The Lutheran April-May 2024 Digital Edition

SHINING A LIGHT ...

PHYSICALVIOLENCE

EMOTIONALBLACKMAIL

STALKING

COERCIVECONTROL APR–MAY

SURVIVOR

VERBALATTACKS HUMILIATION

NEGLECT

SEXUALASSAULT FINANCIALMANIPULATION

PERPETRATOR CHILDREN ADULTS THE AGED

SOCIAL ISOLATION

SPIRITUALABUSE

ON DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

AGGRESSION

GASLIGHTING

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

EDITORIAL

Editor Lisa McIntosh

p 08 8267 7300

m 0409 281 703

e lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au

Executive Editor Linda Macqueen

p 08 8267 7300

e linda.macqueen@lca.org.au

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LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

The Lutheran informs the members of the LCANZ about the church’s teaching, life, mission and people, helping them to grow in faith and commitment to Jesus Christ. The Lutheran also provides a forum for a range of opinions, which do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editor or the policies of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.

Fun, friends and fellowship

Before enjoying an after-service coffee with friends at Warradale Lutheran Church in suburban Adelaide recently, Genevieve and Stephen checked out the latest edition of The Lutheran. The duo is among a loyal contingent of Lutheran Disability Services (LDS) clients who make worship extra joyful for their Faith family. Stephen is also one of the stars of SA-based LDS’s new advertising campaign, which has been seen in local cinemas, on social media platforms and heard on commercial radio. LDS provides housing and in-home support for more than 90 people and is now seeking people within SA Lutheran congregations to become host families or housemates for people living with disability. Visit www.ldssa.org.au/services/ilo/ to find out more. You can check out the LDS ads at www.ldssa.org.au/2023/12/01/ldscommercials-2023/

Send us a photograph featuring a recent copy of The Lutheran and it may appear on page 2 of a future issue and on our website at www.thelutheran.com.au

People like YOU bring love to life

Joy Codrington

St Paul’s Lutheran Church Ceduna SA

Retired nurse who enjoys babysitting grandchildren, travel, cooking, reading and many volunteer roles

Most treasured Bible text: Ephesians 2:8,9

‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.’

Richard Hauser

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Noosa Qld

Retired Lutheran college principal, church historian

Most treasured Bible text: 1 Corinthians 13:12a

‘What we see now is like a dim image in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.’

Grace King

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista SA

Year 6 student at Good Shepherd Lutheran School Para Vista SA

Most treasured Bible text: John 3:16

‘For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.’

Let the light of someone you know shine through their photo being featured in The Lutheran and LCA Facebook. With their permission, send us a good quality photo, their name and details (congregation, occupation and most treasured text) and your contact details.

CAUTION: This magazine contains references to themes of domestic and family violence, which some individuals may find distressing. In Australia, call 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or Lifeline on 13 11 14, or in New Zealand call Shine Helpline on 0508 744 633 or Lifeline Aotearoa on 008 LIFELINE (0800 543 354) for confidential telephone crisis support. Call 000 (Australia) or 111 (NZ) if you or others are in immediate danger.

Watching a British police drama on TV recently, I recoiled at seeing fictional yet still frightening depictions of domestic and family violence (DFV). A woman is grabbed, then thrown across the room by a controlling husband who keeps a lock on the fridge and flushes her prescription anxiety medication down the toilet. Desperate, she then behaves abusively herself, blackmailing her lover into providing somewhere for her to escape with her children. It doesn’t end well.

That may be just a TV script but, sadly, such abuse by a spouse, intimate partner, other family member or ex-partner is all too real. In November last year, four women died in South Australia within a week –allegedly all in cases of domestic homicide.

Data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics around that time shows one in five Australian adults has experienced violence, or emotional or economic abuse by a partner. The survey found that more than 25 per cent of women and 15 per cent of men in Australia experience partner violence or abuse from the age of 15.

But even one case of domestic abuse is unacceptable. I believe Jesus weeps with us over this sin that tears families apart and leaves people of all ages with deep scars, whether they be physical, emotional, psychological, or spiritual.

For some years, our church has sought to address ‘the prevalence of family violence among us’, with the Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts awareness campaign resulting from a 2015 resolution from General Synod. Seeking to gain a deeper understanding of DFV, in 2019 the LCA commissioned the Religion and Domestic Violence Report, which was released last year (see pp 9, 22)

We may not know it, but someone we work or socialise with, a neighbour, a member of our family or even a member of our congregation may be experiencing violence or abuse – or abusing others. But even if we become aware of abuse, what can we do? Being alert to the signs and equipped with knowledge of what to do is a good start. So, in this edition, we share stories from members of our Lutheran family who have experienced or witnessed abuse, along with advice and opportunities for learning.

We’re also pleased to be able to share resources to support you in your faith life, a bumper news section and, for print subscribers, a bonus copy of LCA International Mission’s Border Crossings magazine. (Digital subscribers can access an electronic copy of the magazine at www.lca.org.au/international-mission)

God bless your reading,

I wish I’d known more … A pastor’s reflections on family violence

Learning can help bring change

How can I be a better bystander? Church seeks a deeper understanding of domestic and family violence

Our cover: iStock.com

Artwork by Elysia McEwen

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following pages may contain images of people who have died.

Because we bear your name

‘People were bringing even infants to Jesus that he might touch them; and when the disciples saw it, they sternly ordered them not to do it. But Jesus called for them and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it”’ (Luke 18:15–17).

Our hands can be crushed into a fist, or our hands can be opened for a wave ‘hello’. Our hands can be used to violently strike, or they can be opened to gently cradle someone.

In Luke’s Gospel, we read of the Lord Jesus ‘touching’ children. In this 21st-century post-Royal Commission era of caution, we hear those words about ‘touching’ as potentially problematic. But in his action of placing his hands on little children, our Lord was showing his desire to bless them.

BISHOP PAUL’S LETTER

REV PAUL SMITH

Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand

same time as Martin Luther, wrote a poem about ‘Christian hands’:

‘Christ has no body but yours, No hands, no feet on earth but yours, Yours are the eyes with which he looks Compassion on this world, Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good, Yours are the hands with which he blesses all the world.’

In verse six of the song for which this column is named –‘Because we bear your name’ – Dr John Kleinig, who wrote the lyrics and Dr Robin Mann, who wrote the music, also encourage us to use our hands in service of others:

OUR RISEN LORD CONTINUES TO BLESS OTHERS THROUGH OUR HANDS.

The experience of children in ancient Israel was so very different to the experience of children in modern-day New Zealand or Australia. At the time of Jesus, children were considered a gift from God, but children were also ranked very low in their society. The disciples thought they were doing the Lord a favour by keeping any potentially ‘unclean’ children away from him.

When the Lord blesses little children by placing his hands directly upon them in this way, he is declaring God’s heart and God’s way of using hands to do good for others.

Throughout the gospels in the New Testament, we are told how the Lord blessed outcasts and the ritually unclean by placing hands of compassion upon them. Often people around Jesus were shocked at the way he blessed people with his hands. Even when his hands are nailed to the cross with his palms opened to the world, our Lord still expresses his gracious heart praying, ‘Father, forgive them’.

Our risen Lord continues to bless others through our hands. Roman Catholic Mystic writer Teresa of Avila, who lived at the

‘Keep us from missing out on life; give hands that help, and single sight, and feet that walk your way – because we bear your name.’

In our modern world, many use their hands contrary to God’s heart. This edition of The Lutheran includes some difficult storytelling of ways in which people have used their hands to do harm to others, including to members of their own families.

We do not despair but call on the Lord of the cross and empty grave to change human hearts, including our own. In our Sunday liturgy we are reminded to regularly pray:

‘Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.

Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit’ (Psalm 51).

In Christ,

When we think of domestic and family violence, many of us might think that this criminal behaviour could not and would not exist within the families of our churches: that this horrible issue is a dark stain on the lives of people we don’t know … not people like us. And if we think that way – as much as we wish it were true – we’d be wrong. What follows is a true story. However, the names and identifying details of the people in this story have not been included to protect the privacy and safety of this family.

The hardest story I have ever told is my own.

I was married for more than 30 years and together my husband and I had three children.

During our marriage, there were certainly some happy times –and writing this story is so difficult.

But a few years ago, I read an article about a woman whose husband had killed their children. When I read that article, I thought, ‘That’s me, that could be me’. I knew I needed help. I spent three years working with a professional counsellor to support me, and our marriage, and to help to improve the safety of myself and my children.

On the outside, we were a ‘perfect’ family. We would go to church every Sunday, we modelled ‘happiness’ and no-one would have known what was really going on.

I suppose I thought the humiliation, the insults, the unpredictable behaviour, the questioning, the anger, the

bruises, the choking and the deep, deep fear could all be ‘managed’ if I just was a better wife and I treated him better. He was always so sorry, and I so much wanted to believe this. And things were better for a while, but then it got worse, even worse than before. The cycle would go on and on and on and on.

The children found ways to avoid having to be with their father. They were also worried for me and expressed many times that the way their dad treated me was not right. But I thought to myself, ‘We are Christian and Christians don’t behave like this … it must be something that I have done, or that I could do better’. My husband and I had counselling, both together and as individuals, and that seemed to help but it was so hard because my husband didn’t think he had anything to learn.

He often quoted the Bible to justify his actions, and he was very outspoken about the role of women in the church. It made me

wonder, ‘If that is what he thinks of other women, what does he think of me?’.

I felt humiliated and ashamed and longed for things to be different. I realised that I didn’t even know how most couples spoke and discussed things together, let alone longing for this to be the case with my husband and me.

I felt I was trapped because I didn’t have anywhere to go. I tried talking with a few other family members, but they didn’t believe me about my husband’s behaviour. ‘That can’t be true, he is a fine Christian man’, they would say. I begged with all my heart for someone who would believe me. I felt like a very bad person and a very bad Christian.

Some people told me that if I prayed hard enough, it would get better. No-one said that how my husband made me feel, and what he did to me, was wrong.

Somehow, I felt that it was my fault. The choking and the bruises were deeply humiliating.

Eventually, I realised that, for the safety of myself and my children, I couldn’t stay in the same house with my husband. But leaving the relationship was the hardest thing I have ever done. I didn’t want to let the world know that our family’s secrets were so horrible. I thought I could help him.

I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, ‘WE ARE CHRISTIAN AND CHRISTIANS DON’T BEHAVE LIKE THIS … IT MUST BE SOMETHING THAT I HAVE DONE, OR THAT I COULD DO BETTER’.

I thought I could help him to love and respect me.

I feared for my life during those first few months after I left. What if he found me? What would he do? Perhaps if I went back, it would be better …

When I finally felt able to talk to my pastor, he listened, did not judge me, respected me and supported me, praying for and with me. This has been an amazing encouragement for me. I have also had assistance from wonderful Christian people who believe my story and support me.

I realise now that unless my husband understands, unless there is mutual respect and love without fear, power and control, then I will never be safe and never be able to live in a healthy relationship with him.

I have come to realise that the Bible is about love, respect and compassion, not fear, anger, humiliation and violence. I now know that in all its forms, violence is never, ever okay.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic and family violence, visit ANROWS Get Support webpage or call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Family Domestic Violence Counselling Service, or Lifeline Counselling (24 hours) 131 114. In an emergency, call 000.

A PASTOR’S REFLECTIONS ON FAMILY VIOLENCE

Note: in these stories, names have been changed to protect the people concerned.

EARLY WARNING SIGNS

Early in my ministry, I was asked to conduct Alison and Tony’s wedding. Alison and her family were long-time members of my congregation, while Tony had moved to the area for work.

As we went through preparations for the wedding, I discovered that Tony was outgoing, with a stereotypical Aussie sense of humour, while Alison was much quieter. As time went by, Tony’s humour became based on ‘blokey’ jokes at Alison’s expense.

With the wedding day drawing closer, I began to feel more uncomfortable with Tony’s sense of humour. It felt like he was putting Alison down. The jokes may have been funny if she’d given an equal response, but these were very one-sided.

As I reflected on this long after the wedding, I wondered what life was like for Alison. I wish I had initiated a discussion with them about this. I wish I had known more about verbal abuse and the various ways it could manifest.

women in their place, don’t you?’. I was taken aback and unprepared for such a comment and did not respond.

Andrew continued to make similar statements that implied a view of his wife as subservient and as someone who needed to be kept under control. He seemed to have an underlying hostility toward her. I felt uncomfortable and remained virtually silent because I did not know what to say. Then that moment passed, and the meal continued as though nothing had been said.

I WISH I HAD KNOWN MORE ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND ITS VARIOUS FORMS. I WISH I HAD KNOWN HOW TO RESPOND AND SPEAK UP.

I WISH I’D KNOWN WHAT TO SAY …

New to a parish, I was invited to visit members Sally and Andrew for dinner.

While Sally prepared the meal, Andrew and I chatted. This began with a typical get-to-know-you discussion. Then the conversation changed. As we watched Sally get dinner, Andrew made comments such as, ‘You have to keep these

Another time, Sally came to the church office and said she wanted to ‘chill’ for a while. Andrew had become upset with her, and she wanted to give him time to cool down before returning home. She had a clear bruise on her arm as though he’d forcefully gripped her. She brushed off the bruise as inconsequential but did share with me that Andrew would sometimes be abusive. At the same time, she excused him, dismissing his behaviour as of little importance.

I wish I had known more about domestic violence and its various forms. I wish I had known how to respond and speak up. I wish I had known to affirm Sally and tell her that such behaviour was simply not acceptable.

If you or someone you know is affected by domestic and family violence, visit ANROWS Get Support webpage or call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732), the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Family Domestic Violence Counselling Service, or Lifeline Counselling (24 hours) 131 114. In an emergency, call 000.

BY ANGELA MAYER

Some years ago, God led me to work in men’s behaviour change programs and, through the people I met, I became passionate about working to improve the lives of families experiencing domestic violence.

We can change people’s lives, increase safety and help them feel the love of God in their homes and families.

Consider the following scenario and ask yourself what you could do: You receive a text from a friend, wanting your help. They have only been married a couple of years, but their spouse has become quite different from the caring person they married. They have been expected to give up work they love to stay at home; their spouse gets angry if they disagree; they can’t even have coffee with a friend without their spouse ringing to check up, and they sometimes feel afraid. This is domestic violence (DV).

Four facts you may not know:

• The rates of domestic violence in the Christian community in Australia are the same or higher than in the general community ( National Anglican Family Violence Research Report 2021),

• DV is not just physical or sexual abuse, it is any behaviour that is intended to create fear, intimidate, isolate, or control. It disproportionately affects women and children.

• DV is not a one-off event – it is a pattern of behaviour that, without professional support, usually becomes more frequent and severe over time.

• DV can affect people of any age.

Most of us have heard of DV, but would you recognise the signs in your congregation? Would you be able to provide helpful support? Do you know how to encourage a person using abusive behaviour to seek help?

The LCA’s Learning Hub offers the Domestic Violence Awareness and Prevention online module which explores domestic and family violence, keeping in mind a Christian perspective.

In the online module, you can read whole sections, or dip in and out, looking at areas of interest or following up links. There are ideas around being an ally to those experiencing abuse, including advice for parents concerned for the lives and mental health of their adult children and grandchildren. Other sections explore how we as a church respond to those who perpetrate abuse in ways that do not silently collude.

Start today. Be ready to offer help and resources when someone asks you about domestic violence and be the change you want to see in the world.

Angela Mayer is a member of the LCA’s Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce.

BE READY TO OFFER HELP AND RESOURCES WHEN SOMEONE ASKS YOU ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD.

How to access the LCANZ Learning Hub

• Those with LCA email addresses can access this through the LCANZ Learning Hub button on the LCA Portal.

• People who have had previous access to training via ALC iLearn can access the Hub using their ALC iLearn credentials via the ALC iLearn page https://ilearn.alc.edu.au/

• Others will need to contact the Church Worker Support Department (email to churchworkersupport@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7300) for a once-off enrolment key. This will enable them to enrol and log in via the ALC iLearn page.

We all find ourselves, at some time, as a bystander to uncomfortable or confronting situations. It might be at a social gathering, with friends at the local club, in a meeting, on the bus or in a family home or gathering. It is natural to feel reluctant to directly intervene when something bad is happening to people around you. But bystanders have other options if direct intervention is unsafe or undesirable. These actions can be powerful in stopping violence escalating and supporting victims. Consider the 5 Ds of bystander intervention. There are several steps you may be able to take, to safely intervene:

Distract: Take the initiative to indirectly confront and de-escalate the situation.

Delegate: Seek out a person of authority to intervene.

Document: If possible (safe), document the incident (e.g. filming on your phone). Be sure to include the time, date and location in the recording.

Direct: If it is safe, address the perpetrator directly and ask them to stop.

Delay: If it is safe, talk to the victim after the incident is over.

BE A BETTER BYSTANDER

Have you been a witness to something that has made you worried or uncomfortable? Perhaps you have heard abusive words, offensive jokes or comments, demands or shouting.

You are a bystander in many situations – at work, in a meeting or at an event, a family gathering. You might be a bystander to a friend or family member and witness behaviour that makes you concerned about the safety of someone you know.

WHAT CAN A BYSTANDER DO?

There are some effective ways to provide help and support:

• Confront the person doing the harassment – ‘stop, this is not okay’.

• Distract the target or the person doing the harassment.

• Seek support from an authority – a teacher at school, a supervisor at work, a security guard at a venue.

• Get support from other bystanders.

• Support the person being targeted now or after the event.

• Observe, monitor and record the situation.

• Follow up with the person who was targeted.

From the Queensland Joint Churches DV Prevention Project brochure: https://qct.org.au/images/JCDVPP/Be_a_better_Bystander.pdf

CHURCH SEEKS A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE

Domestic and family violence (DFV) is ‘a challenging social issue to talk about’, says Flinders University’s Professor Sarah Wendt, who led the research team for the LCA-commissioned Religion and Domestic Violence Report

Released last year, the report is the result of research done to help church leaders understand the core issues and address DFV within the LCANZ, and in our wider community.

Prof Wendt says the church is to be commended for the leadership shown in starting such a difficult conversation. ‘Domestic violence is a challenging social issue to talk about and to research’, she says. ‘Despite this, the LCA stepped forward to contribute to the growing research evidence because it wanted to be part of the solution in reducing the impact of domestic violence on families and society. More significantly, the LCA expressed a willingness to talk about male power and control to understand how some men within religious communities use theological teachings, values and beliefs to justify and minimise domestic violence.’

The report is not a theological statement of the church. Instead, LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith says it will help leaders and

members explore how to better understand and address DFV. ‘Our risen Lord continues to bless others through our hands’, he writes in ‘Because we bear your name’ (see page 4). ‘Our hands are for the blessing of others, not for harm’, he says. Research input for the report included the analysis of church statements, policies, theological opinions and other writings, face-to-face interviews and written responses.

At its December 2023 meeting, the General Church Board (GCB) resolved to establish a Religion and Domestic Violence Report Response Group, which has since been appointed (see page 22). The group will be calling for responses to the report from across the church and is expected to present recommendations to GCB before General Synod in October 2024.

PRAYER POINTS

7–13 APR

Participants and organisers of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand Church Workers Conference (7–9 April) in Christchurch

14–20 APR

New NSW–ACT District Bishop Pastor Richard Schwedes, new Assistant Bishop Pastor John Borchert and Emeritus Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus

21–27 APR

Our nations’ servicemen and women and those who have lost loved ones in wars on ANZAC Day (25 April)

28 APR–4 MAY

Delegates, volunteers and organisers of the SA-NT District Convention of Synod, being held at Lobethal Lutheran Church SA (4 May) and Bishop Andrew Brook

5–11 MAY

Participants, sponsors and organisers of ALWS Walk My Way Ukraine in Brisbane (11 May) and those children they will bless through money raised

12–18 MAY

All mothers, those who are missing their mums and those who have longed to be mothers, as we mark Mother’s Day (12 May)

19–25 MAY

Young people both within and outside of the LCANZ on the eve of New Zealand’s National Youth Week (20–26 May)

26 MAY–1 JUNE

Positive, respectful relationships between all Australians, as we mark National Reconciliation Week (27 May–3 June)

DWELLING IN GOD’S WORD

by members of the LCA’s Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Taskforce, Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts campaign

Have you ever heard stories of violence or abuse from your community or from within your family? These stories are often hidden and rarely talked about. People who have suffered abuse, violence or controlling behaviours are often silenced and ashamed. Consider what it is like for a Christian woman and her children who are experiencing domestic abuse. How can we respond as Christians in these difficult situations? Jesus was a great healer. His ministry to people on the edges of society, who were marginalised or excluded from their community, gives us a good starting point for thinking about how to see, hear and respond to abuse and violence in intimate relationships.

This study looks in depth at one Bible passage examining how Jesus responds to a woman who is an outcast and dealing with hidden hurts.

Read Mark 5:24-34. Do you have a story of waiting a long time for something?

In this story, a woman waits 12 years for healing. Think about and share what you think it would have been like to have a seemingly incurable condition like the woman did. Her condition kept her excluded from worship and most social contact.

What do you notice about her behaviour?

This woman desperately wants Jesus to heal her, but she does not want her situation to be noticed. She is scared, she is overwhelmed. She is powerless. The flow of blood she has been experiencing for so long means that she can’t go to worship or participate in her community. Her courage in reaching out to Jesus is enormous, but the enormity of touching Jesus makes her tremble.

Re-read verse 30. How does Jesus respond? What moments of connection occur in this passage?

With a large crowd pressing upon Jesus that day, it’s natural that many people would have touched him. But he identifies the touch of the woman, a touch that signifies a need for healing. No-one else is aware of what has happened to the woman. But Jesus stops and searches for her (verse 32).

Jesus looks deeply into the hearts of people. He stops and notices. He sees their hurts. Jesus does not play by rules of power, social standing or violence. This is a revolutionary approach, and he models that the suffering of abused people should not be ignored.

Another example of Jesus stopping, noticing and freeing someone who was oppressed by suffering is the account of him healing a woman bent over by an evil spirit for 18 years.

Read Luke 13:10–17.

In both texts, healing begins by noticing, stopping and taking the time to recognise and talk with the woman.

Re-read verses Mark 5:27,33. What acts of courage are evident from this passage? What does it mean for the woman to be recognised by Jesus?

Which parts of this passage might also apply to someone who has experienced domestic violence?

How can we find courage in this passage to respond to the challenge of listening to and believing stories of domestic violence in our communities?

Jesus shows us the importance of being sensitive to the needs of others and to people’s hidden hurts. Jesus models the actions of stopping, listening and believing –and he shows us the power of healing. Where these hidden hurts are due to domestic violence, we need to listen to the stories of those being harmed to become helpful bystanders and to show that God’s love and healing are real.

Prayer:

Loving God, as your daughters and sons, we come before you. May we see and believe those who live with fear, injustice and violence, especially those wounded by current or past domestic violence. We pray we will recognise abuse even though its signs are often disguised, and even though the voices of those who suffer often go unheard. As sisters and brothers in Christ, may we challenge all oppression and violence through the strength of the Holy Spirit. Amen

‘The lady kissed her hand, and placed it on her heart, overcome that people could care so much!’

The heart of Lutheran ministry in Sumatra. A Muslim woman at a gathering with the Lutheran-led team our church supports through ALWS. A surprise from Australia …

When ALWS Lives you touch Ambassadors Robin and Dorothy Mann visited Indonesia to see the ministry of our Lutheran Church through ALWS partner, CDRM&CDS, they were amazed at the life-transforming work made possible by the kindness and compassion of people just like you.

Flourishing farms. Thriving businesses. And healthy children.

Julie Krause from ALWS, who led the visit, shared what happened at a lunch gathering when Robin and Dorothy mentioned ‘Gifts in Wills’. The lady in the photo, Amalia, asked what a gift in Will was.

Julie explained how some people like to carry on their kindness after they die. They take care of their family first, then leave a gift to help people who are poor and struggling – like those blessed by our Lutheran ALWS ministry in Indonesia.

What a witness of love come to life!

If you’ve ever thought about dedicating a gift in your Will to bless others, and as a witness to your values, Julie can send you a Lives you touch booklet. You’ll see the impact you can make with your gift in your Will. You can even make your Will online for FREE. Simply call Julie direct on 0448 818 129 or ALWS on 1300 763 407. If you prefer, you can ask your legal adviser to add this wording to your Will:

‘I hereby bequeath to the Lutheran World Service – Overseas Aid Fund of the Australian Lutheran World Service of Somerset Drive, Albury New South Wales (insert your bequest here – the whole of my estate / the residue of my estate / % of my estate / sum of $.... / description of property) to be used by ALWS in its mission of mercy to people who are the most vulnerable, and in danger of being forgotten, in the world’s developing countries.’

What a blessing you are when your kindness lives on with a gift in your Will to touch lives!

Photo: ALWS

RESOURCES FOR YOU TO ...

YOUR CHANCE TO MAKE ART IMITATE LIFE

It’s time to register to be part of this year’s LCANZ Simultaneous Art Exhibition. The theme for artworks in the 2024 event is ‘The Tree of Life’ and organisers hope any artistic people in your faith community will explore the theme and ‘celebrate trees, life, fruit, healing, connectedness, God’s promises and whatever new inspirations you have!’

Artists of all ages, stages and media are invited to arrange, stage, host and participate in exhibitions in their local communities during August. Exhibitions can be held anywhere –in your school hall, your church, or the local coffee shop. You may wish to share your work with your online communities too!

Registrations close on 31 May 2024. For more information and resources and to register, visit http://visualarts. lca.org.au/simultaneous-exhibition

DOWNLOAD GROW’S RESOURCES FREE

Grow Ministries has been producing innovative high-quality resources for many years to support individuals, families and congregations in their faith journeys.

Now everything in Grow’s extensive catalogue is available to download for free.

If you would like support for growing faith as a family, there are many options, including Faith Trail Ministry, Growing Faith at Home, Growing Faith Moments, Talk Time Cards, Woven Together, GIFT (Growing in Faith Together) and Books of the Bible Cards. If you need resources specifically designed for children, then GROW Kids and First Communion may be what you’re after.

If, however, your pastor and/or congregation are looking for an adaptable, easy-to-use confirmation

program, then Grow Disciples could be the answer. Living the Catechism could be another option if you are looking for a basic confirmation course – but it could also be used to introduce your household, family or small groups to Martin Luther’s Small Catechism.

There are other youth resources available, too, along with equipping sheets, worship aids including children’s addresses and Bible studies.

Go to www.growministries.org.au and click on the Resource Catalogue to see what’s available. Click on the website store to download your resources.

RESOURCE CATALOGUE

EXPLORE ARCHIVES COLLECTION

The expansive Lutheran Archives collection can now be explored online, thanks to the release of a new website showcasing the close to 2500 linear metres of records held by the archive.

The collection documents the history and theology of the synods, congregations and departments of the LCANZ and details the work undertaken in church ministries, the practice of faith, and the cultural life of Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand.

Almost 700 congregations have transferred records to Lutheran Archives and details of these holdings are on the website.

The collection is made up of manuscripts, audiovisuals, photographs, artefacts, periodicals and published works, and includes genealogy and family history, First Nations and mission records, personal papers and synodical documents. Materials date from before the time of Lutheran migration to Australia in 1838 and document LCANZ ministries and interactions across the globe.

The Friends of Lutheran Archives community has funded the website.

Visit it at https://lutheranarchives.lca.org.au

WHY A NEW WEBSITE?

Lutheran Archives wants you to access the stories of your church. Lutheran Archives Director Rachel Kuchel says: ‘These are the stories of God’s love and faithfulness to us as we provide ministries to those around us. These stories can encourage us to continue in our current ministries and to pause and reflect on where we have come from. These records can restore and provide identity to individuals and communities. Giving access to these stories is a ministry in itself.

‘Lutheran Archives is committed to making our collections as accessible as possible while respecting privacy principles, cultural protocols and recordkeeping standards. We do not charge to access the collection and rely heavily on the kindness of our community to fund the ongoing care and accessibility of the collection.’

To donate, click on the ‘DONATE NOW’ button on the website or phone 08 8340 4009.

WHAT CAN I LEARN?

Do you want to know when your church was built – and by what synod? Or which pastors served your congregation and when?

Do you want to see images of Sunday school picnics or harvest thanksgiving displays?

Do you want to know which type of congregation ministry Lutheran Archives holds the most records for?**

All of this can be explored under ‘explore the collection’ on the website.

** Answer: Lutheran Archives holds 1336 sets of records for women’s guilds compared with 148 records for men’s fellowships! They also hold 4974 sets of records for congregational administration.

HOW CAN YOU BE INVOLVED?

If you want to know how to manage your records, or if you own items you think might be of relevance, explore the ‘deposit records’ section of the website to learn which items are permanent records and require depositing and how to go about transferring the records to Lutheran Archives.

You can also become involved in the archives community by watching Friends of Lutheran Archives presentations on YouTube or streaming upcoming sessions – and you may wish to become a member!

Go to https://lutheranarchives.lca.org.au/friends-of-lutheran-archives/

SENDING WAVES OF HOPE

YOUR SUPPORT HELPS KEEP LOVE ON THE AIR

BY TANIA NELSON

Lutheran Media provides Messages of hope content to more than 40 radio stations that broadcast to more than 1200 frequencies.

I recently visited Flow FM, a commercial station that broadcasts in rural South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales. With 24 per cent of listeners involved in agriculture and 78,000 daily vehicle movements on roads reached by Flow, owner Wayne ensures a Christian message is regularly heard.

Flow FM plays our Messages of hope 15-minute podcast on Sunday mornings and evenings. Our 60-second messages play daily, and the ‘Sunday Service’ is shared from 8am to 9am (or 7.30am to 8.30am livestreamed in SA). Hear Flow at www.flowfm.com.au

Go to www.lutheranmedia.org.au/where-we-are-found for a station list.

WILL YOU SHARE GOD’S LOVE?

BY ANNE HANSEN

Everyone needs to feel loved and valued. That’s why we have friends and family – God created us to be loved and valued and to love and value others. But friendships are not always easy to form, and family members are not always kind to each other. It’s wonderful to know then that in our loving Saviour we have a friend who cherishes us.

You may know someone who needs to know God’s love is for them, too. So, send a little thought of love in a card or tract and let them know you care and that God cares too.

Go to Lutheran Tract Mission’s website at www.ltm.org.au

CHILD SAFETY DIGITAL RESOURCES

We aim our radio content to connect with people interested in Christianity and point them to the hope we have in Christ. We are excited to share new podcasts on disagreeing well and on overseas aid, which will air this month. We’re also preparing content for Mother’s Day, and an interview about miscarriage will be sent to radio stations for May.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. Thanks to you, Messages of hope are heard on radio and through our social media and web presence, as well as on Spotify and iTunes.

Tania Nelson is Lutheran Media Manager.

MANY WAYS TO SHOW CARE

There are so many resources from Lutheran Tract Mission (online at www.ltm.org.au) to help you care for others and be reminded of how God cares for you. God might just be directing you to help someone in real need. Let me know of any experiences you have had reaching out to others in love with the tracts from LTM. Sharing these stories is always encouraging to others too.

Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer.

Two new resources have been added to the Child Safety Standards (CSS) webpage to support congregations as they implement the CSS – in particular for those who prefer to communicate messages using digital media.

The PowerPoint resources are also designed to be helpful for congregations with limited permanent display options for posters, CSS Implementation Officer Nicole Hall says. ‘The LCA’s Child Safety Standards require that both the Statement of Commitment (Standard 1) and child-friendly information, which encourages children to speak up, (Standard 2) are on display in your congregation’, she says. ‘Taking this

into account, we have incorporated these into PowerPoint slides which can be customised to include your congregation’s name and relevant contact details.

‘We encourage you to check the resources page regularly. The collection of resources we have available is growing. Even if you have implemented all of your current plan, you may like to consider whether any of our new resources would be suitable for use in your congregation.’

Download the Child Safety Commitment scrolling PowerPoint and the Speak Up poster PowerPoint from the website at https://www.lca.org.au/css-resources/

Introduced during a time of COVID-related church closures and restrictions, our devotional pages under the Church@home banner have been very popular with many readers. But spending time with God throughout the week isn’t only a blessing when we can’t get to church on a Sunday. It’s an important boost for our faith every week. Therefore, you’ll continue to find support for your devotional life on these pages – and the LCANZ has plenty of other resources which we’ll highlight for your information, too.

RESOURCES FOR YOUR ... DEVOTIONS

BY PASTOR MARK LIESCHKE

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law (Galatians 5:22,23).

Read Galatians 5:16–24.

Through our baptism, the Holy Spirit has blessed us with the fruit of the Spirit. And by God’s grace through Jesus Christ, the fruit of the Spirit is displayed in our lives. We all possess the fruit of the Spirit and display its different characteristics.

We each have a different mix of those characteristics. This enables us to grow in the areas we may not be as competent in. And, as we grow into these characteristics, we can increasingly impact the lives of people around us.

Love, joy, peace: Through the expressions of love, joy and peace, we can help re-establish shalom in our world. We are given these characteristics as gifts, not for our sake, but for the sake of others.

Patience, kindness, goodness: God, through Jesus, has modelled and extended to us patience, kindness and goodness. By his grace, we can live out these characteristics, displaying them as we interact with others.

Faithfulness, gentleness, self-control: How we choose to live in faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control can significantly impact how others interact with us. It will transform us, too. These characteristics allow us to be at our very best – living our lives for others.

We are gifted with the fruit of the Spirit, and these characteristics of the fruit exist in all of us. We are called to use the fruit of the Spirit in our daily lives to impact the lives of others. And God calls us to continually stay connected to him – the vine – as we grow into the fruit of the Spirit with prayer, worship and a community of faith.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for filling us with the fruit of the Spirit so that we can serve others effectively. Please help us to display this fruit in all that we do and say and grow us to become more and more reliant on you for the confidence we need to serve boldly. Amen.

BY COLLEEN FITZPATRICK

All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips (Luke 4:22a).

Read Luke 4:14–30.

In my mind’s eye, I have a picture of Jesus in the temple, reading from a scroll with people all around him. It’s probably a composite of a few of the pictures in the Bible storybooks of my childhood.

The words in the first part of verse 22 kind of leapt out at me, particularly that people were amazed at the ‘gracious words’ that came from his lips. I’m currently reading a lot about grace. It’s something that I have always known about, but what I am reading is giving me cause to think more deeply. These days, the news is full of stories about grace-less behaviour. We have wars and rumours of wars; people are hurting and killing each other not only in situations of domestic and family violence but also in unprovoked attacks on people and property.

I wonder what would happen if the news was all about the good and selfless, grace-filled acts that are being performed daily but largely go unremarked. That’s probably not going to happen. But there’s nothing to stop you and me from noting when we experience grace, or even better, being mindful and acting graciously towards others.

When we think about what it means to follow Jesus – Micah 6:8 gives us a good summary – doing justice, loving kindness and walking humbly with our God. In this Luke text, we read about Jesus reading and teaching. We learn more about Jesus’ role: ‘being anointed to proclaim good news to the poor, to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ Jesus follows this up with the self-fulfilling suggestion that prophets are not recognised in their own country, which leads to him being drummed out of town.

This doesn’t seem to have upset Jesus. Having said his piece, he walked through the crowd and went on his way to continue teaching.

Gracious Jesus, help me to learn from you how to be gracious to others. Help me to acknowledge and celebrate the grace that others show me. Amen.

To receive the LCA daily devotion each morning in your inbox, go to www.lca.org.au/communications/enews and select Daily Devotions from the Churchwide list after entering your email address. These can also be printed off from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion

LECTIONARY READINGS

7–13 APR Acts 4:32–35 Psalm 133

14–20 APR Acts 3:12–19 Psalm 4

21–27 APR Acts 4:5–12 Psalm 23

28 APR–4 MAY Acts 8:26–40 Psalm 22:25–31

1 John 1:1–2:2

John 20:19–31

1 John 3:1–7

Luke 24:36b–48

1 John 3:16–24

John 10:11–18

1 John 4:7–21

John 15:1–8

5–11 MAY Acts 10:44–48 Psalm 98

12–18 MAY Acts 1:15–17,21–26 Psalm 1

19–25 MAY Acts 2:1–21 Psalm 104:24–34,35b

26 MAY–1 JUNE Isaiah 6:1–8 Psalm 29

For more prayer and devotional resources, including a listing of daily Bible readings for each day of the church year, go to www.lca.org.au/wpp/prayers-devotions • Lutheran Tract Mission also provides the readings in a booklet, which can be accessed electronically at www.ltm.org.au/tract/view/70593-daily-bible-readings-for-2024 or as a printed booklet through the LTM office (phone 08 8360 7222) for a donation of 20c per copy.

1 John 5:1–6

John 15:9–17

1 John 5:9–13

John 17:6–19

Romans 8:22–27

John 15:26,27; 16:4b–15

Romans 8:12–17

John 3:1–17

LAUNCH OF LCANZ’S PASTORAL CARE PROGRAM

As the LCANZ embarks on a year of challenges and opportunities, the College of Bishops, in partnership with the Pastoral Care Working Group of the Way Forward project, have carefully considered how we can pastorally care for our people.

The partnership’s remit included how to determine the most appropriate pastoral care needs of the LCANZ in the lead-up to General Synod 2024 and beyond.

As they listened to your greatest concerns, there emerged a need to provide a pastoral care program that could be sustained beyond 2024 to support, encourage and empower members of the LCANZ.

Because of this, the church last month launched a comprehensive and compassionate approach to addressing the pastoral care needs within our church.

CALL FOR CARING SERVANTS

To facilitate this work, a churchwide call was made for members who were willing to serve the church as pastoral carers, including those experienced in this role. Applications closed on 31 March and successful applicants will be provided with free training and support to equip them to serve in this way. The pastoral care to be provided would aim to be empathic, caring, loving, inclusive, and responsive to all people.

For more information, visit the new Pastoral Care Program webpage at www.lca.org.au/mmleaders/pastoral-care/

WHAT ARE WE HOPING TO DO?

The pastoral care program is working closely with the College of Bishops to:

• equip individuals, groups and congregations for pastoral care

• facilitate access to pastoral carers

• establish a network of pastoral carers with specific training and equipping of existing and new pastoral care providers

• provide a unified approach to prayer, care and support within the LCANZ

• provide pastoral care resources to use and share on specific themes relating to care within the church.

PROGRAM FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q. This sounds like a great initiative, but what exactly is pastoral care? Why are we launching this now?

A. Pastoral care has always been a part of ministry and caring for people. It has so many references in the Scriptures, from the Good Shepherd in John 10 to the parable in Matthew 25. There is always a need for pastoral care, especially when people are ill, in hospital and struggling. This is a special initiative to give people a place to go, as this year unfolds for people in the LCANZ, where someone will listen to how the ordination issues are impacting them.

Q. I live in an area where I feel like I'm a long way away from good support. How will I be able to access this pastoral care?

A. You may contact the Pastoral Care team by email or phone call. Depending on what care you would like, you will be assigned a carer who will make contact and you can take it from there.

LCANZ PASTORAL CARE

Q. I am concerned about confidentiality, how will my privacy and personal details be respected and how will my pastoral concerns be heard and respectfully dealt with?

A. The foundation for pastoral care is privacy and confidentiality. It is a safe space, where you are free to share your concerns and fears. Your concerns will be heard and respectfully held by the pastoral carer, while what further steps might be taken would be part of the conversation. The only caveat is when there is a risk of harm.

Q. I am concerned about many things the church is doing and I have concerns about many issues in the world too. Is this just for church issues or other concerns too?

A. If you are seeking a safe place for someone to listen to you, this may be the first port of call as you seek care. Besides church issues, if there is further care needed, there may be negotiation about who might assist you further. The intention is that this is one place where you might receive the care you need.

RESOURCES TO ENCOURAGE YOU

Over the next few months, you will have access to videos, study material and resources that encourage us all to pray, reflect, and be encouraged. The pastoral care team invites you to consider what your prayer needs are, how you will engage, who you will encourage and to notice where God is at work through all our highs and lows.

A MESSAGE FROM THE LCANZ BISHOPS

The LCANZ’s College of Bishops presents a video message of hope in times of change, uncertainty and anxiety. You are invited to watch this video and share it with others who are seeking guidance and hope, as we prepare for the General Synod and the decision on the Way Forward proposal. Please find a time to show this video during or after a worship service for your congregation.

PLEASE NOTE: Further details on how to access pastoral care were still to come at the time of The Lutheran’s print deadline, but if you need help or have questions, please contact pastoralcare@lca.org.au

Please promote this important program in your congregations and communities. Visit the Bulletins and Announcements page at www.lca.org.au/bulletins-and-announcements/pastoral-care-program to download resources.

PRAYER AND PREPARATION PHASE

The Way Forward project team's primary task is to deliver to the 2024 General Pastors Conference and Convention of General Synod a detailed framework through which the LCANZ could function as 'one church with two different practices of ordination' – in accordance with the resolution of the 2021–2023 General Synod. The last phase of the project, called Prayer and Preparation, will begin in July, after the release of the final framework. It will run until Synod starts in early October. During this phase, members will be invited to prayerfully prepare for whatever change might be ahead for the church and will have the opportunity to gather and engage with the proposed framework in a setting of prayer and worship. Plan to attend a meeting near you as we prepare our hearts and minds for General Synod and the way forward for our church.

MEETING DATES • District Events Schedule

NSW – ACT Face to face: NSW – St Pauls Henty, 4 Aug, 2pm; St Pauls Sydney, 11 Aug, 2pm; ACT – Immanuel Woden Valley, 8 Aug, 7pm

NZ Face to face: Central region – 7 or 8 Sept; Wellington or Southern region – 14 or 15 Sept; Northern region – 20 or 21 Sept. Venues, times and final details will be confirmed in LCNZ eNews.

QLD Face to face (refreshments prior): St Paul’s Caboolture, 3 Aug, 10.30am; Peace College Cairns, 10 Aug, 1pm; Bethania Lutheran Church, 7 Sept, 10.30am; Concordia College Toowoomba, 14 Sept, 10.30am. Congregations will be notified via email regarding any livestream events available for those unable to attend in person.

SA – NT Face to face: SA – St Pauls Cummins, 21 July, 2pm; Trinity Bordertown, 28 July, 2pm; Trinity Pasadena, 30 July, 7pm; St Petri Nuriootpa, 4 Aug, 2pm; Good Shepherd Para Vista, 7 Aug, 7pm; St Peters Loxton, 11 Aug, 2pm; Unity College Murray Bridge, 25 Aug, 2pm; NT – Darwin, 12 May, time/location TBC; Alice Springs, August, date/time/location TBC

VIC – TAS Face to face: Vic – St Philip’s Tarneit (Wyndham Hobsons Bay), 10 Aug, 10.30am; Online (Zoom): 1 Aug, 7.15pm; 3 Aug, 9.15am; 6 Aug, 7.15pm

WA Face to face: Concordia Duncraig, 17 July, 7pm; Online events: TBC

Contact your District office for more information and to register for an event.

Churchwide mission fund to be established

The LCANZ’s General Church Board has authorised the establishment of a fund to support key mission culture and activities that might be utilised across the church, with initial funding of $400,000 per annum.

Development of the fund structure, procedures and processes will begin in 2024, with an anticipated launch date in early 2025. Mrs Jodi Brook (pictured right), former Director of Grow Ministries, has been engaged to scope and undertake this work, collaborating with relevant people across the church.

While the mission fund will be administered by the Churchwide Office, this will be a collaborative approach involving representatives of districts, congregations

and agencies. The aim will be to enhance and equip mission culture across the entire LCANZ.

‘All across the LCANZ, congregations and agencies are engaging in all sorts of mission activities’, said Mr Brett Hausler, Executive Officer of the Church.

‘While this is, of course, heartening, it raises the questions: “How can we better support this wonderful work?” and “Is there a way of sharing the local mission spirit and experiences of our people and congregations with the wider church?”’

The mission fund intends to promote collaboration with districts and others identifying the support and resources most needed by congregations and agencies. ‘We want to hear from people involved in all aspects of mission culture and activities across the church, so we can identify where the funding can best serve the church’, Mr Hausler said.

‘While the terms of reference are yet to be scoped, we are anticipating that funds will be directed to endeavours that build mission culture and equip people for mission across the wider church, rather than for local, specific projects.’

A new Churchwide role will be created to support the mission fund.

New bishop elected for NSW-ACT District

Pastor Richard Schwedes will be the next bishop of the New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory District of the LCANZ.

Pastor Richard, who will also have oversight of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand through a Memorandum of Understanding between the LCNZ and the NSW-ACT District, was elected during the district’s 40th Convention of Synod at Wagga Wagga NSW in March. He and his wife Veronica currently serve in St Paul’s Sydney and Redeemer Narraweena congregations.

Once installed to the role, most likely mid-year, he will succeed Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus, who has served as bishop since October 2018 and has been a pastor in the NSW & ACT District for 23 years.

Bishop-elect Richard has served as assistant bishop of the district since 2019.

‘I see life about being focused on Jesus’ mission – helping people connect to Jesus, his love and grace and his community because he offers and gives a love that never gives up and is better than anything else we experience’, he said prior to the 8–10 March convention.

The Synod theme was ‘It’s all about Jesus’, and in the opening worship service, Bishop Robert revealed his heart for mission: ‘Because he is Lord of our lives, we want to share that with others.’

Also at the convention, Pastor John Borchert was elected as assistant bishop for the next synodical term. Pastor John also serves the Walla Walla and Alma Park congregations in NSW.

– Reporting by Tanya Cunningham

Pastor Richard Schwedes, pictured with his wife Veronica, will be the next bishop of the NSW & ACT District.

Photo: Tanya Cunningham

NSW & ACT District Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus, pictured with his wife Jenny, is retiring from the role.

North Adelaide property adviser appointed

A short-term property adviser has been appointed to facilitate the sale of the LCANZ’s Churchwide Office (CWO) and Australian Lutheran College (ALC) sites in North Adelaide.

As previously reported, (The Lutheran, Dec 2023–Jan 2024) the General Church Board resolved in November last year to place the properties on the market. This followed ALC’s decision to vacate the site and 12 months of careful deliberation.

The ALC campus is no longer fit for purpose and the cost of maintaining the site, largely due to the heritage listing of the 1880s building known as Hebart Hall, is approximately $400,000 per annum.

Further, with ALC moving to a distributed learning model, the current site is no longer necessary for its operations. With the college’s on-site community decreasing and buildings not being used, theft and vandalism have also become regular problems.

ALC Board Chair Cheryl Bartel said that relocation to a site ‘more conducive to the delivery of quality learning and teaching’ has been proposed for some time and that ALC will continue to work with the CWO to seek ‘more operationally efficient premises’.

In January, Matt Brew-Bevan began a 12-month role for the LCANZ, which includes doing the due diligence work behind the sale of the North Adelaide properties, such as collation of compliance reports, asbestos registers and heritage restrictions.

Matt Brew-Bevan is facilitating the sale of the LCANZ’s Churchwide Office and Australian Lutheran College (ALC) sites, including heritagelisted Hebart Hall. Right: Matt, who boarded at ALC while at university recently visited his old room in its now-deserted former student accommodation.

An architect and a lifelong Lutheran, Matt most recently worked as a national operations manager for a building company following a stint as a property development manager for a community housing entity. He also boarded at ALC while studying architecture at university in Adelaide in his late teens and early 20s (see breakout story, right).

Being involved with the sale project ‘at the ground level is quite an honour’, he said.

It is envisaged that the proceeds of the sale will be used to buy a fit-for-purpose building that will serve the needs of ALC, the Churchwide Office and, possibly, other Lutheran entities.

Surplus funds are likely to be devoted to building mission and ministry sustainability into the future.

Executive Officer of the Church Brett Hausler said the church leaders who established and expanded the North Adelaide Lutheran precinct had left the LCANZ a ‘great blessing’.

However, he said, the changing situation for the church in Australia and New Zealand, along with ALC’s adaptation to a new learning model, meant that selling the properties was the ‘responsible thing to do’.

‘What we do now with the resources God has given us can leave a legacy for future generations of Lutherans and help facilitate a new era of mission and outreach for the church.’

ALC campus now ‘tired and abandoned’

Recently setting foot onto Australian Lutheran College’s (ALC) North Adelaide campus for the first time in more than 30 years, Matt Brew-Bevan was shocked by what he now saw – or rather, didn’t see.

Now employed short-term as a property adviser to manage the sale of the LCANZ’s North Adelaide properties including ALC, Matt boarded at the college when it was known as Luther Seminary while studying architecture from the mid to late 1980s.

When he arrived as a ‘17-year-old kid’ from Clare in country South Australia, he found a ‘welcoming place full of like-minded Lutherans’. Today, visiting his old room in Graebner Hall, he was struck by the silence and emptiness.

‘Then it was a magnificent community to live in – it was buzzing. There were 200plus young people here. There was also Lutheran Teachers College’, Matt said.

‘Walking back into it – and I hadn't set foot into the place for 30-plus years – it brought back memories. But I looked at my old room – room 107 – it looked tired and abandoned.

‘The reality was that there was no laughter. There were no people, no foot traffic. It’s simply not what it was. That's unfortunate, but it's just reflective of where the church is at the moment.’

New ALC Principal installed

Staff members, students and board directors of Australian Lutheran College (ALC) joined LCANZ representatives and members of St Michael’s congregation at Hahndorf in South Australia recently to welcome Rev Dr Tim Stringer as the college’s new principal.

LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith conducted Pastor Stringer's installation during the regular 9.30am St Michael’s service on 18 February led by Pastor Fin Klein.

During the rite of his installation, Pastor Stringer then pledged with God’s help to undertake the duties associated with the role of ALC Principal. These include to ‘set a good example by his willing service and holy living; uphold and promote the theology and practice of public worship of the LCANZ and to accept the pastoral and doctrinal oversight of the bishop of the church’.

Those assisting with the installation and the laying on of hands – ALC Board Director Pastor Greg Pietsch and Pastor Fin Klein – greeted Pastor Stringer with words of scripture and encouragement.

Greetings from those unable to attend in person, including from the Victoria-Tasmania District in which Pastor Stringer previously served the Greensborough congregation, also were shared by ALC Board Chair Cheryl Bartel.

The rite of installation concluded with ALC staff and directors declaring their intent

to support their new principal and Bishop Smith proclaiming a blessing.

Reflecting on his new role, Pastor Stringer said, ‘Although my association with Australian Lutheran College has been extensive and has included teaching as a casual academic, never did I imagine that I would one day serve as its principal.

‘But, like so many other times throughout my life’s journey, God clearly had other plans for me, and here I am!

‘Although this is a challenging time in the life of the college, and indeed the life of the LCANZ, I am confident that God has brought

District assistant bishop joins General Church Board

Queensland District First Assistant Bishop Ben Hentschke, right, has been appointed to the LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB) for the rest of the synodical term. His appointment was made at the February GCB meeting despite there being only eight months until the next Board election. This is a result of a casual pastor position vacancy on the Board, which occurred when pastor member Rev Dr Tim Stringer was installed as Australian Lutheran College Principal in February.

Apart from LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith – who like the churchwide assistant bishop is a part of GCB by virtue of his role but whose first term is until 2027 – all GCB positions will be up for election at the Convention of General Synod in October this year in Adelaide.

me to ALC for a reason, and with his help and guidance, I intend to faithfully carry out the many duties associated with the role of principal. I am looking forward to meeting members of ALC’s student community, spread throughout Australia and New Zealand, and working alongside ALC staff to prepare people for service in the church.’ ALC extends its sincere thanks to the St Michael’s congregation for hosting the installation.

A recording of the service is available to view online at https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCLTdsYSCa7hYN26wXAd65qQ

Lay delegate assistance available

The LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB) has earmarked limited funding to assist in some cases where a parish is unable to cover the expenses of sending a delegate to the Convention of General Synod.

This is in recognition of the fact it is important that every LCANZ congregation is represented at Synod and can actively participate in the life and mission of the church as part of its primary decision-making body. It is the responsibility of the parish to pay the Synod fee and lay delegate costs to attend Synod and GCB understands that some parishes may financially struggle to cover these.

Assessment of applications for financial assistance is on a case-by-case basis. Applications for assistance must be made on the Lay Delegate Assistance application form and received no later than 31 October 2024. The form is available to be downloaded at www.lca.org.au/convention-generalsynod-2024/delegates

Send applications and inquiries to: synod@lca.org.au

ALC Board Director and former Vic–Tas District Bishop, Pastor Greg Pietsch, left, and St Michael's Hahndorf Pastor Fin Klein, far right, congratulate Rev Dr Tim Stringer, second from left, during his 18 February installation. Photo: Amy Dahlenburg

Domestic violence report group

appointed

Following a resolution by the LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB), the Religion and Domestic Violence Report Response Group (RDVRRG) has been appointed by the church.

The short-term volunteer group’s primary role will be to collate responses to the Religion and Domestic Violence Report (see also ‘Seeking a deeper understanding of domestic violence’, page 9) and to present recommendations to GCB. The group’s work is to be completed before the 2024 Convention of General Synod.

The Religion and Domestic Violence Report was commissioned by the church in 2019 and released last year. Funded by an Australian Research Council grant, it is the result of professional research done to help church leaders understand the core issues and address domestic and family violence in the LCANZ, and in the wider community. Members of the RDVRRG are former Lutheran Church of New Zealand bishop, Pastor Mark Whitfield, lay members Suzanne Jessen, Tanya Wittwer and Helen Lockwood, and Pastor James Winderlich. LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith will be an ex-officio member of the group, which first was due to meet late last month.

The group will soon call for responses to the report from church members, before preparing recommendations for matters to be addressed based on the report and responses received. It will provide these recommendations to the College of Bishops before making a final submission to GCB. For more information and to read or download the report, visit the Religion and Domestic Violence Report webpage at www.lca.org.au/rdvr

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

Global participation for ALC festival

Australian Lutheran College’s (ALC) annual Festival of Learning held in February drew 60 participants from around Australia and from as far away as Germany, Finland and Africa.

ALC partnered with another Adelaide-based college of the University of Divinity – Uniting College for Leadership and Theology – to deliver a varied program of presentations on the theme, ‘Challenging Boundaries: Life at the edges’.

Over the three days from 20 to 22 February, 26 speakers gave presentations on a range of subjects, which included: ‘Navigating ministry in uncertain times’, ‘Shining a light on Domestic and Family Violence and religion in Australia’, ‘Life at the edges: loving

one another when the other is very different’, ‘Ecumenism – reaching out together to a hurting world’, and ‘Ethical responsibility at the edges of death’.

ALC said feedback from the participants was encouraging, with many commenting favourably on the overall organisation of the event, the diversity of presenters and subject matter on offer, the ease with which presentations were accessed, and that interaction from participants was welcomed during presentations and was respectful.

Next year’s event will be held in a similar timeslot in 2025 and further details will be available later in the year, including through ALC eNews. You can sign up to receive the eNews at www.lca.org.au/enews

Lutheran gardeners share TV witness

Viewers of ABC TV's Gardening Australia program recently met dedicated and talented gardener and retired Lutheran school principal Paul Sabel, who has turned a beloved pastime into a way of helping others through Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS).

For more than 20 years, Paul - helped by his late wife Annette and friends Claire and Rex Zacher - has been watering, propagating, weeding, packing and selling thousands of plants at markets and shows.

Paul, Claire and Rex were able to offer a wonderful witness during the Gardening

Australia interview about what drives their philanthropic venture.

Paul and his team from South Australia's Fleurieu Peninsula, who are members at Victor Harbor Lutheran Church, have raised more than $540,000 to help thousands of people through ALWS over the years and he hopes to inspire others to use something they love to help others.

If you missed the episode on 23 February, you can see it on demand while it remains on ABC iview – Series 35, ‘Summer: Green walls and a GA crew’s garden’ online at https://iview.abc.net.au/show/ gardening-australia

www.preventdfv.lca.org.au

Retired Lutheran school principal and keen gardener Paul Sabel (pictured above left) has been interviewed for ABC TV’s Gardening Australia show. Joining him on the program were fellow Victor Harbor Lutheran Church members and fellow ALWS fundraisers Claire and Rex Zacher.

LLL’s ‘purpose unchanged’ despite shift in status

In order to maintain its support of the LCA in a changing regulatory environment, LLL is returning to Religious Charitable Development Fund (RCDF) status.

In 2019, LLL transitioned from RCDF status to become an Authorised Deposittaking Institution (ADI). Regulatory changes at that time prevented RCDFs from providing some depositors with at-call savings accounts unless they obtained an ADI licence under the Banking Act.

However, in 2022, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, which oversees ADIs, imposed stronger requirements for them to monitor, limit and control risks arising from transactions and associations with related entities. The updated requirements are relevant because of LLL's support of the Lutheran Church – which is regarded as a related entity.

CEO Ross Smith said LLL had made this decision to return to RCDF status

‘because remaining as an ADI would have severely restricted our ability to make loans to LCA bodies, such as churches, schools, aged care and retirement living facilities – the very purpose for which LLL exists’.

‘For more than a century, LLL has existed to provide business and financial support to the LCA’, Ross said. ‘This has been achieved thanks to the support of our customers and our shared Christian values and this purpose remains unchanged.

‘The change [transitioning to an RCDF] will mean that we will be required to change the products available to customers, but it will not change our outstanding customer service. This will take some months to implement. LLL will continue to provide current services while we work through this change.

‘As we look to the future, we want to assure customers that LLL’s staff are prepared to assist you every step of the

way. Through your partnership with LLL, we look forward to continuing to support you, the LCA and its community.’

He said that LLL understood and valued the importance of anonymous giving through Regular Electronic Giving (REG) for individuals and congregations and can continue to offer REG for all customers. To do this, some customers may be required to authorise LLL to direct-debit an external banking institution or credit union. More information is available at lll.org.au/REG

LLL customers have been sent a letter or email detailing how this status transition will affect them, including changes to the products and accounts available, and the need to fill out a customer nomination form by June 2024.

Customers should contact LLL at lll@lll.org.au or on 1800 556 457 with any questions, or if they have not received this notification or have limited access to the Internet.

Guide commended to schools

In response to a call from the Lutheran education community for teaching and pastoral care advice on identity and gender, the LCANZ has approved a cover letter to be read in conjunction with the ’Created and Loved’ Christian guide.

While the College of Bishops (CoB) and the General Church Board (GCB) will work towards providing a guide specific for the LCANZ in response to the request, ‘Created and Loved’ – the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference Statement for schools – has been commended as ‘a suitable starting point to guide Lutheran schools and early childhood services in matters of identity and gender’.

The letter says that although the document uses some terms and concepts that reflect Catholic social teaching and which are not commonly used by Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand, ‘the overall tenor of the document is in keeping with the teachings of the LCANZ’. ‘The comprehensive research that underpins the guide and the

thoughtful and deeply caring tone in which the guide is written reflects the generosity of the Christian vision and is consistent with the mission of the LCANZ – to grow communities where God’s love comes to life’, the letter says.

The LCANZ’s Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions and Lutheran Education Australia undertook an extensive consultation process to prepare the letter and thank participants from the Lutheran

While the LCANZ will work towards providing a guide specific for the Lutheran education community, ‘Created and Loved’ – the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference Statement for schools – has been commended as ‘a suitable starting point to guide Lutheran schools and early childhood services in matters of identity and gender’.

education community and the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.

Apart from addressing the schools’ context specifically around identity and gender, the LCANZ also has committed to developing a statement on these issues for its congregations and other agencies. The letter, which contains a link to ‘Created and Loved’, can be accessed from the online version of this story at www.lca.org.au/ christian-guide-commended-to-schools/

Education stalwart receives honour

LCANZ member and Lutheran education stalwart Robert Hoff has been recognised in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List. Rob, from Myrtle Bank in suburban Adelaide, has been made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division of the awards ‘for significant service to primary education, and to professional associations’. A Lutheran primary school principal for 46 years among a 51-year teaching career that began in the South Australian state school system in 1968 at Hope Valley Primary, Rob also has long served the wider Lutheran church on a wide range of committees and councils. A member at St John’s Unley, he is in his fourth year on the South Australia –Northern Territory District Church Council. He also served on former LCA bodies including the Lutheran Teachers College Council, the LCA’s Salaries Commission and its boards for Primary Education, Congregational Life and Publications. Rob was the founding principal at St Paul Lutheran School Blair Athol in Adelaide’s inner north for a decade from 1973, was principal at Trinity Lutheran Primary School (now Trinity Lutheran College) on Queensland’s Gold Coast for 13 years from 1984 and returned to Adelaide as principal

LCANZ COMPLAINTS

Many complaints can be resolved before lasting hurt is caused, by addressing them quickly in a non-threatening manner and by raising the issue directly with the relevant person or organisation in a thoughtful and courteous manner. If this is not applicable or possible in your situation, you may lodge a complaint with the Professional Standards Department in any of the following ways: Phone the free-call number (Aust 1800 644 628 NZ 0800 356 887), email complaints@lca.org.au or write to Confidential, PO Box 519, Marden SA 5070.

Former Lutheran school principal Rob Hoff, who was recognised in the Australia Day Honours List, with his wife Sandra (third from left) and Lutheran school leader daughters Sarah Hoff-Zweck (Prince of Peace Lutheran College, Everton Park Queensland) and Jodie Hoff (Lutheran Ormeau Rivers District School, Pimpama Queensland).

of Immanuel Primary School at Novar Gardens, where he served from 1997 until his retirement in 2018.

He remains a mentor to young principals and leaders in the Lutheran and other independent schools systems.

Rob said he was ‘quite thrilled and somewhat amazed’ by this honour.

‘I’ve been so blessed on the journey’, he said, acknowledging the support of his family, including his wife Sandra and Lutheran school leader daughters Sarah Hoff-Zweck and Jodie Hoff. ‘It’s how we were brought up – acts of service are just a natural thing. Faith without service means nothing.’

Rob said the most satisfying aspect of his many years in Lutheran education was easy to identify. ‘What stands out is the opportunity to boldly proclaim the gospel every day’, he said.

The congratulations of the church are offered to Rob, and any other members honoured with awards.

For more of Rob Hoff’s story, see pages 28,29 and www.lca.org.au/lutheraneducation-servant-honoured-inaustralia-day-list/

New Zealand Lutheran’s service recognised

New Zealand

Lutheran Dr Johanna Wood has been awarded the Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit ‘for services to football governance’.

Dr Wood, who is a member of the Manawatu Parish in the Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) and is a former LCNZ Council of Synod Chair, having served in that role from 2016 to 2019, has contributed to women’s and men’s football (soccer) in New Zealand since 2010.

She said she was ‘humbled and honoured’ by the award announced earlier this year and believed her recognition ‘was an acknowledgement of not just my work but the many people who volunteer and work in football, both on and off the pitch’.

‘I believe God gives us all gifts and we can use these in our service to others’, she said. ‘In all my work I have looked upon myself as a servant leader, using the gifts God has given me, seeking his support and guidance along the way.’

Dr Wood was chair of New Zealand’s Central Football between 2010 and 2018. She was elected to the New Zealand Football Executive Committee in 2018 before becoming the first woman president in 2019. She was appointed as the Oceania representative to the council of soccer’s world governing body, FIFA, in 2019 and was re-elected for a second term in 2023.

She led the bid for hosting rights of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023, with New Zealand co-hosting the tournament with Australia. Dr Wood also was the inaugural Chair of FIFA’s first World Cup Legacy Committee.

The LCNZ and LCANZ offer their congratulations to Dr Wood on this recognition of her service.

Congregations encouraged: ‘Keep working for child safety’

While the next round of Child Safe Plans is not due until 2025, congregational leaders have been encouraged to keep working on their commitments to child safety.

‘We’ve had inquiries from congregations wanting to submit their next round of Child Safety Plans’, outgoing LCANZ Child Protection Project Officer Mary-Ann Carver said.

‘This is terrific because it tells us that congregations are actively reviewing their child safety progress and are keen to move forward with initiatives.

‘The good news is that there is no rush to formally submit a second Child Safety Plan. The General Church Board has approved a three-year cycle for the submission of Child Safety Plans. This change was put in place to give congregations time to focus on the preparation, implementation, and review of their Child Safety Plans.

‘But don’t back off in your commitment to child safety. We strongly encourage all congregational leadership teams to continue to work towards completing all of the commitments in their current plan.’ Leadership teams can review their child safety progress during 2024 using the self-assessment process.

The Child Safety Standards (CSS) team is currently evaluating Phase 1 of the implementation and reviewing the online tool based on feedback received. A revised and consolidated CSS online tool will be released later this year, while new resources and revised CSS guidelines will also be made available. Updates, revisions and new links will be shared through the CSS webpage and LCA eNews.

Mary-Ann’s role finished last month, and the CSS program is moving into the LCANZ’s Professional Standards department. However, CSS

Implementation Officer Nicole Hall will continue to support, advise and answer questions for congregations, including assisting with the implementation of Child Safety Plans, alongside the District Professional Standards Officers.

See the Child Safety Standards and Professional Standards webpages for contact details and more information (https://www.lca.org.au/ministrysupport/child-safety-standards and

Development underway of final Way Forward framework

The Way Forward working groups are in the development phase of the final framework which will be put to General Synod in October as a proposal for how the LCANZ might operate as one church with two practices of ordination.

Feedback on three frameworks from across the church closed on 23 February.

Comments from more than 250 submissions are being analysed to help the working groups shape the final framework. The General Church Board and College of Bishops are expected to release that

framework to the church in late April or early May.

A fundamental element of any proposal for the ‘way forward’ is a change in the teaching of the LCANZ to allow the ordination of women. This means that Thesis of Agreement 6.11 would need to be changed according to guidelines adopted by our church in 1975. Feedback has indicated that LCANZ members prefer a framework that minimises change, perceived division and cost. A majority wants congregations to continue to have the autonomy to issue

prayerful and informed calls to whomever they deem most fit to serve them, whether they are men or women. Some members have expressed concerns about pastors having to publicly declare their standpoint on ordination candidacy. Another theme emerging from the feedback is the desire to fellowship with a like-minded community. Bishop Paul Smith said, ‘Throughout this time of study, reflection and conversation, we trust that the Lord of the church is guiding us, to bear fruit that will last for the sake of his gospel’.

Friends stand side-by-side in mission

Mission collaboration between Lutherans in Australia and Bavaria dates back nearly 150 years and this friendship remains as treasured as ever. While in Adelaide in February, Pastors Arnim Doerfer and Hanns Hoerschelmann (left and second from left), from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria’s Mission EineWelt (MEW), met with Pastor Murray Smith and his wife Tracy, whose missionary service in Papua New Guinea (PNG) is supported by MEW. While exploring future partnership opportunities, Pastors Arnim and Hanns also spent time with representatives of LCA International Mission, Australian Lutheran College, Finke River Mission and the LCANZ’s College of Bishops and General Church Board.

The Servant of Christ Award honours lay people of the Church by recognising those who give outstanding service. Districts, committees, agencies and congregations are invited to submit nominations for the award. Award guidelines and nomination forms are available from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/soc or from the Office of the Bishop.

Saturday 27 April 2024

THEME: Jesus Our Pattern

BASED ON: Ephesians 2:10

VENUE: St Mark's Lutheran Church

streets,

3

please

Bellamy

Directory

CALLS

Extended

• Rev Joel S Cramer – Salisbury SA to Southern Barossa Churches (Grace Tanunda, Bethany-Tabor, Langmeil, Schoenborn and Lyndoch)

• Rev Matthew B Edgecomb – Strathalbyn SA to Port Lincoln SA

• Rev Albert P Gast – SA-NT District (School Chaplaincy Ministry at Cornerstone College Mount Barker SA) to SA-NT District (Interim Ministry assignment to Birdwood SA)

• Rev Stephen K Jaensch – Emerald Qld to Crows Nest Qld

• Rev Andrew R Koehler – Tallebudgera Qld to Trinity Lutheran College Ashmore Qld

• Rev Shaun C Manning – Naracoorte Lutheran Parish SA to Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lutheran Church - Canada)

• Rev Michael J Steicke – Carlsruhe Saddleworth SA to SA-NT District (Interim Ministry assignment to WoodvilleSemaphore SA)

• Rev Thomas D Pietsch – ALC Lecturer to SA-NT District (Interim Ministry assignment to Bethlehem Adelaide SA)

• Rev Carl P Richter – Mildura Vic to Cleve SA

Accepted

• Rev Stephen K Jaensch – Emerald Qld to Crows Nest Qld

• Rev Shaun C Manning – Naracoorte Lutheran Parish SA to Winnipeg, Manitoba (Lutheran Church - Canada)

• Rev Thomas D Pietsch – ALC Lecturer to SA-NT District (Interim Ministry assignment to Bethlehem Adelaide SA)

• Rev Joshua L Pfeiffer – Leave of Absence (Study Leave) to Tarrington Vic

• Rev Michael J Steicke – Carlsruhe Saddleworth SA to SA-NT District (Interim Ministry assignment to WoodvilleSemaphore SA)

Declined

• Rev Joel S Cramer – Salisbury SA to Southern Barossa Churches (Grace Tanunda, Bethany-Tabor, Langmeil, Schoenborn and Lyndoch)

• Rev Andrew R Koehler – Tallebudgera Qld to Trinity Lutheran College Ashmore Qld

• Rev Carl P Richter – Mildura Vic to Port Lincoln SA

• Rev Carl P Richter – Mildura Vic to Cleve SA

• Rev Stephen P Schultz – SA-NT District to Unley SA

INSTALLATIONS

• Rev Mark P Blackwell – Installed at Good Shepherd Toowoomba Qld on 14 January 2024 by First Assistant Bishop Ben Hentschke

• Rev Jacob E D Fabich – Installed at Eudunda-Robertstown SA on 28 January 2024 by Bishop Andrew Brook

• Rev Gregory J Fowler – Installed at Faith Lutheran College Redlands Qld on 2 February 2024 by Bishop Mark Vainikka

• Rev William J Frost – Installed at Albury and Lavington NSW on 4 February 2024 by Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus

• Rev Paul A Hannola – Installed at Nundah St Pauls Qld on 18 February 2024 by Bishop Mark Vainikka

• Rev Thomas L Kitson – Installed at Bethania Qld on 21 January 2024 by Bishop Mark Vainikka

• Rev Peter R Klemm – Installed at Berri SA on 18 February 2024 by Bishop Andrew Brook

• Rev Gregory R Page – Installed at Mount Barker SA on 4 February 2024 by Bishop Andrew Brook

• Rev Thomas D Pietsch – Installed for Interim Ministry at Bethlehem Adelaide SA (called to the SA-NT District) on 4 February 2024 by Pastor Fraser Pearce

• Rev Lionel R Rohrlach – Installed at Gympie Qld on 27 January 2024 by Bishop Mark Vainikka

• Rev Michael J Steicke – Installed for Interim Ministry at Albert Park - Semaphore SA (called to the SA-NT District) on 11 February 2024 by Assistant Bishop for Mission Stephen Schultz

• Rev Dr Tim P Stringer – Installed as ALC Principal at St Michael’s Hahndorf SA on 18 February 2024 by Bishop Paul Smith

• Rev James M Winderlich – Installed at St Johns Southgate Vic on 4 February 2024 by Bishop Lester Priebbenow

ROLL OF PASTORS

• Rev Stuart P Kleinig – LCA Interim Ministry Pastor assigned to South Burnett Qld by the LCANZ College of Bishops

ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY

(for other 2024 ordination anniversaries, see February-March edition)

60 YEARS – Maurice Fielke (19/1/1964)

In Memoriam

Bruno Matuschka

Bruno Edwin Matuschka born 30 Aug 1928 (Rainbow Vic); married Vilma Doris Matuschka nee Nuske 14 May 1955 (St Peters Dimboola Vic – she died 11 June 2020); ordained 22 June 1997 (Peace Lutheran Church, Coffs Harbour NSW); served Peace Lutheran Church, Coffs Harbour NSW (Pastor with alternative training – 1997– 2005); retired 2006; died 1 Feb 2024; funeral 12 Feb 2024 (Redeemer Lutheran Church Laidley Qld); mourned by children

Jenny, Elizabeth and Mark and families

In Memoriam

Peter Pfitzner

Peter Eugene Pfitzner born 11 April 1948 (Eudunda SA); married Christine Elizabeth Leslie 13 May 1974; ordained 21 Dec 1975, (Holy Cross Robertstown SA); married Deborah Myers 14 Dec 2002 (Concordia Chapel, Highgate SA); served Moree NSW (1976–1979), St Peter’s College Qld (1979–1984), Melbourne Tertiary Chaplain (1984–1999), Ceduna SA (1999–2000), State School Chaplain (2001–2002), Ceduna SA (2002–2007), Hermannsburg NT (2007– 2011), Robertstown SA (2011– 2016), Eudunda-Robertstown SA (2016–2017); retired 30 June 2017; died 18 Feb 2024 (Adelaide SA); funeral 12th March 2024 (Holy Cross Robertstown SA); mourned by wife Deborah, children Rene, Isaac, Zoe and Ariel and families

1 PETER 4:10

In Going GREYT! we feature stories of some of our ‘more experienced’ people within the LCANZ, who have been called to make a positive contribution in their retirement. We pray their examples of service will be an inspiration and encouragement to us all as we look to be Christ’s hands and feet wherever we are.

BY HELEN BRINKMAN

Doin’ it all to theglory of God

In the Hoff family, teaching isn’t the only thing that runs in the blood. So does the sentiment embroidered on a family tapestry hand-sewn by Rob Hoff’s maternal grandmother Elsa Sickerdick: ‘Faith without service means nothing.’

It is a motto that Elsa’s grandson Rob Hoff takes to heart. Growing up, Rob witnessed his parents’ faith motivation for service: ‘Mum and Dad were great servants of the church. Their life was based around service to the church and community’, he says. Their influence led Rob to a lifetime of service in education, a lineage tracing back to the 1880s when his immigrant forebear Bernhard Hoff was a school principal at the farming region of Monarto, near Adelaide.

Rob retired in 2019 after 46 years of service as a school principal. His decades of service to primary education, including significant service to many professional associations, was recognised in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List, being named a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division (see page 24).

As a young boy, Rob, now 75, says he was influenced to join the long line of teachers in the family by his great uncle, Pastor Carl Hoff, who had served at Koonibba Mission, 800km west of Adelaide.

‘My brother (Tony – also a teacher) and I would go over there for afternoon tea as young kids. We would look at his books and collection of Aboriginal artefacts (now gifted to the SA Museum) and he would tell us stories. That’s where we got the idea of being teachers, or indeed a pastor.’

‘GOD GIVES EVERYBODY PATHWAYS ... THERE ARE OPPORTUNITIES EVERYWHERE AND YOU JUST HAVE TO BE ON THE LOOKOUT.’

As a 16-year-old, Rob’s calling was reinforced by his Pastor Clem Koch who told him: ‘I’ve been watching you, and you’ve got some gifts … I think you should be a teacher.’ ‘That sowed the seed and I fell into teaching’, Rob says.

Rob was raised in Adelaide’s inner-northern suburb of Sefton Park, attending St Paul Lutheran Church, Blair Athol. His dad’s job at the railways provided a fertile opportunity for his parents to share their faith with work colleagues, many of whom were migrants. ‘That is where I witnessed how the social aspects of their lives influenced other people. They let others see Christianity come through in their lives. Every second Saturday we’d have new Australians over for lunch’, Rob recalls. ‘They were so thankful. That wider service in the community is what my brother and I grew up with. It’s just second nature.’

St Paul is where Rob met and married his wife of 52 years, Sandra. They’ve been blessed with two daughters, also Lutheran school leaders, and two grandsons.

In 1973, Rob became the inaugural principal of St Paul Lutheran Primary School, Blair Athol, followed by Trinity Lutheran Primary School in Southport, Queensland, and Immanuel Lutheran Primary School at Novar Gardens, South Australia. Rob is passionate about the role of Lutheran schools in sharing faith. ‘Where else do you get to proclaim the gospel boldly to 40,000 kids and 4,000 staff in communities across Australia, five days a week?’, he asks.

Rob and Sandra’s retirement has continued to provide the unexpected privilege of serving and witnessing in their own community. Moving to an independent living unit at Adelaide’s Fullarton Lutheran Homes in 2020, they discovered an opportunity to serve close to home! ‘We didn’t know what retirement looked like. We were both 70 when we retired, and we thought, “Let’s see where the journey takes us”,’ says Rob. ‘We got involved in the community here, and there was an opportunity to visit elderly residents, whose relatives may live away, and who could be lonely and seeking human contact. We saw that as a natural ministry.

‘It’s easy to walk across the road and say “g’day” and lift their spirits and have a cuppa with them.’

Twelve months into retirement, just when he was thinking, ‘This is good, I am out of committees’, Rob was asked to join the SA/NT District Church Council. He’s also since joined the Tatachilla Lutheran College Council and was recently elected as vice-chair. Rob’s also the youngest member of the Fullarton residents committee.

‘My grandfather said, “When you're 65 you should get off of all committees and let others have a go”, but I have discovered that, at 75, there is still some reflective thinking and wisdom to add to the conversations’, he says.

‘God gives everybody pathways and they choose whether or not to follow. There are opportunities everywhere and you just have to be on the lookout.

‘When my 90-year-old neighbour and his 85-year-old wife retired many years ago they could have chosen to stay home in their lovely garden, but they chose not to. They found the pathways, either through friendship or connection with others, and they have both used their skills to brilliantly serve others … I am motivated by those people.

‘We should encourage people to keep going. Everybody who is retired, if they chose to serve, our church would be even stronger than it is. There are lots of retired people who are contributing in so many ways we’re not aware of.’

And, he says, it’s all for the gospel and keeps communities going. ‘When I see these people 10 or 15 years older than me who are still so enthusiastic, that is a motivation just to keep going and not to stop’, Rob says. ‘They are all using their skills and talents, adding value to everything going on around this community, our church community, and the wider community.’

For the past 60 years, Rob’s confirmation text, Romans 1:16, has stayed with him: ‘For I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.’

And, despite his contributions to boards and councils, Rob says: ‘I still think the most important work we do is going across the road to simply connect with people and pray for them.’ Helen

Right: Rob Hoff, far left, who these days mentors young principals in the independent schools system, also enjoys coordinating events for fellow retired Lutheran principals.

Below right: Rob, who was recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours, treasures time with family, including wife Sandra and daughters Sarah Hoff-Zweck and Jodie Hoff.

Bottom right: Pictured with teacher assistant Erica Modra on the day St Paul Lutheran Primary School opened in 1973 at Blair Athol in suburban Adelaide, Rob Hoff was the inaugural teacher-principal at the school.

IN

A FEW WORDS

LET’S GET QUIZZICAL

You’ll find most – if not all – of the answers to these questions in the pages of The Lutheran (as well as below the Sudoku).

1. Which TV show recently featured three Lutherans who have raised more than $540,000 for ALWS?

2. How have they done that and what are their names?

3. Who will be the next Bishop and Assistant Bishop of the NSW-ACT District and who is retiring from the bishop’s role there?

4. Name the most recent appointee to the LCANZ’s General Church Board and who has he replaced and why?

5. How many linear metres of records does Lutheran Archives hold in its collection?

6. Name the New Zealand and Australian Lutherans who have this year received national honours for their service in the wider community.

7. What awards did they receive?

8. What is the theme for this year’s LCANZ Simultaneous Art Exhibition?

9. How many radio stations broadcast Lutheran Media’s Messages of hope content and via how many frequencies?

10. Where will next month’s SA-NT District Convention of Synod be held?

SUDOKU

… ‘You can accomplish by kindness what you cannot by force.’

– 1BC LATIN WRITER PUBLILIUS SYRU

‘Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.’

– 17TH CENTURY BISHOP SAINT FRANCIS

Every number from one to nine must appear in each of the nine vertical columns, each of the nine horizontal columns and each of the nine 3 x 3 boxes. No number can occur more than once in any row, column or box. The solution will be printed in the next edition.

February – March’s solution

QUIZ ANSWERS

1.

ST PETERS LUTHERAN CHURCH MURRAYVILLE VIC

100 Anniversary

of the dedication of the church building

Sunday 14 July 2024

Join us for a cuppa before the service.

Worship service: 10.30am (AEST) Please bring a plate to share for lunch in the Murrayville Town Hall after worship.

All welcome

Contact: Kelvin 0408 952 040; Annette 0457 172 040 th

"Kevin’s

Stress-Free Selling

DE SALES

Gardening Australia 2. Selling plants at markets; Paul Sabel, Rex and Claire Zacher 3. Pastors Richard Schwedes, John Borchert and Robert Bartholomaeus 4. LCAQD Assistant Bishop Ben Hentschke; Rev Dr Tim Stringer, due to the latter taking up the role of ALC Principal 5. Nearly 2500 6. Johanna Wood; Robert Hoff 7. Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit; Member of the Order of Australia

8. ‘The Tree of Life’ 9. More than 40; more than 1200 10. Lobethal Lutheran Church SA

- Black Forest SA

How do you cope with injustice?

How do you pick up the pieces after a disaster?

How do you recover from the death of a child?

Where is hope in the world today?

Be inspired by interviews and discussions on these questions on Messages of hope in April and May. Watch videos, listen to podcasts, and read pdfs and booklets on these at www.messagesofhope.org.au (&nz).

Cards, booklets and study guides available at www.lutheranmedia.org.au

Share gospel posts from www.lutheranmedia.org.au/social-media Worship online at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/worship

Your tax-deductible donation supports Lutheran Media in bringing the hope found in Jesus to the lives of many people.

Phone FREECALL 1800 353 350 luthmedia@lca.org.au

youtube.com/@LutheranMedia @luthmedia

‘Our cooperative is called Turwizumwimbu N'ubukungu (‘Let's increase production and have a surplus’). We have 400 members.

Before the training, I didn’t know anything about modern farming methods. Now, I’ve learned how to grow corn to increase harvest. Before, women never left home. I felt isolated. Now, I’m part of the community and I can make an impact.

Working in the cooperative, and being successful in my farming, gave me confidence. I’m more esteemed because I am a leader on the committee.

I’ve learned how to run a small business. Our family is stronger because we have enough food and can afford health care.’

Esperance Nekoze, Burundi

You can bless others like Esperance by dedicating a gift in your Will to keep on helping people through ALWS. As you do, those you love will see the values precious to you live on. See story on page 11.

alws.org.au * 1300 763 407

TaniaNelson

Lutheran Media Manager

Photo: : LWF/L Gillabert

Thank you!

From Poland to Plainlands Queensland … pasties to pancakes … pastors to preppies … the Lutheran family is coming together through ALWS for the people of Ukraine!

Lutheran schools in Australia, from Trinity in Mildura (Pastor Carl Richter, above right) to Plainlands in Queensland, along with Lutheran churches from Kingaroy Queensland to Glenelg South Australia, held Pancake Days in February to raise money for ALWS action for people of Ukraine – and especially the children of war.

their hearts and homes. Motylenko Halina (above left), who fled Kyiv, prepares a meal in the home the church in Poland has renovated to care for refugees as guests. The house hosts 20 people from seven families, mostly women and children.

Saturday 11 May

1pm–5pm Central Brisbane

All welcome – or sponsor a Lutheran Bishop!

walkmywayukraine.org.au

1300 763 407

Our Lutheran Church’s finance partner (and Platinum Partner of ALWS Walk My Way) LLL Australia, companies like Comunet in Adelaide, and the LCANZ’s Churchwide Office team joined the Pancake Plan, too! Meanwhile, the Lutheran community inside Ukraine, and in bordering countries like Poland, have opened

It is not just in Ukraine and Poland that our Lutheran family cares for children of war.

In Bangladesh, Rohingya children who have been forced to flee receive life-protecting care. In Kenyan refugee camps, children from across the Horn of Africa are welcomed into school. In Myanmar, children who live in Displaced Persons Camps have safe places to learn.

In 2024 ALWS plans to support 210,000 children of war!

Thank you for your kindness and love to these children the world has forgotten!

1300 763 407 * alws.org.au

Photo: LWF/Albin Hillert Photo: C. Megson