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301

LCA commits to 2021 National Church Life Survey

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The LCA will take part in this year’s National Church Life Survey (NCLS), with the General Church Board funding the full participation of all Lutheran congregations and parishes in Australia in the five-yearly poll.

To be held in October and November, the NCLS is a cooperative venture across all churches in Australia. It is the largest, longest-running study of church life in the world. It draws together the voices and aspirations of all Australian church attenders as they speak not only to each other but Australian society as a whole and the international community.

Churches of all sizes and traditions, in urban, rural and remote communities complete the NCLS as a way to reflect on their church’s health. The survey aims to be a life-giving resource for churches, to nurture their vitality and inform their decision-making, as they seek to be part of God’s mission where they are.

10 REASONS TO TAKE PART

  1. Hear all the voices – Hear the attitudes and beliefs of all people at church.
  2. Make better choices – Use a credible evidence base to inform discussions and decisions.
  3. Find out things you need to know – Doing a nationwide survey helps churches to learn from each other and allows leaders to identify key trends.
  4. Find out the giftings and hopes of attenders – Harness their energy, motivation and hopes to move forward. Encourage all to contribute their gifts and skills.
  5. Take stock of your church’s health – Use the NCLS Research framework of church vitality to assess nine core qualities and three attendance measures.
  6. Identify your strengths and use them to grow – NCLS planning resources are strengths-based, the best place to start when making any change.
  7. See how you compare – Use this gauge to set realistic goals.
  8. Sustain and support leaders – Understand what contributes to sustainable and effective leadership practices in churches.
  9. Add to the profile of your denomination and the Australian church – Denominational leaders will use overall information about their churches to inform their pastoral and strategic leadership.
  10. Inform wider Australian society and beyond – Describe the story of modern Australian churches to wider society to challenge myths.

CONGREGATIONS WILL RECEIVE SURVEY INFORMATION

All LCA congregations will be contacted about the survey, including a letter from Dr Tania Nelson, the LCA coordinator for the 2021 NCLS, supporting their participation. Dr Nelson says the LCA is encouraging participation in both the attender survey for people 15 years and over and the child attender survey for eight to 14-year-olds.  She says church councils and members may wish to view the NCLS Research promotional video, which can be accessed at www.2021ncls.org.au

The NCLS doesn’t include New Zealand congregations. The Christian Research Association of New Zealand conducts the Church Life Survey of New Zealand, the most recent of which was held in 2018.

MULTIPLE LANGUAGES AND FORMATS

NCLS attender surveys are available in English, Arabic, Chin (Burmese), Chinese, Dinka, Italian, Karen (Burmese), Korean, Tongan and Vietnamese. And, as well as paper survey forms, an online survey option is available for the attender survey.

302

Mini-Bible dedicated

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Central Australian Lutherans have been celebrating the publication and dedication of the Anmatyerr Mini-Bible.

This new mini-bible is the fruit of 18 years of labour by Summer Institute of Linguistics (SIL) and Wycliffe Bible translators David and Ming-Fang Strickland, who have worked with Finke River Mission (FRM) pastors and locals at Ti Tree, approximately 190 kilometres north of Alice Springs.

FRM Support Worker Pastor Paul Traeger says David originally began working for SIL in the Alyawarre language, with two others. However, after Pastor Ronnie McNamara from Laramba, approximately 120 kilometres north of Alice Springs, pointed out that no-one was working on the nearby related language of Anmatyerr, David moved to Ti Tree to work on an Anmatyerr translation of the Bible.

Although he was single when called to the job, David was married soon after – to Ming-Fang, a SIL-trained literacy worker from Taiwan.

THANK YOU, DAVID AND MING-FANG!

David Strickland has worked hard on the Anmatyerr translation of the Bible, alongside native-speaking language helpers. He has established a great rapport with the Anmatyerr people. He also has translated Lutheran liturgies and helped with interpreting at FRM bush courses. David has exhibited a servant-like attitude and always pursued excellence in translation and interpreting.

Having a Bible in your own language means that God can communicate with you without the mediation of another dialect. The locals’ esteem for the new translation already became apparent on the day of its dedication. Immediately following the service, mothers began openly using Anmatyerr Bible material to teach their young children, and the children seemed happily responsive.

We pray that the new translation will be widely used and highly valued. And we thank and praise God for the loving, faithful, assiduous work of David and Ming-Fang (pictured right with Paddy Willis, an evangelist at Willowbank who worked with the Stricklands on the translation).

– Pastor Paul Traeger, FRM Support Worker for the Pintupi–Luritja language area

CELEBRATIONS FOR NEW TRANSLATION

We have been celebrating the publication of the Anmatyerr Mini-Bible in style! Four celebratory events were planned in different locations. The first was held at Nturiya Lutheran Church at Ti Tree Station. The people showed deep appreciation for having a substantial volume of Scripture in their own language. Those involved in the translation were presented with Bibles by FRM support worker Malcolm Willcocks, who also officiated.

The next instalment was at Alice Springs Lutheran Church. Pastor Paul Traeger took the service, and schoolteacher and translator Seraphina did a Bible reading in Anmatyerr. The third launch was held at Laramba Lutheran Church. Pastor Ronnie McNamara, who also checked my translation drafts, was present for the dedication, which was the outcome of his original request at a pastors course meeting in 2000.

The fourth launch scheduled at Mt Allan was cancelled due to a traditional mourning period. So, we pray that another suitable day is found to hold the launch. We especially ask for prayer that the translated Scriptures will be accepted by the people there and that the Scriptures will inspire them to follow the message contained and that new leaders will emerge.

– David Strickland, SIL Bible translator

303

Change in format for General Synod

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In a first for the LCANZ, the church’s next Convention of General Synod will be held in two parts – an online meeting in October 2021 and an in-person meeting in 2022.

LCANZ Bishop John Henderson announced the change in a special eNews to the church on 10 June after the General Church Board (GCB) decided on the move on 9 June. The six-day face-to-face convention scheduled to be held in Melbourne from 28 September to 3 October will not go ahead.

‘After making every effort to hold the Convention by the usual means, ongoing uncertainty about travel restrictions, exacerbated by the recent lockdown in Victoria and its potential flow-on impact in parts of Queensland and New South Wales, meant the time had come to make the very difficult call on a COVID contingency plan’, Bishop Henderson said.

Taking into account the extraordinary circumstances relating to COVID-19, the GCB unanimously agreed to hold the 20th regular Convention of General Synod in two parts: an online meeting in early October 2021, which will then be adjourned until the meeting resumes in person at a location to be determined in September or October 2022.

‘The GCB has adopted this approach, a first for the LCANZ, so we can keep the regular constitutional cycle of three-year synodical terms and make the necessary decisions in a timely and orderly way, allowing proper opportunity for consideration and discussion’, Bishop Henderson said. ‘With the risks to travel at present, that will mean an online format in 2021 and an in-person meeting in 2022, God willing.’

The 2021 online component of the Convention, likely to be held over two days, will be for essential business items necessary for the regular transition into the next synodical term, such as the election of the LCANZ bishop, assistant bishop and GCB; board and council reporting; and voting on essential constitutional and other matters that for various reasons cannot be held over until 2022.

Delegates will receive the Book of Reports, which also contains proposals to General Synod, before the 2021 online meeting.

The 2022 in-person component of the meeting, likely to be held over two to three days, will be for matters of a theological or doctrinal nature and the proposals that will require robust ‘live’ debate in the usual Synod format.

‘The planning team will do its best to make sure all delegates can participate in both the online and in-person components of the Convention’, Bishop Henderson said.

The General Pastors Conference (GPC), scheduled for 6–8 July 2021 in Tanunda South Australia, will now take place as an online conference on Tuesday 6 July.

GPC will still need to ensure that nominations for LCANZ bishop and assistant bishop reach the opening session of Convention of General Synod in 2021 and that its advice on theological and doctrinal issues reaches delegates suitably in advance of the second meeting of Synod in 2022.

Regarding General Synod, GCB was mindful of the financial risk to the LCANZ and its parishes in the event of a snap COVID lockdown in Melbourne. Also taken into account was the considerable burden a physical Convention of General Synod in Melbourne would place on ‘already exhausted leaders, pastors and people in Victoria, the state that has borne the brunt of the COVID pandemic in Australia’.

‘In making this weighty decision, the GCB has considered not only the potential impact on delegates and others but also the risk to the wider church’, Bishop Henderson said. ‘While the financial risk is one factor, there is also the possibility that any decisions made by a depleted Convention of General Synod might later be contested as not being fully legitimate.’

As details about the online component of the convention become available, registered delegates will be informed via the Synod eNews, and there will be regular updates in LCA eNews for the wider church.

Bearing in mind that specific details for the new format for Convention of General Synod are not yet available, if you have questions or concerns, please contact the General Synod planning team via synod@lca.org.au

For more, go to www.lca.org.au/changes-to-general-synod/

304

New bishop for LCA’s Queensland District

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Pastor Mark Vainikka will be the next LCA Queensland District bishop. He was elected unopposed during the District Convention of Synod at Eight Mile Plains last month.

He will succeed Bishop Paul Smith, who has served in the role since June 2015 and did not seek re-election.

Ordained in 2002, Bishop-elect Mark has served in parish ministry, school ministry and as the full-time first assistant bishop. He was the vice-president/assistant bishop for eight years, first assistant bishop since 2018 and the full-time first assistant since 2019. Addressing District Synod after his election, he said: ‘It’s very humbling. You have entrusted me to be your bishop. It is a call to serve you.’

Pastor Ben Hentschke of Ipswich Parish will succeed Pastor Mark as the District’s first assistant bishop, while Pastor Nathan Glover of St Andrews Lutheran College Tallebudgera is the new second assistant bishop.

Meanwhile, Pastor Matthias Prenzler of Goulburn Murray Parish is the new assistant bishop of the Victoria-Tasmania District, which held its Convention of Synod at Geelong on 22 May. Victoria-Tasmania District Bishop Lester Priebbenow, who has served in that role since 2017, was not up for re-election.

Also in May, Pastor David Altus was re-elected unopposed for a further two-year term as bishop of the South Australia – Northern Territory District at its Convention of Synod at Tanunda. Bishop Altus first led the district in late 2009. Pastor Andrew Brook of St Johns Unley was elected to serve as first assistant bishop, while Pastor Joel Cramer of The Ark Salisbury is the SA-NT second assistant bishop.

The Lutheran Church of New Zealand Synod met at Upper Moutere in June. LCNZ Bishop Mark Whitfield is halfway through his third four-year term and was not up for election. The incumbent assistant bishop, Pastor Jim Pietsch, of St Pauls Wellington, was re-elected.

Earlier this year, Bishop Mike Fulwood was returned for a third two-year term leading the Western Australia District in a part-time capacity, along with serving in parish ministry at Parkwood. WA Assistant Bishop Peter Hage of St Johns Perth was also returned for a further two-year term in his role.

The New South Wales District will not hold a Convention of Synod this year.

Read the full story at www.lca.org.au/new-bishop-for-lcas-queensland-district/

305

Sharing care and counsel saves lives

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The LCANZ has a long-standing relationship with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Malaysia (ELCM) through LCA International Mission. One of the ways the ELCM serves its community is through the Women’s Care & Counselling Centre, which supports pregnant women who may be considering abortions or baby-dumping. Those who serve there share the story of this life-saving ministry.

In the late 1990s, there was a growing need to help young single mothers facing unplanned pregnancies. The fact they were turning to the church for help meant we had to act. The ELCM does not believe in abortion as a solution for family planning, and to put our beliefs into practice, Bishop Emeritus Dr Solomon Rajah moved to set up a safe home for care and counselling.

Established in 2010, the Women’s Care & Counselling Centre (WCCC) is located in Port Klang, southwest of Kuala Lumpur. Under the able care of Deaconess Elizabeth Gopal, it has been a beacon of hope for many women – more than 100 women have seen the kindness of Christ made manifest in their lives.

Deaconess Elizabeth receives pastoral support from Holy Cross Lutheran congregation’s pastor and council, while WCCC also works closely with Malaysia’s national welfare ministry and has a good relationship with local authorities. We are also thankful for the generous gift from Lutheran Women of Australia in support of our diaconal ministry.

Our primary concern is for mothers to be able to have and raise their child without a stigma attached to being a single mother. Therefore, we provide a safe home for them until they are ready to leave. The women are often subjected to violence and abuse, and WCCC is committed to providing security, counselling and exposure to useful skills. We also help with accessing financial aid from government agencies, legal papers and medical and food aid for the care of the babies.

For mothers who choose to give up their baby for adoption, we assist in the legal process to find a good home.

Sadly, baby-dumping still occurs, and we have staff to care for babies while we arrange legal adoptions. Thankfully, however, there have been no recent cases.

Since government COVID-19 restrictions on movement and gatherings were introduced in Malaysia in March 2020, WCCC’s ministries have expanded. These include monthly food assistance to single mothers and their families, transportation for medical care for single women and help for single mothers to procure cheap housing in government projects.

We don’t advertise our services, but WCCC has developed a community presence through activities such as medical camps.

This puts WCCC on the radar of the local medical community, who are often first to encounter pregnant mothers in distress.

In 2021, WCCC has extended its premises to accommodate more women and to provide sufficient space for activities.

God has been good to us, and this ministry is a rich and rewarding experience. We serve our Lord with joy and respect for life.

306

Lutheran nurses honoured

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by Pastor Bob Wiebusch

Wayne Kroker, of Nundah, Queensland, is the Lutheran Nurse of the Year. Wayne was one of two Queensland nurses honoured by the Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia (LNAA) in May. Shirley Klinge, of Laidley, Queensland, was awarded LNAA Life Membership.

Wayne is employed in the Thoracic Ward at Prince Charles Hospital at Chermside in suburban Brisbane. During the coronavirus pandemic, he has provided nursing care for the most seriously ill COVID-19 patients in his ward. During the height of the COVID lockdown, Wayne was diagnosed with cancer. After a break for treatment, he returned to nursing. Wayne is an active member of St Pauls Lutheran Church Nundah. He and his wife Misiel are managers of St Pauls Lodge on the church campus, where units are rented at reduced rates to people in need.

After completing four years of nursing training at Dalby General Hospital, in Queensland, Shirley Klinge moved to Mt Isa. She first worked at the Mt Isa Base Hospital, then served as director of St Paul’s Lutheran Child Care Centre.

Returning to Dalby, Shirley worked in ICU there for five years, then in 1983, she was appointed director of nursing at Tabeel at Laidley Lutheran aged care.

From 1998 until September 2020, Shirley served as part-time parish nurse at Redeemer Lutheran Church Laidley. She was also a pastoral care nurse at Faith Lutheran College, Plainland.

307

Church@Home July 2021

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CHURCH@HOME www.lca.org.au/churchhome

Keeping faith at the forefront of everyday life

Regular devotions can be a great foundation for our home-worship life. They can help nurture our faith and even that of our families, as they strengthen our relationship with Jesus, increase our trust in God and our openness to the call of his Spirit. We pray that you will receive blessings from the devotional materials here and in the Church@Home resources collection collated and shared on the special webpage at www.lca.org.au/churchhome. There are also other faith-building and practical resources available through this webpage. If you have internet access and a printer, why not print some and mail or deliver them to those who may otherwise miss out?

– Lisa

Psalm 9:9 

The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP

These reflections are from a fresh set of devotions written for our LCANZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes on Jesus. They can be used by families and individuals as part of the Church@Home resources. You can find these and more on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion

Eucatastrophe! by Sal Huckel

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest (Isaiah 32:18).

Read Isaiah 32:14–20.

Let’s start with a quote from JRR Tolkien about a literary device that features in his writing: ‘I coined the word “eucatastrophe”: the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears’.

Tolkien refers to the resurrection as the greatest eucatastrophe producing that essential emotion: Christian joy which produces tears because it is qualitatively so like sorrow, because it comes from those places where Joy and Sorrow are at one, reconciled, as selfishness and altruism are lost in Love (Letter 89).

We see the same effect in our reading today.

When the Lord’s Spirit is poured out from on high, we are promised the transformation of deserted cities and wastelands and the dwelling of justice and righteousness, bringing life-giving fruit! In Isaiah’s day, as in ours, we see a stark contrast between the messianic kingdom that is to come and the worldly government. Perhaps we feel that the present day is the worst we have seen in our lifetimes – though, of course, generations have struggled before in times of great hardship and crisis. Famine, wars, genocide – earthly troubles are not new. But we have an assurance and a hope, both now and in eternity.

We see that there is only one source of security for an insecure world. We pray for the renewal that will eventually come, bringing peace, quietness, confidence, security, rest and blessing. While we look forward to God’s kingdom reigning on earth, we can also pray for renewal and an outpouring in our lives right now. Pray for the Lord to reign in your heart, in your life, in your home. God’s kingdom ruling in our hearts brings his reign closer for others too.

Father God, pour out your Spirit from on high today. Transform my life with your justice and righteousness. I long for your peace, quietness, rest and blessing. Reign in my heart and give us patience and peace in the struggles of this world. May your people share their hope with others as we look for your coming in glory. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Loving God with all my heart by Norma Koehne

Love the Lord with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

Read Deuteronomy 6:4–13.

Lately, I have been watching a series on Netflix called Shtisel, which is about Orthodox Jewish families in Israel. What I have found most interesting is the way they constantly remind themselves of God and his words.

I was puzzled by why they touch the doorframe as they enter the house until I read in this text that they write this commandment on their doorframes and gates.

At prayer time, small books containing God’s word in the Old Testament are wrapped onto their hands and tied on their foreheads.

We are blessed that we have God’s full revelation of his love and salvation in the New Testament as well as the Old Testament. How do we, in our busy modern lives, make sure that we love God with all our being, that he is first in our lives and our love? We can take the opportunity to worship God through word and sacrament in church and our homes through morning and evening devotions. We can try to have reminders of God and his goodness around us at all times. Perhaps we can print out Bible verses and put them on the door of the refrigerator, a place we all look at often. Maybe you spend a lot of time travelling and can put a Bible verse in your car where you can see it easily. And, of course, we keep close to God through our prayers throughout the day. Be creative!

There is a warning here to the people of Israel. ‘When you eat and are satisfied, be careful that you do not forget the Lord’ (verses 11b,12). Sadly, that has become the case in so many countries in our affluent western world. We are blessed with so many good things. It is easy to be like the unwise farmer, ‘You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy, eat, drink and be merry’ (Luke 12:19). God preserve us from such arrogance and indifference.

Lord, you know how hard it is for us to love you with our whole heart. Help us through your Spirit to immerse ourselves in your word so we are constantly reminded of your love and goodness. Amen.

PRAYER
SERENITY PRAYER

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
Enjoying one moment at a time,
Accepting hardship as a pathway to peace,
Taking, as you did, this world as it is,
Not as I want it,
Trusting that you will make all things right,
That I may be content in this life,
And joyful with you forever in the next.

– Reinhold Niebuhr (1892–1971) from justprayer.org

Nehemiah 8:10

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Christ the Conqueror by Pastor Reid Matthias

Because everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world (1 John 5:4a).

Read 1 John 5:4–12.

If I write the word ‘conqueror,’ who first comes to mind?

Throughout history, there have been military leaders who have, through often brutal means, enlarged their territory. Genghis Kahn, the Mongol leader, conquered territory from eastern Europe across the entirety of Asia to Japan in the east. According to history, his superior military tactics, along with the Mongols’ expertise on horseback and with bow and arrow, allowed him to subdue any group that tried to stand in his way.

From the Apostle John’s perspective, though, conquering the world is not about taking territory, but actually giving it up. Or, as the NIV translates, ‘overcomes’ the world.

How does this happen? Is it by our superior tactics? Our war-like tendencies? Cutting the world down with weapons of destruction?

No, it is by the power of God and his empowerment of love to his children. ‘Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God … and everyone who has been born of God [i.e. received the Holy Spirit] overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith’ (1 John 5:1,4,5).

This is the victory. Christ the Conqueror through love. The free gift of grace through our faith in Christ Jesus allows us to give up our aspirations of conquering territory and allows God to conquer the terror of sin, death and the devil.

What things has the Holy Spirit helped you conquer in life? What are some things you’d like to ask for help with?

Heavenly Father, thank you for your amazing gift of faith. Thank you that it allows me to see that you have conquered the world so I might live freely in it. Your victory is immense! Praise Christ the Conqueror! 

God uses sights and sounds to get attention by Pastor Steve Liersch

And suddenly from heaven, there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting (Acts 2:2).

Read Acts 2:1–21.

In mid-April 2021, my state of Western Australia experienced severe weather when Cyclone Seroja hit.

It was a deadly tropical cyclone that brought historic flooding and landslides to portions of southern Indonesia and East Timor and later went on to impact WA’s Mid-West region. People who had never experienced a cyclone told of sheltering in their homes and being terrified by the sound outside of the powerful winds. The cyclone wreaked havoc and caused massive destruction and, sadly, well over 100 fatalities in parts of Indonesia.

When wind and rain combine, the last thing we would expect is for a fire to survive. Water quenches the flames, and they are extinguished.

Wind without rain can indeed fan a small spark into a bushfire, which we’ve also seen so often in Australia. The power of the wind is an amazing energy source that, when harvested, can also produce electricity that we can use to benefit our way of life in so many ways.

We know what the normal effects of wind combined with other things can do.

To get Jerusalem’s attention that first Pentecost morning, the sound of a mighty wind was heard. The amazing sight of small tongues of fire could be seen. Speaking in strange languages connected with many nationalities of people.

God used the sights and sounds to get people’s attention long enough for Peter to bring God’s word to the masses.

The Holy Spirit was unleashed into the world and is still doing what it does best – leading people to hear about Jesus as their Lord and Saviour.

What has God used to get your attention to be drawn closer to Jesus?

Come, Holy Spirit. Come and pour yourself anew into my life so that I may be drawn closer to Jesus and be used to help in the work of God’s kingdom. Amen.

Complete conversion by Pastor Stephen Abraham

‘I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation, anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him’ (Acts 10:34,35).

Read Acts 10:34–43.

What would it take for you to completely, wholeheartedly stop barracking for your favourite sporting team? I mean ‘complete conversion’, dropping your team for the one that is your team’s arch-nemesis? Imagine dropping support for Australia and barracking for the USA in Olympic swimming, swapping from Ford to Holden, or the Wallabies to the All Blacks.

I’m what’s called an ‘Apple fanboy’. I’ve used Apple computer technology for 30 years. I know I’m biased, but it would take a miracle for me to switch to another brand!

It was the same for the early church. It took a miracle for Peter to switch from accepting ‘Jews only’ as Christians to ‘Jews and Gentiles’. Simon Peter, a Jew from birth, had been taught his whole life that only the Jews had access to the one true God.

From Acts 10:9, Peter had a God-given vision, where God allowed the eating of unclean animals. And after he woke up, he had an encounter with an unclean enemy, a Roman officer (and you know how the Jews felt about their unclean national captors, Rome!).

Acts 10 is about two conversions: the Roman officer Cornelius’ conversion to Christianity and Peter’s (and the early church’s) conversion to accepting non-Jews as followers of Christ.

The Greek word katalambanomai (Acts 10:34) normally translates as ‘I understand’, but it literally means ‘I am gaining the understanding’.

It’s a word of change, of ‘the lights coming on’ to a new way of thinking. I think this stands not only as a witness to this historical change of acceptance in the early church, but it highlights that God’s community of faith is dynamic. It changes – even if those changes are challenging and confronting. You keep your theology intact, of course. But as the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand, we have been led to make many changes, from presidents to bishops, from hymns only to hymns and songs, from communing at confirmation to a younger-aged first communion (and I could go on – answer the rest for yourself!).

It begs the question: where is God taking us next?

Change can be confronting and painful. But there are times where God shatters our preconceived notions and opens his church up to new possibilities of growth, new ways of being a light to the world and a new acceptance of others.

Heavenly Father, you delight in the wide-eyed wonder and joy of children. Help us adults to strip away our hard edges built from fear and uncertainty, and restore to us the uncomplicated, unquestioning trust that we had as children. Amen.

PRAYER
NOTHING TO FEAR

Heavenly Father,
you have not made us for darkness and death,
but for life with you forever.
Without you we have nothing to hope for;
with you we have nothing to fear.
Speak to us now your words of eternal life.
Lift us from anxiety and guilt
to the light and peace of your presence,
and set the glory of your love before us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

–  from justprayer.org

 Matthew 6:25

Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear …

308

Chance to support work of ALC

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Australian Lutheran College (ALC) has launched its annual appeal for 2021, with the theme ‘Connecting through faith’. The LCANZ’s provider of tertiary theological education, ALC relies on direct financial and prayer support to continue its work in partnership with the church, Principal James Winderlich says.

‘At ALC we prepare people to serve as pastors, teachers and lay workers in the LCANZ’, Pastor Winderlich says. ‘This includes Aboriginal pastors and evangelists in Central Australia along with other culturally diverse church workers; teachers and leaders in Lutheran schools and colleges; and lay people who serve in both paid and voluntary roles in diverse contexts. When you support ALC’s annual appeal you keep these vitally important connections in front of all of us.’

ALC appeal packages are available through congregations and parishes. Donate online at https://payments.alc.edu.au/donation.html, by phone on 1800 625 193 (SA business hours), or in person at 104 Jeffcott St, North Adelaide SA, during business hours. Donations of $2.00 or more are tax-deductible and accepted year-round.

309

Spreading the message of reconciliation

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The last week of May was ‘reconciliation week’ in more ways than one for nine members of the LCANZ.

From 24 to 28 May, Chris Antonini (Duncraig Western Australia), Judy Butler (Mount Gravatt Queensland), Michael Eckert (Warradale South Australia), Alicia Graham (St Johns Bundaberg Queensland), Sue Housego (Wodonga Victoria), Diane Kleinig (Tea Tree Gully South Australia), Lynette Priebbenow (Middle Park Queensland) and pastors Adam Eime (Peace Lutheran College Cairns Queensland) and Carl Richter (Mildura Victoria) attended a biblical reconciliation intensive in Adelaide. Conducted by the LCANZ’s Reconciliation Ministry department, the week-long study gathering was part of the Training to Teach Biblical Reconciliation course.

The intensive concentrated on learning styles, key aspects to teaching, and the content of what is delivered in a biblical reconciliation workshop. Participants prepared and delivered a section of a workshop and produced workshop material specific to their own contexts.

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE COURSE?

The two-part course aims to fulfil the need to have at least one person to teach biblical reconciliation in each district of the LCANZ, according to Pastor Paul Kerber, Assistant to the Bishop for Reconciliation Ministry.

‘The course is seen as the first step in growing local biblical reconciliation ministry people to serve the church with teaching and practical skills’, Pastor Paul says.

‘Our life comes from a relationship with God and our relationship with him is to affect our relationships with each other. Therefore, biblical reconciliation is really “Lutheran spirituality”, grounding people in teaching and practical aspects to living out their identity as a forgiven child of God in relationship with him and in relationship with each other.’

TRAINED TO TRAIN OTHERS

Pastor Paul adds that a key benefit of the course is that many more people and whole church and school communities will have better access to biblical reconciliation teaching.

‘It also equips God’s people to live their faith with others in the wider community and grows people to know how to speak the gospel of the forgiveness of sins to others so that they are effective in the mission of the church.’

WHAT SOME PARTICIPANTS SAY

Chris Antonini: ‘(Biblical reconciliation) is a really necessary part of Christian relationship … It’s about how we are called to be different.’

Judy Butler: ‘I started with no expectations, but I knew that the outpouring of the Holy Spirit would be immense here.’

Michael Eckert: ‘It’s a pleasure to have a big picture of how the church can benefit … from knowing more about biblical reconciliation.’

Alicia Graham: ‘I hope I have the confidence and skills in communicating with others about how we can better live [and] reconcile with one another in the way that God wants us to.’

Sue Housego: ‘I was despairing because I couldn’t see Christians being Christians to each other, I saw a lot of pain. I didn’t choose to do this course, [God] threw me into it … and it’s a real blessing.’

Diane Kleinig: ‘We need to be able to love each other through forgiveness and repentance and live the gospel, so that the church becomes alive and is not just something that happens on a Sunday.’

Lynette Priebbenow: ‘Some doors were closing in my life … having this course was a God-given opportunity and a door being opened.’

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Chance to explore mission in our schools

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by Kate Bourne and Anne Dohnt

Lutheran educators are being invited to delve into the topics of ‘Mission in Lutheran schools and early childhood services’ and ‘Wellbeing through a Christian lens’. These two subjects were the dual themes of the recent live-streamed Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) Ministry Conference. The conference provided for personal and professional growth for staff in Lutheran schools, with a focus on ministry personnel.

Any principals, teachers, chaplains, pastors and wellbeing staff who didn’t participate online on 24 to 26 May can still take part, with the conference sessions videos available on demand.

REFLECTING ON LUTHERAN EDUCATION’S ROLE

Conference speakers, including presenter Rev Dr Chad Rimmer, Lutheran World Federation program executive, encouraged participants to reflect on the purpose of Lutheran education. Dr Rimmer sparked discussion among live-stream participants by exploring the link between formation, reformation and transformation, and transformative pedagogy as an educational philosophy. ‘A Lutheran approach to education is about forming people who can fulfil their vocation to be the caretakers, tillers and keepers of God’s earth, and contribute to the physical, political, economic and ecological health and wellbeing of their society’, he said.

Keynote speakers also included Dr Phil Daughtry of Tabor College, missiologist Michael Frost, Professor Br David Hall of the Australian Catholic University, Dr Natasha Moore from the Centre for Public Christianity, Dr Rowan Lewis of the Australian College of Ministries and clinical psychologist Dr Katherine Thompson. Keynote presentations were accompanied by electives enabling participants to focus on a chosen area.

HUNDREDS ENGAGE WITH ONLINE SESSIONS 

There were 250 session views during the conference and (as at press time) approximately 650 further engagements with the sessions since 26 May. In the coming weeks, participants will be invited to follow-up sessions where they can explore the implications for Lutheran education.

To request viewing conference session videos, email lea@lutheran.edu.au

WHAT CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS SAY

‘Loved Michael Frost and [LCANZ church planter] Chris Podlich. They married up very well … and were both encouraging and challenging.’

‘Chad Rimmer was thought-provoking, David Hall and Rowan Lewis were also highlights.’

‘I loved the theme – I believe we need to continue the conversation around what wellbeing looks like through a Christian lens and how we can connect faith and wellbeing in the lives of our students. Affirming!’

‘Natasha Moore leads by about five lengths at this stage! …. I will certainly want to share it with my staff as part of our ongoing formation.’

Kate Bourne is LEA Administration Assistant and Anne Dohnt is Director of Formation.