through regular devotions strengthens our relationship with Jesus and helps to open our hearts to the work of the Holy Spirit. We pray that you will be blessed by the devotional materials here and in the Church@Home resources collection online at www.lca.org.au/churchhome

Lisa

John 15:11
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP

These reflections are adapted from a collection of devotions written for our LCANZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what we face. You can find these and many others on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion and you can subscribe to receive them daily via email by clicking on the link on that same page.

Feed my lambs by Neil Bergmann

Peter said to Jesus, ‘Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs’ (John 21:15).

Read John 21:1–19.

Jesus’ death and resurrection confirm for all of us that we are saved, redeemed and reconciled forever to God’s favour – not because we are good enough, not because we believe enough, not because we understand enough, but because Jesus is enough.

We know what we have been saved from – sin, death and the power of the devil. But what have we been saved for?

Given that we can be absolutely confident in God’s promise of salvation, and we know we can do nothing more to secure eternal life, how do we respond to that impossibly generous and totally undeserved gift?

Today’s reading – and indeed, much of Scripture – gives us guidance on how we might live in response to God’s love. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, Peter declares his love for Jesus three times here. Jesus responds by telling Peter how he can live out that love – feed my lambs, tend my sheep and feed my sheep.

If Jesus died for all, then all are part of his flock, and each of us is called to feed and tend that flock. We show our love for God by loving our neighbours. Each of us will be called to exercise that love differently. For some, it will be literally feeding those without enough to eat or caring for those society has forgotten. For others, it will be providing spiritual food through proclaiming the gospel, praying and giving encouragement and comfort.

Not just as individuals but also as communities of faith, Jesus asks us, ‘Do you love me?’ We respond as Peter did, ‘Yes. Lord, you know that I love you’. As individuals and also as communities of faith, we need to pray for God’s guidance on how to live out that love in our neighbourhoods.

Lord, you know that I love you because you first loved me. Guide me to understand how you are calling me to be part of your mission to feed your lambs. Amen.

Anxious humility by Emma Strelan

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you (1 Peter 5:6,7).

Read 1 Peter 5:1–7.

It’s always been a secret desire of mine to be known for my humility. One of my favourite Bible passages is Micah 6:8, ‘Act justly, love mercy, walk humbly’. I’ve wanted people to say to each other after I’ve spent time around them, ‘Wow, Emma’s such a humble person’. Of course, I’d never say I was humble – that wouldn’t be very humble of me! But after reading this passage, I wonder if I’ve had the right idea of what humility really is.

I often think that humility is a form of lowering oneself, not expecting or feeling you deserve a specific level of respect or power.

However, when I try to be humble by telling myself that I’m worthless, not good enough or not deserving, this actually leads to a lot of anxiety. The Greek word for anxiety (merimna) suggests worry ‘as when one does not know whether to do this or that’. And boy, do I have a lot of that kind of anxiety! When I put myself down in an attempt to be humble, I don’t feel I can trust my own decisions – after all, what right do I have to know what to do?

It may seem like this 1 Peter passage gives us two separate commands. However, it actually suggests giving one’s anxiety to God as a way of humbling oneself. If I were to give up my anxiety, I would feel much more secure in who I am. And that’s what humility really is – a sure understanding of who you truly are.

Humbling oneself is not necessarily the act of self-denial but pursuing an active dependence on God and entrusting your troubles to him. So maybe it’s alright to want people to say, ‘Wow, Emma’s so humble’. But not because I make myself seem lesser than I am. Rather, because of the way I trust in God and place myself under his mighty hand. And in ridding myself of anxiety, I can glorify him.

Lord, help me take an example from the way you humbled yourself. Today, I give my anxiety and fear of making decisions to you. Help me to stand firm in who I truly am – your child. Amen.

PRAYER

YOU KNOW THE WAY

O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you.
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness, but with you there is light.
I am lonely, but you do not leave me.
I am feeble in heart, but with you is strength.
I am restless, but with you is peace.
In me is bitterness, but with you is patience.
I do not understand your ways,
But You know the way for me.
Restore me to freedom,
Help me to so live now,
That I may answer before You and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised!

– Dietrich Bonhoeffer 1906–1945AD,
sourced from justprayer.org

Psalm 94:19
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.

Blood and water testimony by Rachael Stelzer

Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life (1 John 5:12).

Read 1 John 5:4–12.

At the end of John’s first letter to the churches, he sets up a courtroom drama. On trial? Jesus’ humanity. Some had been saying that Jesus was fully God but not fully human and that his death was not a ‘real’ death. The jury? The faithful, who had heard the prosecution and now watched the elderly apostle lay out his case for Jesus, the Son of God.

Witnesses include the water and the blood and also the Spirit. In John 19, at Jesus’ crucifixion, he gave up his spirit with a loud cry. The soldiers plunged a spear into his side, and blood and water poured out. In the following verse, the narrator (John) adds, ‘He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth’. Some scholars consider this as the ‘blood and water’ testimony to which John refers in his letter.

But if that isn’t good enough for the jury, John adds, ‘we accept human testimony, but God’s testimony is greater …’, and what is God’s testimony? ‘God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son’ (verse 11).

And this eternal life is not some distant, future, pie-in-the-sky wish. Eternal life begins right now for the believer.

Crossing back to John 17:3, Jesus prayed to God: ‘And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent’.

Eternal life! It’s now! And it’s available to you and to me. What do we require to attain it? The Son. Whoever has the Son has life.

Dear Jesus, the water, the blood, the Spirit and the Father. All of them testify to you. Fully God and fully human. Eternal life is ours because you are alive. We praise and thank you for your love and sacrifice. Amen.

The church is shrinking by Milton Eckermann

I will sprinkle clean water upon you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you (Ezekiel 36:25).

Read Ezekiel 36:24–28.

It’s tough living in our times. There seems to be so much to offer that distracts us from the ‘cleaner living’ of the past. This appears to be the excuse readily used to explain why we have so many empty seats in our churches. Well, look at the times in today’s reading.

The people defiled everything they had been given by the way they ‘lived and acted’, and they felt God’s anger for the murders they committed in the land and the idols they worshipped. Oh, things were different then – really? God was concerned for his holy name, and the people were scattered through foreign countries. Thank God we were not living back then. But is it so different now?

So many times throughout history, people have forsaken God. Before we despair, remember our gracious and loving God then and now. It’s as though he can’t get enough of us, but that’s the depth of his love for us. He sprinkles or floods us with clean water, and he puts his Spirit in us so that we can live in his grace. We can now share all the blessings of forgiveness and salvation with others so that they can see the wonderful gifts God gives. His promise through Christ’s resurrection is that our churches will grow and not shrink. Let’s try it out and be prepared to welcome others to the joy and freedom we have in God!

Lord, thank you for taking us back despite so often straying from you and neglecting our opportunities to show your holiness. Give us strength and courage to be your witness. Amen.

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Sharing support as drought continues

In 2022 flood disasters in Queensland and New South Wales have been more front-of-mind for many Australians than droughts. However, with more than 60 per cent of the Sunshine State still experiencing drought, Lutherans in Queensland are also rallying together to support families and businesses in rural and regional areas of the state who are struggling after years without enough rain.

The volunteer-run drought relief project Lutheran Drought Aid Queensland (LDAQ), which operates under the LCA Queensland District’s Mission & Ministry department, has for several years been offering financial and material assistance to people facing hardship in drought-ravaged regions.

However, the assistance the group offers those in need is far more than just money or goods, Vickie Schuurs, one of LDAQ’s four volunteer coordinators, said. ‘We don’t just give people money to help them, we actually talk with them about what they need and often give them help with a particular project’, she said.

‘It’s about listening to their stories and relating to what’s going on for them. People know about the floods and we’re looking at what we can do to help those people too but 60 per cent of Queensland is still drought declared.’

LDAQ is still supplying ‘Crates of Hope’ to assist people through short-term emergencies and demonstrate to those on the land that they are still being thought of and remembered. And they are inviting people to donate specified goods in the next few months so that crates can be assembled and be ready for emergency delivery. You can find out more on the LCA Queensland District website at https://qld.lca.org.au/2022/04/19/ldaq-crates-of-hope/

Monetary donations and prayer support are always needed. For information on giving, or to apply for assistance or nominate someone to receive help, go to: https://lutherandroughtaidqld.org.au/

To support the LCAQD’s Flood Response appeal or request help, go to:
www.qld.lca.org.au/support/2022-floods

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Preparing the church for Synod

At least three items of business on the General Synod agenda are likely to generate a good deal of interest and conversation. Each one is of significant importance in the life of the LCANZ, and for each one there is also a wide variety of viewpoints and opinions across the church.

With this in mind, the General Church Board (GCB) has requested the Churchwide team to prepare a pre-Synod engagement and communications plan, by which all church members and especially General Synod delegates will be able to learn about each of the topics and to understand why they are on the Synod agenda. The GCB also wants every member to have the opportunity to add their voice to these conversations.

The 20th Convention of General Synod is being held in two parts for the first time. Due to COVID meeting restrictions, the first part was held online (1–2 October 2021). God-willing, the second part will be held in person in Melbourne, from 9 to 12 February 2023.

As delegates prepare to engage and vote at the in-person sessions, they will be asked to read background materials and view a video on each of the three key topics: (1) Ecclesiastical Discipline Review, (2) Constitution Review and (3) Ordination of both women and men. Discussion guides will be provided. Online ‘town hall’ meetings are also being planned.

LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith says, ‘We want delegates to come to General Synod knowing better how their congregations and communities are responding to these three topics. We also want the delegates to be well-versed in each of the topics, so they can contribute in a meaningful way to the discussions at Synod and make informed choices when they are asked to vote. And of course, we do all this with prayer, asking our Good Shepherd to guide his people.’

Information about these pre-Synod engagement and communications opportunities will be advised in The Lutheran and also in LCA eNews (sign up at www.lca.org.au/enews). Your General Synod delegate or alternate is receiving updates regularly, regarding these and other Synod-related matters, at their LCA email address.

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ALC welcomes new academic dean

There have been several changes at both governance and leadership levels at Australian Lutheran College (ALC) in early 2022, including a new academic dean and board members.

Dr Stephen Haar, who has served as the college’s academic dean for 14 years, has relinquished the full-time role to begin a transition toward retirement. Lecturer in Education Dr Merryn Ruwoldt, also ALC’s former Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching, succeeds Stephen. He will continue to serve ALC as a part-time lecturer and will remain as its vice-principal.

Merryn, who has a teaching background, completed her secondary teacher training in Adelaide at Lutheran Teachers College, one of the three training institutions which merged to form ALC in 2004. Her interest in the history of the relationship between the LCA and its schools and the impact of Lutheran theology on Lutheran schools, led to postgraduate study exploring the dialogue between theology and education. She joined ALC as a lecturer in education in 2011.

At the governance level, a new ALC Board was recently constituted for the current synodical term until 2024. Following appointments made by the LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB), the new members are human resources and business support leader Sharryn Cook from Queensland, health services manager and former aged-care services CEO Phillip Schmaal from South Australia and LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith, the latter of whom holds an ex-officio position on the board.

Continuing their service are Cheryl Bartel (vice-chair), Pastor Peter Miller (secretary), Pastor Greg Pietsch and Andrew Long. The service of retiring directors Glenine Hamlyn and David Prenzler and ex-officio member LCANZ Emeritus Bishop John Henderson ended when the new board was constituted.

Read the full story and more about Australian Lutheran College in the ALC publication Saints Alive, included with this month’s print edition of The Lutheran and available to download at www.alc.edu.au/connect/publications/saints-alive

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Most LCA pastors deal with family violence situations: survey

Almost six in 10 Lutheran pastors in Australia have dealt with domestic and family violence (DFV) situations and all LCA clergy have responded to victims of abuse, national survey findings suggest.

The recently published findings were collated from responses to the National Church Life Survey (NCLS) Leader Survey 2016. Domestic and family violence is a serious and widespread problem in Australia and the full survey findings support the belief that it occurs in all communities, including communities of faith.

Ninety-three per cent of Lutheran pastors who responded to the survey reported having dealt with victims of abuse, by counselling them (82 per cent), referring them to specialist services (68 per cent), and/or conducting a safety risk assessment with the victim (18 per cent). More than half of Lutheran respondents (54 per cent) either had counselled perpetrators, referred perpetrators to a service agency or did both (46 per cent counselled, 25 per cent referred).

Around half (54 per cent) provided marriage or couples counselling in relation to DFV situations. However, NCLS Research suggests couples counselling in such situations is problematic. Victims of domestic violence and support services maintain that couples counselling is ineffective and unsafe, as it fails to address the unequal power in an abusive relationship and can place the victim at increased risk.

Overall, two thirds (67 per cent) of senior local Australian church leaders from 14 denominations and movements who participated in the 2016 NCLS reported dealing with DFV situations.

The full domestic and family violence survey results have been published in a peer-reviewed paper in the academic journal ‘Religions’. The paper, ‘Domestic and Family Violence: Responses and Approaches across the Australian Churches’, reports on actions that church leaders have taken when responding to DFV situations and on views about the approachability of Australian churches for those experiencing DFV. The first Australia-wide, cross-denominational survey study to do so, it is available online at www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/3/270

In 2017, the LCA launched its Campaign for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence under the tagline Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts. Visit the campaign website at www.preventdfv.lca.org.au for more information and resources.

The National Council of Churches’ listing of domestic and family violence resources is at: https://www.ncca.org.au/safe-church-program/domestic-andfamily-violence

GET HELP

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic and family violence, visit www.anrows.org.au/get-support or call 1800 RESPECT (24-hour National Sexual

Assault Family Domestic Violence Counselling Service), or Lifeline Counselling (24 hours) 131 114. In an emergency, call 000.

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Lutheran Nurses name joint award winners for 2022

by Bob Wiebusch

The Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia (LNAA) has named joint winners of the 2022 Lutheran Nurse of the Year award – Fred Miegel of Alice Springs and Gillian Mibus of Adelaide. Both have made an outstanding contribution to their profession over many years, including in the past year. The awards were announced last month on International Nurses Day, 12 May.

Gillian is a practitioner at the Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Adelaide and a member of the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses (ACNN). This college has several Special Interest Groups, including one focused on low-resource countries, where there is a high rate of infant and maternal mortality. Helping Babies Breathe is one such program and, using guidelines by the World Health Organisation, ACNN focuses on Papua New Guinea (PNG). Under this program, Gillian has made 10 weeklong visits to remote PNG regions such as Goroka, in her own time and at her own cost, to instruct local midwives and birthing assistants on basic practices to improve health outcomes. Due to COVID, visits were not undertaken in 2021, but the program continued with remote support. Gillian is a member of St Stephen’s congregation in Adelaide.

After arriving in Alice Springs in 1995, Fred was responsible for establishing a palliative care service at Alice Springs Hospital. For many years, he was in charge of this service, recruiting and employing doctors and nurses to provide palliative care in the community and to support hospital staff in delivering appropriate care in a challenging cross-cultural setting. He has also delivered quality palliative care training. Fred was heavily involved in the design and establishment of the stand-alone palliative care facility, which opened in 2018, on the hospital campus. In 2021, Fred received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his years of work in quality palliative care nursing in Central Australia. In 2004 he was named Northern Territory Nurse of the Year in the Acute Services Section. Fred is a leading member of the Alice Springs congregation and served as its chairperson for seven years.

The Lutheran Nurse of the Year award was launched in 2020 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale, the pioneer of modern nursing. It recognises faithful and outstanding service rendered by a Registered or Enrolled Nurse who is an active member of a congregation of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.

Pastor Bob Wiebusch is editor of the Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia’s In Touch publication and a former editor of The Lutheran.

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Walk My Way on the road for 2022

Walk My Way is back for 2022 and is already having a big impact on the lives and futures of children living as refugees – with almost $33,000 raised as of 18 May.

Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) is this year again hoping to raise more than $260,000 through its walking challenge – enough to support 10,000 refugee children to go to school. Last year more than $368,000 was donated nationwide, through approximately 4,000 people taking part in the more than 30 events. In 2022, there will be congregational, school and group walks, along with a Lutheran Education Australia-supported schools and community event planned for Friday 21 October. Individuals and families can also take part in their own walking challenge, where and when it suits.

The first group walk of 2022 was staged by Year 9s from Encounter Lutheran College Victor Harbor, south of Adelaide, on 3 May and, as of 18 May, had raised $9,720 to support children in East Africa and Myanmar. Students walked 26 kilometres as a service component of their year-level camps – the boys along the Heysen Trail on the Fleurieu Peninsula, and the girls at Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges in South Australia’s north.

The second group walk for 2022 was organised by members from St John’s Lutheran Church Unley in suburban Adelaide and, as of 18 May, had raised $19,902 to support refugees from Ukraine. St John’s member Jodi Brook said organisers were overwhelmed by the response to the event, which brought together 70 people of all ages and abilities for three walks ranging between 3 kilometres and 7.6 kilometres on the streets near their church.

One of the walkers, Meagan Schwarz, said: ‘We were able to talk to our six-year-old about why we are doing this and to give thanks to God for all the things we take for granted which made this walk possible.’

Community Education Coordinator for Walk My Way, Kirra Lewis, said that since 2019, Walk My Way had helped 62,500 refugee children go to school.

You can still donate to the Encounter or St John’s walking teams, to other walkers or teams, or organise your own walk. See https://walkmyway.org.au for details.

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