MA G A Z I N E O F T H E LUT H E R A N C H URC H O F A US T R A LI A & N E W Z E A L AN D
Print Post Approved PP100003514 VOL 58 No 1
FEB–MAR 2024
LUTHERAN
CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA
From cover to (almost) cover
ED ITO R I A L
Maria Rudolph and Jonathan Krause recently shared a special ‘reunion’. But it was actually the first time the pair had met – almost 18 years after they graced the same cover of The Lutheran in June 2006, German-born Maria had shared her story of meeting Lutheran people while backpacking around Australia and coming to faith, while Jonathan had explained his role at Christian Blind Mission International – collecting and bringing back stories from the world’s poorest places. Maria is today a pastoral associate at St John’s Lutheran Church in Perth, while Jonathan is Community Action Manager for Australian Lutheran World Service. Maria’s husband, Pastor Michael Rudolph, who serves the Concordia congregation at Duncraig in suburban Perth, took the photo.
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
C O N N ECT W ITH U S We Love The Lutheran! lutheranaunz lutheranchurchaus
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D ES I G N & P R I NT
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People like YOU bring love to life Bruce Arnold St Paul’s Lutheran Church Sydney NSW
Design & Layout Elysia McEwen
Treasurer NSW-ACT District, Way Forward Constitutional Requirements working group, ALC Finance, Audit and Risk Committee
Printer Openbook Howden
Most treasured Bible text: John 14:2,3
The Lutheran is produced on the traditional lands of the Kaurna and Dharug peoples.
‘In the house of my Father are many rooms ... I go on to prepare a place for you ... I will come again ... that where I am you also may be.’
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St Stephen’s Lutheran Church Adelaide SA 95-year-old Bible study leader, vice-president of women’s fellowship and keen baker Most treasured Bible text: Romans 8:38,39 ‘I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love – not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future.’
Ben Gargett
CHURCH
St Paul’s Lutheran Church Box Hill Vic
OF AUSTRALIA
Financial auditor, Way Forward Finance and Budgeting working group, chairperson St Paul’s Box Hill
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.
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Gladys Gerhardy
The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
Most treasured Bible text: Philippians 2:5–11 ‘Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus ... to the glory of God the Father.’ 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.
Special features
6 While it’s not overly long, I know my nose has long been the butt of jokes (perhaps a mixed metaphor…) among some of my friends and family. You see, I gained a chickenpox scar on the end of it at around the age of four, took a fine slice off the tip at 15 when I fell through a glass door, began sporting a crooked septum after a run-in with a flyball during a softball game in my 20s and, more recently, was left with a dent at the end from shingles. I’ve tried at times over the years to disguise these flaws – none of which wiped out the others, unfortunately – with make-up. But I’ve since given up worrying about them. Scars are meant to add character after all. And there are my crooked teeth, weak chin and many more things to add to my list of imperfections, in any case. What about you? When you look in the mirror, do you focus on the wrinkles or age blotches on your face? If you’re still on the younger side, perhaps it’s difficult to see past the pimples or acne pocks.
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Are we falling for the beauty myth?
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In whose image are we made?
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Only eight months to go! The latest on the Way Forward
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Introducing our new General Ministry Pastors
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Regulars 12
Do you examine the stretchmarks on your body, or try to extend your neck to eradicate your double chin? Do you curse the grey or unwanted hairs, or despair at a receding hairline? Perhaps rather than focusing on all of your so-called imperfections – like my nose – you instead smile at the visage reflected back at you, knowing that those attributes are just part of the physical you, the body God gave you (and fearfully and wonderfully made – Psalm 139) to house your mind, soul and spirit. A body and face he adores so much that he gave up his Son for each of us, as we’ll reflect on especially in the upcoming seasons of Lent and Easter.
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Most of us are taught when we’re young that looks aren’t everything. That having a beautiful heart is more important than a beautiful face. That being kind is better than being good-looking or fashionable.
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Because we bear your name: Bishop Paul’s letter
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Dwelling in God’s word
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Go and Grow
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The Inside Story
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Your voice
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Directory
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Going GREYT!
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Coffee Break
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But do we really believe those things? Or do we fall for the ‘beauty myth’ and the pressure that advertising, social media and our peers can put on us? Do we waste time, energy and money on trying to look the way models, actors, sportspeople or ‘influencers’ do? In this edition, members of our Lutheran family address some of these questions, as well as Christian views on self-worth and how we see ourselves as beloved children of the Creator. We also introduce you to our newest General Ministry Pastors, as they begin parish ministry and update you on the LCANZ’s Way Forward project.
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As usual, too, we bring you the latest news from across the church, a range of resources to support home and congregational faith life and our popular regular columns. God bless your reading, Our cover: iStock.com. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that the following pages may contain images of people who have died. The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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Because we bear your name Most people want their church to look good! We want to apply the same rigorous routines we apply to our bodies and wardrobes to our church! We do this both to the building but also to congregations. Of course, we must listen to the wisdom of the people in the field of church planting. People from outside a church need to know that the place is cared for. There is an intuitive awareness that goes on in the mind of a visitor to the church – ‘If these people care for their church building, then maybe they will also care for me’. Up-to-date websites, ease of parking, clear signage and friendly welcomes at the church door are vital for congregational vitality.
BISHOP PAUL’S LETTER REV PAU L SMITH Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand
The scriptures speak of this joy as the joy of salvation. God has come into our midst to break down the dividing wall so that we would have peace with God. On the cross, our Lord brings the great exchange: our sin for his righteousness. We are baptised into his death that we would walk in newness of life. We bring nothing, he gives everything. Because of this great exchange, we come to God with complete confidence, as children to a loving Father.
But we know that the story of the wise men takes an ugly turn. This is an event that is often skipped over in the romantic portrayals of the Christmas nativity. The wise men are warned in a dream, not to tell King Herod of the baby. When Herod finds out he rages, and he orders all the little But deep down we know that church is not about looking ones around Bethlehem to be murdered. This is a horrific good. It is about the goodness of God for us in Christ story, showing the human heart that is Jesus our Lord. in all of us. Herod is set against the way As I write this to you, the season of of God and provides an alternative to O N TH IS ‘OTH ER Epiphany is upon us. In our culture, God’s way. Even in the Garden of Eden, ROAD’ TH E PEOPLE Christmas seemed to come to an Adam declared to the Lord God, ‘It was abrupt end with the Boxing Day the woman that YOU gave me’. OF TH E CH U RCH sales. Hot cross buns went up for Scripture tells us that the wise men left WORK TOG ETH ER TO sale along with ‘back to school’ ‘by another road’. They did not go the resources. Businesses in New KEEP OU R FOCUS ON way of Herod. Herod’s way was to seek Zealand and Australia target us with to thwart the good and gracious will of TH E CH RIST AN D TH E so much marketing that it is very God. Herod’s way was human scheming easy to drift into a mindset that we WORK OF H IS CROSS . and the destruction of human lives. are simply ‘consumers’ needing to Christian faith is this ‘other road’. Our consume more! gracious God sends us along the way of the gospel of Jesus In the Epiphany gospel reading from Matthew chapter two, Christ to stand against the ‘way of Herod’. On this ‘other road’ we hear of the wise men who follow the star until they meet the people of the church work together to keep our focus on with King Herod in Jerusalem. They are then directed to the Christ and the work of his cross as the fulfilment of God’s Bethlehem where we are told, ‘they set out; and there, ahead plan of salvation. On this ‘other road’ the people of the church of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it speak out against the use of power to destroy others. stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw As the church travels this ‘other road’ sometimes it might not that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy’ look so good to others. But, in the name of the Lord, it will (Matthew 2:9,10). bring God’s peace and joy, that is the forgiveness of sin. Travelling through life, walking by faith in this story of the See hymn 804 LHS. manger and the cross, is about joy. Joy was proclaimed by In Christ, the angel to the shepherds at Bethlehem, ‘I bring you good tidings of great joy’. Joy was the experience of the disciples when the Lord Jesus appeared to them behind closed doors after his crucifixion and resurrection, ‘The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord’.
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The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
Many of us have heard the saying ‘beauty is only skin deep’ or the notion that having a good personality is more important than being good-looking. But do we really believe that? Do we spend an unhealthy amount of time, energy and money on our physical appearance, or is wanting to look our best simply an extension of the biblical concept that our bodies are a temple of the Holy Spirit? We asked Nick Schwarz, the LCANZ’s Assistant to the Bishop for Public Theology, for his thoughts.
How do you feel about your looks? How do you feel when you look at yourself in a mirror? Is there something about your face or body that you wish was more attractive? Is your level of concern with your looks about right, or are you overly concerned or not concerned enough? Would others agree with your self-assessment? Most of us do care about our looks. Here are five reasons why: • We care about our looks because others judge us by our looks, and we judge them by theirs. We believe that our acceptability, lovableness, and self-worth are determined by how physically attractive we are to others. • We are social and relational beings that reproduce sexually. Our sex hormones intensify our desire to be attractive, especially during our teenage and young adult years when our body chemistry is readying us to look for a mate.
• Some parents and teachers, believing that children need frequent affirmation to build and maintain their selfesteem, condition them to expect praise, to be frequently told how special, wonderful and extraordinary they are. • Being good-looking has benefits. Good-looking people are judged more favourably and treated better than others because virtually everyone assumes – without evidence – that good looks go with positive traits such as friendliness, honesty and competency. • Contemporary popular culture idolises physical attractiveness and youthfulness. Advertisers, celebrities, social media influencers, and the beauty, fashion, fitness, and wellness industries set impossibly high beauty standards. They convince us that the better looking we are, the happier and more successful we will be! Most of us respond to the pressure to measure up because our peers are trying to measure up too. The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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D A R K S I D E S O F B E I N G O V E R LY CO N C E R N E D W I T H LO O K S
• posting their enhanced selfies to their social media accounts for others to view and ‘like’; and
The dark side of our social/relational nature and concern for our looks is our instinctive urge to compare ourselves with others, and the types of feelings such comparisons produce in us, such as pride, superiority, jealousy, anxiety, despondency and inferiority.
• monitoring their social media accounts and the accounts of peers with whom they are competing in the hope that their carefully crafted images compare favourably.
And the dark side of beauty-worshipping culture is that people who will never look like movie stars, models or sporting heroes – no matter how hard they try and how much they spend – can feel like ‘nobodies’, unworthy of others’ attention and affection. Because of extreme concern with looks, body negativity and body anxiety are at epidemic levels, especially among young people, and girls in particular. Individuals with particularly negative or distorted self-perception may be diagnosed with serious – even life-threatening – mental health conditions, such as eating disorders, body-image disorders and obsessive desire for cosmetic surgery, and require specialist mental health assistance. Having loved ones affected by these conditions can be extremely distressing for families.
Incidentally, body negativity in girls can also be attributed to the effects of pornography. Boys and men exposed to porn are more likely to treat girls in ways that make them feel frightened and unhappy about their emerging womanhood. Porn also can influence girls to think they should look and behave like porn stars, which makes it more likely that men and boys will demean them and hurt them by treating them like sex objects. Porn harms everyone! Whether we use artificial means to enhance our appearance, such as make-up, photo-editing software, anabolic steroids and cosmetic surgery, or more natural means, such as a healthy diet and regular exercise, we will be prone to anxiety if we believe that we will only be accepted and loved if we are good-looking and stay that way.
The following behaviours have been found to be very harmful to the mental health of teens and young adults:
PUSH BACK AGAINST BEAUTY WORSH IP
• using smartphones to take photographs of themselves (‘selfies’) in which they present themselves as attractively as possible and their lives as happy and successful;
Advocates of ‘body positivity’ are pushing back against the culture of unattainable bodily perfection and body shaming. They encourage us to ‘love, embrace and celebrate’ our bodies regardless of shape or size.
• using photo-editing software or ‘beauty apps’ to enhance their appearance in their selfies;
Among the most extreme members of the body positivity movement are advocates of ‘fat pride’, who claim fatness is central to their identity and say fatness should be celebrated. Unsurprisingly, many overweight people are sceptical; the downsides of being overweight are all too apparent. Fat pride sounds to them like a futile exercise in self-deception. By contrast, advocates of ‘body acceptance’ say we should spend less time worrying about the way our bodies look and more time being grateful for what they can do. Another form of pushback is rebellion. When teens and young adults aren’t part of a good-looking ‘in-group’, they often seek friendship and acceptance in groups that rebel against society’s ideals of masculine and feminine beauty, such as Emos, Goths and punks. The trend in recent years of identifying as ‘trans’ or ‘non-binary’ can also be seen in part as a rejection of contemporary feminine and masculine ideals.
OT H E R ST R AT E G I ES F O R CO N S O L I N G P E O P L E A N X I O U S A B O U T T H E I R LO O K S Perhaps you’ve tried to console or encourage someone who was anxious or depressed about their looks in ways like these: • Appealing to reason by pointing to the disciplines of probability and statistics to show them that under an attractiveness bell curve, only a very small percentage of the population can be beautiful or very beautiful; most of us will be average-looking. Better to come to terms with
CH R ISTIA NS’ S ELF- I M AG E A N D S ENS E O F S ELFWO RTH AR E BAS ED O N SO M ETH I N G M U CH M O R E SU BSTA NTIAL TH A N O U R LOO KS .
being ordinary than wasting our lives stressing because we aren’t extraordinary! • Pointing to genetics and saying that because genes largely determine outward appearance, the small proportion of people who are ‘naturally beautiful’ should rightly feel lucky – not proud – and give credit to their parents! • Warning that beauty has downsides, e.g. the risk of being viewed by lustful admirers as a challenge to conquer or a trophy (to be discarded when the novelty wears off); the risk of being resented by peers of one’s age and sex; and the personal disaster that occurs when one values one’s beauty too highly and loses it with age or through disfiguring illness or accident. • Distinguishing between outer and inner beauty and quoting popular wisdom like ‘All that glitters is not gold’ and ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover!’ to remind friends and other loved ones not to place too much importance on outward appearance, and adding that outer beauty fades with time, but inner loveliness can increase. • Saying that beauty is subjective rather than objective: ‘Beauty is in the eye of the beholder’. • Drawing attention to their other gifts or talents. So much for common worldly responses to people who are anxious about their looks. What wisdom do Christians have to offer?
CH RISTIAN TEACH ING FOR PEOPLE A N X I O U S A B O U T T H E I R LO O K S The key question for us is, where does our self-esteem – our sense of self-worth – come from? Christians’ self-image and sense of self-worth are based on something much more substantial than our looks. It is based on our knowledge that God knows us (see for example Psalm 139:1,2) and loves us. He loves us so much that, in his
human form, he gave his life for us so that we might live in eternity with him (John 3:16). How our outward appearance measures up against the beauty ideals of people in our cultural moment is of little consequence to our loving Father and Jesus our brother and Saviour. For our God, the state of our hearts is much more important than our outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). Yet God also made our bodies and wants us to care well for them and to treat them with respect and modesty (1 Corinthians 6:19,20). But we aren’t to value them too highly or to flaunt our looks to tease, arouse or use others in self-serving ways. If we do these things, our looks become a distraction, a stumbling block, an idol that leads us and others into sin (Matthew 6:21;25–34). God’s word speaks to us not just about our own looks but about our attitudes to others’ looks as well. We aren’t to covet others’ looks (Exodus 20:17), put others down because of their looks, or make rash or unfair assumptions about others based on their looks (James 4:11,12; 1 Peter 2:1). The evil one is at work in our culture trying to shape us and use us in ways that turn us against God and his way for us (Ephesians 6:10–12) and which pit us against each other. Let us be alert to the presence of the evil one and wary of his influence, especially when he tells us that we aren’t goodlooking enough or that others aren’t good-looking enough to be loved. Lord, fill us with the assurance of your unconditional love. Help us remember that other people are made in your image and loved by you too. Nick Schwarz is the LCANZ’s Assistant to the Bishop for Public Theology.
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BY B ET H A N I E M A N N
When I think of the concept of ‘body image’, I think of the questions, ‘How do I look?’ and ‘What do others see when they look at me?’ I find the biggest influences on our understanding of body image come from various streams of media and the people around us. I’m working as a sales assistant in a clothing retail store, and daily engaging with both men and women about their bodies and their criticisms of their own image. This deeply upsets me, yet how much more would God’s heart ache to hear these things? This has led me to fear that in today’s society, there is an underlying expectation to impress each other with a certain body shape, owning the trendiest brands, or layering ourselves with expensive items. This is driven by the idea that by complying with these expectations, you can increase your level of beauty and add to your value. However, I have found that these expectations do the opposite.
I didn’t realise how much I cared about other people’s opinions, until one day at school I overheard someone ask, ‘Who’s that fat girl?’ And the response came, ‘That’s Bethanie’. ‘Is that all I am?’, I thought to myself. I had never previously cared about how I looked and was comfortable with being called weird, even taking it as a compliment. But fat? ‘Is that all my worth comes down to?’, I asked myself. This stewed inside me until I ended up losing 20 kilograms in 20 weeks. The method I chose though was by no means a healthy way to lose weight. Yet, I still did not value myself or like the way I looked – even though I seemed to have more friends and got the boys’ attention.
A FR I EN DS H I P O R R EL ATI O NS H I P B U I LT O N S EEK I N G OTH ER PEO PLE’S A PPROVA L IS B U I LT O N SA N D. W H EN TH E STO R M S H IT, MY SO - C A LLED FR I EN DS D ISA PPE A R ED.
I also soon discovered that a friendship or relationship built on seeking other people’s approval is built on sand. When the storms hit, my so-called friends disappeared.
This led me to engage in comfort eating, and I found myself back at square one with no friends and loathing myself even more than I first did. When I looked in the mirror, all I could hear was a little voice that echoed, ‘Who’s that fat girl?’ I have since matured in my faith, grown from experiences and learnt to find my worth in Christ. But I would not, however, suggest that appearances do not matter. Rather, how we present ourselves is a reflection of what is on the inside. Paul writes in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter six, ‘Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price’. While we may stare at the mirror, highlighting the things we do not like about ourselves and how impossible it is to attain society's expectations in the realm of body image, we should ask ourselves instead, ‘How does God see me?’ After all, is his opinion not the only one that matters? God created us and he does not make mistakes! We are made in God’s image, we are his ‘very good’ creation, his ‘handiwork, created in Christ Jesus’ (Ephesians 2:10).
[GO D’S] O PI N I O N IS TH E O N LY O N E TH AT M AT TERS? GO D CR E ATED US A N D H E DO ES N OT M A K E M ISTA K ES ! W E A R E M A D E I N GO D’S I M AG E, W E A R E H IS ‘ V ERY GOO D’ CR E ATI O N .
However, what about the items we wear on the outside? The style and brand of clothes, hair, make-up, jewellery, tattoos. Do we use these things to ensure we are honouring God? Peter does warn against wearing lots of expensive clothing and jewellery, as beauty comes from within (1 Peter 3:3,4). Yet this doesn’t mean we can’t have these things. Rather, we must examine whether they honour God. A wedding ring, for example, though it may be expensive, brings glory to God through his gift of marriage and the vow made between a husband and wife. I have two tattoos, which give me an opportunity to share the gospel when I’m asked about them. One depicts a cross, and the other is a sunrise/sunset as a representation of Lamentations 3:22,23 – ‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’ So, do looks really matter? Firstly, God is more concerned with what is on the inside rather than outward appearance (1 Samuel 16:7). And I think the more important question is, ‘Do we reflect Christ?’ We can also ask ourselves, ‘Are our bodies reflecting God’s image for others to see?’ As we live in a world of sin, this image will always be distorted yet, with the help of the Holy Spirit, perhaps we can treat our bodies as God would like us to. My encouragement is to consider the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22,23) as a way we can honour our bodies and give glory to God. We can show love and joy towards ourselves and others no matter what our or their outward appearance. We can be at peace with the body God has given us and show kindness towards our body in how we care for it. We can show goodness and gentleness as we consider the planet and the clothes we wear; show self-control through the types of food and drink we consume, or the amount of clothes we own.
No matter what shape we may be, or what we wear on our bodies, Paul encourages us in his letter to the Romans, ‘I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship’ (12:1). Therefore, let us worship God with our bodies, giving all the glory to him. Bethanie Mann serves as Child, Youth and Family Worker at The Ark Salisbury Lutheran Church in Adelaide’s north-east. A former trainee at Tandara Lutheran Camp at Halls Gap in Victoria, she graduated from Australian Lutheran College with a Bachelor of Ministry in 2023. Along with working jobs in retail and hospitality, she is also a director of the Lower Murray South East Christian Life Week in South Australia. The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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Join our ALWS Lutheran Walk My Way for Ukraine Friends, It’s hard to imagine being a Lutheran pastor in Ukraine right now. Constant bombing. Members of your congregation killed or scattered. Minus 5 degrees in winter. Yet our Lutheran brothers and sisters are there on the frontline, offering the love of Jesus through practical care to those who have lost everything. Lutheran Pastor Oleksandr Gross ministers in the city of Odessa: Nadia fled Ukraine after her home was bombed. She is one of the children of war who now receives ALWS support from the Lutheran family in Poland.
‘We stay where the Lord has called us. We are close, we bring help to the people in their homes – words, clothes, medication, food.
JOIN THE WALK!
‘Deeply grounded in faith, we witness to love in the middle of the hate that the war has brought.’
Saturday 11 May 1–5pm Central Brisbane walkmywayukraine.org.au
1300 763 407 AMBASSADOR MESSAGE ‘I am pleased to endorse the ALWS Walk My Way, which extends a message of love and hope to Ukrainian children, celebrates the beauty of Brisbane and brings the community together for a meaningful cause. ‘Thanks a lot for your support in transforming each of the 12,500 steps into a poignant reminder of the innocent victims of Russian illegal aggression.’ Vasyl Myroshnychenko Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia
I believe this witness-to-love message is needed as much here in Australia as in Ukraine.
Come join us on the 12.5-kilometre walk from QUT Gardens Point Campus, along the beautiful Brisbane River, back to our community hub with Ukrainian food and cultural activities. A great day out for families, or congregational groups. Can’t manage 12.5 km? Do 3 km. Or simply visit our community hub. Can’t get to Brisbane? Sponsor a walker. (Or me – I’ll be running!) Or give a donation to support the work of ALWS for the people of Ukraine. Lutheran schools in Queensland are taking up the challenge. Churches too. I pray that you join us, in whatever way you can, as we Walk My Way for these people who have been forgotten. Together, we can bring love to life, and be a blessing ALWayS!
That’s why I’m so pleased that Queensland will host the ALWS Walk My Way for Ukraine. While the world may have forgotten the people of Ukraine, our Lutheran family has not. Whether it’s standing alongside people like Pastor Oleksandr inside Ukraine, building bomb shelters under schools, renovating apartments so families can return home, providing drinking water … … or supporting Lutheran congregations in border countries like Poland as they care for refugees from Ukraine as guests, you and I witness to love to those we help with our practical ALWS care, and to our own local communities as they see our Lutheran Church living our faith in our actions.
ALWayS for those forgotten
Bishop Mark Vainikka LCANZ Queensland District
DWELLING IN GOD’S WORD
P R AY E R POINTS 4 –1 0 F E B
New ALC Principal Dr Tim Stringer, and his predecessor Pastor James Winderlich, who is returning to parish ministry 11 –17 F E B
That Lent, which starts this week (14 Feb), will be a time of prayer, reflection and repentance
BY EMMA STRELAN
How we should think and feel about our physical appearance seems to be an everchanging concept. One moment, the world tells us true beauty comes from within, and it doesn't matter what you look like on the outside; the next moment we're being told that everyone is beautiful and unique; and then we get bombarded with images of stereotypically attractive people and given vast quantities of advice on how we could or should look like them! No wonder many of us have a confusing relationship with our appearance!
about what your body looks like; that you have higher things to think about and that God would never care about bodies this much. What is your natural inclination to how you feel about your body? Can you see any possible issues with caring too little?
This week’s online Festival of Learning, run by ALC (20–22 Feb)
Read 1 Samuel 16:7. Why do you think people tend to judge others by outward appearance?
Issues around body image are often seen as mostly relating to teenagers whose changing bodies and minds can leave them most susceptible to the pressure of looking a certain way.
25 FEB –2 MAR
Now read 1 Samuel 16:11–13. What description is given of David? If God does not look at outward appearance when choosing people for his work, why do you think the Bible includes this physical (and positive) description of David?
But when I reached my 20s, that pressure did not just suddenly disappear for me. Instead, I felt the pressure to look more ‘mature’ – but not too old! In fact, based on how I saw other women act around me, I assumed that whether I was younger or older, I was supposed to try to look around the age of 25 for as long as possible.
18 –24 FEB
Members and leaders of the Lutheran Church of New Zealand and their new oversight arrangement with the NSW-ACT District 3 –9 MAR
This weekend’s LCA NSW-ACT District Convention of Synod at Wagga Wagga NSW (8–10 Mar) 1 0 –1 6 M A R
The Lutheran Women of Queensland, who have been meeting in retreat (8–10 Mar) 17– 2 3 M A R
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on National Close the Gap Day (21 Mar) 24 – 30 MAR
Communities affected by floods, cyclones and other natural disasters 31 M A R – 6 A P R
Christians around the world who are celebrating the joy of the resurrection on Easter Sunday (31 March)
The thing that comes first and foremost for God is what’s in our hearts. He doesn’t choose people because they have good looks, but neither does he disregard them because of that. Looks just don’t fit into God’s category of ‘worthiness’. However, God did create us – in some sense – to appreciate beauty in ourselves and others.
Then I had the realisation that I would never look like that ‘optimal’ version of myself. Because as long as I was looking at myself, I’d never be perfect. Read John 1:14. What does it tell us about the importance of our bodies (our ‘flesh’) to God?
One of the most common Bible verses given to promote ‘body positivity’ in a Christian setting is from Psalm 139.
In the book What God Has to Say about Our Bodies, author Sam Allberry writes: ‘Jesus' incarnation is the highest compliment the human body has ever been paid.’
Read Psalm 139:14, carefully noting the wording. How often could you honestly actually say that to God? Instead, how often are your feelings more along these lines: ‘I don’t really believe I personally am wonderfully made, but I’m happy to say it about others!’
It’s good to remember that Jesus’ death restores all our relationships, the one with ourselves included! Jesus dying for us on the cross, for our sins and our salvation, means that when God looks at us now, he sees the perfect nature of Jesus in us. And if God sees us like that, we can see ourselves like that too.
Verses like this one can be lovely for coffee mugs and notebook covers, but it doesn’t stop me from seeing a picture of a celebrity and thinking ‘Maybe the body God intended for me is more like that, I just haven’t exercised enough to get there’.
How might remembering what Jesus has done for you, and that he lives in you, help you change your narrative around body image?
Or perhaps, you take the other view and prefer to think that you don’t care so much
Emma Strelan is a production assistant with Lutheran Media.
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R ES O U R C ES F O R YO U TO . . .
GRACE IS THE WORD FOR LENT
We usually define God’s grace as ‘undeserved favour’. Grace cannot be earned, bought or attained by our actions. It is purely and simply a free gift God gives us through the sacrificial suffering and death of his beloved Son Jesus on the cross. But it doesn’t end with our Saviour on the cross. He rose again from death and ascended to glory, also bringing that same glory and the joy of the assurance of heaven to us. We can be assured of God’s grace and the relationship he built with us through it.
BY A N N E H A N S EN
D E VOT I O N A L R ES O U R C E TO D O W N LO A D A N D P R I N T To help individuals, congregations, and school and aged-care communities share God’s gift of grace, a free downloadable and printable Lenten devotional entitled ‘Understanding Grace – God’s riches at Christ’s expense’ has been prepared by Lutheran Tract Mission.
S EE YO U RS EL F A S G O D D O ES Lutheran Tract Mission has many resources for you to strengthen and encourage you to see yourself as God does. Browse through our website and find what you need for your personal growth and ministry: www.ltm.org.au Please share stories with me of how tracts have spoken and reached you and others in your community! Give others new ideas as to how to use tracts in sharing God’s love!
Anne Hansen is Lutheran Tract Mission Development Officer.
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The Lenten season begins with Ash Wednesday on 14 February and goes to Easter Sunday on 31 March. There are 40 days in the season – not counting the seven Sundays that are excluded – but the devotional covers them all with 47 short devotions, Bible readings and prayers. Each day there is a different quote about grace. The Bible readings speak of the undeserved love God has for each of us. We are led through Jesus’ life and ultimately to the cross where we can then celebrate his resurrection and God’s ultimate gift. Download the Understanding Grace devotional at www.ltm.org.au
Register today!
GUIDE FOR P R AY E R I N SEASON OF REFLECTION Since 2017, LCA International Mission has produced an annual prayer guide and devotional resource for the season of Lent. By using this guide, we hope members of the LCANZ will join our church’s mission partners, as together we meditate on God’s word and pray for his global mission. The ‘40 Days – a Lent Devotional and Prayer guide’ for 2024 carries the theme of ‘40 days with the Storyteller’.
REUNIONS FOR OVERSEAS M IS S I O N S ERVA NTS Since 1886 more than 1000 people have been called and served as missionaries of the Lutheran church in Australia in other parts of the world. Most of these overseas missionaries served in Papua New Guinea in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. In the years since many of the returned missionaries have met for annual reunions.
We pray that, readers will deepen their understanding of Jesus’ words by meditating on devotions written by LCA International Mission partners.
In February and March, there will be reunions for people based in South Australia and Queensland who have served in this way. The reunions are opportunities to renew friendships and relive experiences with people who shared them and understand the impact they had on their lives.
Each devotion is written by LCA International Mission partners from Australia, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Madagascar, Myanmar, Philippines, Germany, the US, Japan and Burundi.
The 2024 reunion in South Australia will be held at Tanunda Lutheran Home in the Barossa Valley on Sunday 10 March, while the Queensland gathering will be held at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church at Toowoomba, on Saturday 24 February.
Readers are also invited to pray for the extension of God’s kingdom, with the help of prayer prompts.
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You can download and print the ‘40 Days – a Lent Devotional and Prayer guide’ from the LCA International Mission website at www.lcamission.org.au/pray
If you would like more information or if you are one of these missionaries, or one of their children or friends, and would like to add to the story collection, please contact Erin Kerber at LCA International Mission by email at erin.kerber@lca.org.au or phone 0447 354 122.
LECTIONARY READI NGS WEEK
LCANZ’s International Mission Department has begun recognising, collecting and preserving the fascinating stories of those people who have served as our missionaries. You can find their stories presented in a timeline format at https://lcamission.org.au/timeline-missionaries/
WEEK
S U N DAY R E A D I N G S
3–9 MAR
Exodus 20:1-17 Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 1:18-25 John 2:13-22
S U N DAY R E A D I N G S
4 –10 FEB
Isaiah 40:21–31 Psalm 147:1–11, 20
1 Corinthians 9:16–23 Mark 1:29–39
10 –16 MAR
Numbers 21:4-9 Psalm 107:1-3,17-22
Ephesians 2:1-10 John 3:14-21
11–17 FEB
2 Kings 2:1–12 Psalm 50:1–6
2 Corinthians 4:3–6 Mark 9:2–9
17–23 MAR
Jeremiah 31:31-34 Psalm 51:1-12
Hebrews 5:5-10 John 12:20-33
18 –24 FEB
Genesis 9:8-17 Psalm 25:1-10
1 Peter 3:18-22 Mark 1:9-15
24 – 30 MAR
Isaiah 50:4-9a Psalm 118:1,2,19-29
Philippians 2:5-11 Mark 14:1 - 15:47
25 FEB –2 MAR
Genesis 17:1-7,15,16 Psalm 22:23-31
Romans 4:13-25 Mark 8:31-38
31 MAR– 6 APR
Isaiah 25:6-9 Psalm 118:1,2,14-24
1 Corinthians 15:1-11 John 20:1-18
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.
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WORSHIP LIFE A PRIORITY F O R LUT H ER A N SCH O O LS
BY LI B BY K R A H LI N G
Lutheran Education Australia (LEA) has launched a new website and print resources to support worship and devotions in LEA learning communities. Throughout 2023, the Worship and Devotions Project team engaged with staff in all regions to determine how best to encourage and support staff and students in their faith life. The team identified the need for clear, practical guides in everyday language, as well as supporting resources that assist staff working with students of all ages to implement devotions in classrooms and regular worship services.
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The resulting LEA Guides to Worship and Devotions provide a general overview of both worship and devotions, as well as detailed advice specific to the Early Years (0-3 years, pre-school and Junior Primary), Primary and Secondary communities. The guides were printed and distributed to every LEA early childhood service and school in Australia late last year, with additional copies made available to school boards and pastors of supporting congregations.
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devotions?
But Jesus answe “Human beings red, ‘The scriptu re says, cannot live but need on bread every word alone, that God speaks.”’ (Matthew 4:4 Good
News).
Christians use the word ‘devotions’ daily, meani to describe ngful interac and God. tion betwe In the en a believ er ‘give us today Lord’s Prayer, we ask God to our daily bread feed us what ’, in other we need to words, to stay alive and to grow.
Staff devo tions
Staff often begin the day togeth word in staff er around devotions. God’s This can be time where a special staff come together to about the share and joys and challe pray nges of comm It is an inform al time that unity life. may occur staffroom or classrooms. in the have their Each schoo own ways of conducting l or ECS will staff in devoti and ons. involving
R E S O U RCE S & I D E AS FOR STA F F D E VOT I O NS This guide forms part of devotional life in schools a suite of resources prepared and Early by Luthera Childhood advice about n Education Services. how to organis Australia to It is intende e devotions encourage d to highligh in learning and support t the core communities elements worship and of devotio which allow nal life and for the diverse offer some contexts in the LEA.
LEA Director, Associate Professor Lisa Schmidt, said: ‘Lutheran schools and early childhood services, as part of the mission of the Lutheran church, are communities of worship and service, sharing and living the good news of Jesus Christ.’ The guides’ content is at https://worshipanddevotions.lutheran.edu.au/ The site, also launched late last year, features digital and downloadable versions of each guide, as well as a host of resources for Bible stories, Bible themes, seasonal and special occasions, prayers, planning, music and much more. Libby Krahling is LEA Worship and Devotions Project Leader.
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P O D C A STS TO I N F O R M A N D I N S P I R E YO U ! Are you a Laudio listener? If you haven’t yet caught up with the LCANZ’s podcast series, you can start today. Aimed at Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand, Laudio was introduced on a trial basis in 2023 as part of the LCANZ’s efforts to shape our communications to the ways you like to receive information – as we know many people prefer to listen rather than read. The fortnightly podcasts have already covered a wide range of issues relevant to congregation leaders and members. These allow you to keep up to date with church news and the latest resources while you are on your daily commute, driving the header, or pounding the treadmill.
W H E R E TO F I N D L A U D I O Some of you have been asking whether Laudio is available on third-party services, such as Spotify, Audible or Apple. Not yet. If it becomes clear that lots of people love Laudio and our Laudio eNews subscriptions increase, we’ll certainly consider graduating it to podcast platforms. For now, to sign up to receive our email notifications when a podcast is released, access any of the 12 podcasts published so far, or check for new podcasts, go to the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/podcasts
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S H A R I N G G O D ’ S LO V E THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA
BY TA N I A N E LS O N
Social media – some people love it, others hate it, and there are a range of opinions in between. Like many tools, social media can be used for good and it can be used for evil. While social media can weigh people down or be used as a distraction from facing present realities, Christian content via social media platforms can lift people up and remind them that they are loved by a gracious God. Lutheran Media uses platforms including Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn to share messages of hope in Jesus. It’s wonderful to see that many Christian congregations and organisations also use social media to shine the light of God into the world.
A W AY O F R E A C H I N G YO U N G P E O P L E N E W W E E K LY O N L I N E GOSPEL R ESOU RCE
According to McCrindle research, the first faith encounter for new and exploring Christians is online. Almost half of Gen Z use social media as their primary source of spiritual life. So, if young people are going to social media for spiritual encounters, what are they seeing and where are we in that landscape?
From 2024, Lutheran Media will post the gospel reading from the LCANZ’s lectionary readings each week on Facebook and Instagram. Lutheran Media would love you to:
In having an active online presence through social media, we are offering a voice of hope into the lives of people who are seeking hope in a hopeless world. Lutheran Media and its associated ministry Messages of hope posts daily on social media, sharing messages of hope in Jesus to more than 6000 followers.
• ‘Like’ and ‘share’ these posts on your social media presence. By liking and sharing Christian content, a whole new audience (the audience of your friends and followers) hears of God’s love for us. • Have your church like and share the posts too. • Reflect on the gospel reading as preparation for your weekly worship. • Copy the post into your congregation’s or school’s PowerPoint slides, for example, as an introduction to the worship time or as a sermon/message slide. • Use the post in your church bulletin or school newsletter.
W H AT C A N YO U R C H U R C H D O ?
To find these posts, either follow Lutheran Media (and Messages of hope) on social media, or download the post directly from www.lutheranmedia.org.au/ social-media
Encourage your congregation to have a social media presence to bless your local community.
Another great thing about the posts is that they’re free!
If your congregation wishes to delve into the world of social media, check out the LCANZ’s excellent ‘Social Media Policy’ found at www.lca.org.au/policies My advice to a congregation which is considering a social media presence is to ensure that there are at least two administrators of your site, so that communication can be consistent and timely, and comments can be appropriately monitored. Jesus tells us to ‘let your light shine before others’ (Matt 5:16). Social media is one means of doing just that.
Tania Nelson is Lutheran Media Manager. The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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NEWS FROM AROUND OUR CHURCH ...
NSW-ACT District provides oversight for LCNZ As part of the LCANZ NSWACT District’s commitment to provide oversight for the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, NSW-ACT Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus (left) met with LCNZ Bishop Emeritus Mark Whitfield (second from left) and pastors at a church worker conference in New Zealand, the first of what will be two district-wide visits each year by the NSW-ACT bishop.
With the Lutheran Church New Zealand (LCNZ) unable to elect a bishop at its 2023 Convention of Synod, the LCANZ’s College of Bishops has asked the NSW and ACT District to provide oversight for the LCNZ until the next synod in two years. Leaders from the NSW District Church Council and the LCNZ Council of Synod have met twice, agreed on a memorandum of understanding (MOU) of how this would work and approved the arrangement. The MOU states that the NSW and ACT bishop will make a two-week visiting tour of all New Zealand churches twice yearly and provide other oversight by email, phone calls and internet meetings from NSW. The two tours will coincide with the New Zealand Church Workers Conferences and two of the Council of Synod meetings. The LCNZ assistant bishop will cover other occasional events, such as special anniversaries, the installation of pastors and pastoral care intervention. NSW and ACT Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus has completed one trip
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around the 14 New Zealand churches, including meeting with pastors and leaders. He also attended the LCNZ Church Worker Conference, where people shared their learnings of mission and ministry. Bishop Robert said he saw many things on his tour that would be useful learnings for the NSW and ACT District. He has also shared experiences from the NSW and ACT District with several New Zealand leaders. NSW District Administrator Russell Veerhuis and Office Secretary Kaye Simpfendorfer assisted locally in NSW while Bishop Robert was away. New LCNZ District Administrator Debbie Venz and all other administration staff meet weekly via internet conferencing system Zoom, working together to provide mutual support for each other and the LCNZ. LCNZ Bishop Emeritus Mark Whitfield said the agreement reflected a Māori proverb or whakataukī. ‘Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourouka ora ai te iwi – which translates to “with your food basket and my food basket the people will thrive”’.
Bishop Robert, who served as a pastor in New Zealand from 1983 until 2001, said: ‘This whakataukī encapsulates the notion that while working in isolation might result in survival, working together can take people beyond survival and onto prosperity. It is with this expectation that the Lutheran Church of New Zealand and the NSW and ACT District are working together. ‘May God continue to bless our two districts as we share our “food baskets” – the gifts and capacities God has blessed each district with – so that the gospel may flourish and the people who receive it may thrive. May this partnership of love and support in ministry be a mutual blessing.’ ‘Whakapaingia te Atua e whakamine nei i a tātou. Whakamoemititia te Atua kua kotahi nei tātou. Blessed be God who calls us together. Praise to God who makes us one people’, Bishop Emeritus Mark said. This story is adapted from one first published in the December edition of the NSW and ACT District magazine Contact and is printed with permission.
Church to explore domestic violence report findings The LCANZ is continuing its efforts to prevent domestic and family violence (DFV) among its members, in the wake of the release of a report which finds that some religious beliefs about gender can be used to justify DFV. Commissioned by the LCA in 2019, the Religion and Domestic Violence Report is the result of research done to help church leaders understand the core issues and address domestic and family violence in the LCANZ, and in our wider community. ‘It is important to note that the Religion and Domestic Violence Report is not a theological statement of our church’, said LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith. Instead, as the contribution of professional researchers, Bishop Paul said the report would help the
people of the church explore how to better understand and address domestic and family violence, both in New Zealand and in Australia. A 2015 directive from General Synod ‘to commit resources to address ‘the prevalence of family violence among us’, resulted in the domestic violence awareness campaign Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts and the establishment of LCA’s Taskforce on Domestic and Family Violence. ‘Upon receipt of such a significant report, we need to determine how best to respond to its findings and recommendations’, Bishop Smith said. At its December 2023 meeting, the General Church Board resolved to establish a Religion and Domestic Violence Report
ALC staff farewell faithful colleagues Australian Lutheran College (ALC) have farewelled two dearly loved colleagues who have faithfully served the college over many years – ALC principal, Pastor James Winderlich (far right) and viceprincipal and former academic dean, Dr Stephen Haar (right). According to ALC eNews, during their time at college, both men ‘consistently demonstrated what it means to lead with servant hearts – often prioritising the needs and wellbeing of their team above their own, never seeking attention or recognition for themselves, and always caring for and encouraging their colleagues’. ‘Together they have faced many challenging and difficult situations, throughout which they have supported, guided and ably led the ALC community’, the report said. ‘As they leave ALC to commence a new chapter in their life’s journey – James to return to parish ministry and Stephen to commence retirement – we pray that
God will go with them and keep them safe in his care always. They will be missed!’ The new principal, Rev Dr Tim Stringer, will be installed on Sunday 18 February at the 9.30am service at St Michael’s Hahndorf in South Australia. Sign up to receive ALC eNews at www.lca.org.au/enews under the Churchwide tab.
Response Group (RDVRRG), whose primary role will be to collate responses to the report and to present recommendations to the General Church Board. The group’s work is to be completed before the 2024 Convention of General Synod. Invitations for membership of the RDVRRG are extended to the members of the LCANZ. Applications will be accepted and processed by the Nominations Committee. Applications close on Friday 16 February 2024. Visit the Religion and Domestic Violence Report webpage at www.lca.org.au/rdvr to: • read the terms of reference for the RDVRRG and download a nomination form • read or download the Religion and Domestic Violence Report.
Lutheran nurses award nominations close soon Nominations close next month (March) for the Lutheran Nurse of the Year award for 2024 – so get your nominations in now. The annual award recognises faithful and outstanding service during the preceding calendar year by a registered or enrolled nurse who is an active member of a Lutheran congregation in Australia or New Zealand. Nominations may be submitted by congregations, schools, aged-care facilities or other bodies or agencies within the LCANZ. More information and nomination forms are available from Pastor Bob Wiebusch via email at revbob@ozemail.com.au or from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/ ministry-groups/lutheran-nurses/ Nominations close on 31 March 2024.
STATISTICS DUE NOW! Thank you to those who serve as statisticians for your congregation or parish. Please remember to enter the statistics for 2023 into LAMP2 by the end of February. If you need assistance, please contact your district office.
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Disciplinary and complaints trial framework approved The LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB) has provisionally approved a trial framework for a new LCANZ disciplinary system and complaints handling process. The resolution, made late last year, is subject to the approval of General Synod, at its convention in October 2024, as amendments to the LCANZ Constitution and By-laws are required. The new framework addresses the findings of the Review of the LCANZ’s Ecclesiastical Discipline, Adjudication and Appeals, and Provisions, Policies and Processes. This review was requested by the 2018 General Synod and its findings were received at the in-person sessions of the 2021–23 General Synod held in February 2023.
IN OUR 29TH YEAR
e: zwecktours@gmail.com p: All hours 0429 447 821
HERITAGE TOUR 1–30 September 2024 Our most popular annual tour, featuring heritage areas of the Wends, Silesia, Saxony, Posen, Mecklenburg, Pomerania, Neckla Hauland, Brandenburg and the Spreewald. We visit WWI cemeteries and towns and cities including Ypres, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Oberammergau, Salzburg, Rothenburg, Bautzen, Eisenach, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Grünberg, Klemzig, Züllichau, Wittenberg, Hamburg and Amsterdam. Worship in Luther’s churches and in Berlin. Other areas and towns available on request. Add-on Budapest to Amsterdam cruise is also available. Be early, river cruise special flight deals book out well in advance. Please register your interest now. Fully escorted – take advantage of discounted group travel and wonderful fellowship
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. 114. In an emergency, call 000 000.. HIDDEN
HURTS
HEALING
HEARTS
LCA PREVENTION OF DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
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www.preventdfv.lca.org.au
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In the new framework, roles and responsibilities are more clearly separated and defined than in the previous model, with the intention that disciplinary processes are as transparent, effective and fit for church purposes as possible. A key change to how disciplinary matters are addressed is the separation of the LCANZ’s Professional Standards team from the process of substantiating accusations against church workers (including pastors), employees and volunteers. Under the new system, the team will still be the intake point for formal complaints, but a Complaints Triage Committee will review each complaint and determine whether an investigation is appropriate in the circumstances. Upon approval of the new framework by General
Synod, applications will be invited from active members of the church who consider that their gifts are suited to serving on the committee. To enable a trial of the new system to commence immediately, however, an interim Complaints Triage Committee has been appointed: • Michael Bowden, LCANZ HR Manager • Dianne Eckermann, retired, formerly Lutheran Education Australia Director of Leadership • Dr Nigel Long, Secretary of the Church. The provisional Complaints Handling Policy and Complaints Handling Procedure are now available on the LCANZ’s website www.lca.org.au/policies
New risk management policy for LCANZ General Church Board has approved a Risk Management policy, with application across the LCANZ. ‘A fundamental principle of care is keeping people safe and being good stewards of what we have been given’, LCA Insurance & Risk Manager Lucinda Osborne said. ‘This policy is a tool to help all agencies across the LCANZ gain a better understanding of the risks around them and achieve a good risk management process to protect the people and property we have in our care.’ The policy is a high-level document, encompassing principles and aspirations of risk management. You can find support for the practical implementation of the policy in your congregational context, including risk management checklists and templates via the following means: • Visit the online training and resource library iLearn, accessible via the LCANZ Learning Hub (www.lca.org.au/training-events/
lcanz-learning-hub/). Anyone with an LCA email address may access the iLearn portal. For assistance, email itsupport@lca.org.au • For Safe Church risk mitigation specifically, visit ChildSafe’s Safety Management Online (SMO) (www.childsafe.org.au), which is a resource-rich hub for risk management resources. Anyone whose Safe Church training is current has access to the SMO. For assistance, including resetting your password, contact Professional Standards (psd@lca.org.au) or visit the website at www.lca.org.au/ professional-standards • Visit the LCA Insurance website at www.lcainsurance.org.au • Contact your District Office.
New formation director for Lutheran Education Australia outreach for those with little or no Christian faith, to plant seeds of belief and faith in God. Formation also nurtures Christians by deepening their knowledge and commitment to Christ.’
Sue Kupke is the new Director of Formation for Lutheran Education Australia (LEA), with her role to begin this month. Most recently the Education Leader for Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA, Sue has taught in Lutheran schools in Victoria, SA and WA and completed educational theology qualifications at Lutheran Teachers College (now ALC). She succeeds Anne Dohnt, who has served as LEA Director of Formation for 10 years and has taken up a role at Calvary Lutheran Primary School at Morphett Vale in suburban Adelaide. LEA Executive Director, Associate Professor Lisa Schmidt, said Sue was extremely well prepared for the Director of Formation role, with strong connections across LEA regions. ‘Sue has just completed her doctorate and brings new insights to Lutheran education from her research on the cultural perspectives of students, staff and parents of a Lutheran primary school’, Lisa said. ‘Her vision for formation in Lutheran education is that each person associated with a Lutheran learning community will have the opportunity to experience Lutheran theology in action based on the gospel of Jesus Christ, which
Sue Kupke (above) is the new Director of Formation for Lutheran Education Australia. She succeeds Anne Dohnt (right), who served in the role for 10 years.
connects with them and shapes who they are becoming. ‘Her hope is that staff, students, families and governing councillors in Lutheran education will be immersed and shaped by Lutheran theology, so they grow and flourish as the humans who God created them to be through the gospel of Jesus Christ. ‘We also recognise the outstanding contribution by Anne Dohnt in this role and thank her for her service. Our prayers and support are with Anne and Sue over the next few months as they prepare for their respective futures. Formation in Lutheran education is important work of the church in
Sue said that having taught in Lutheran schools across three states and having served in the regional Lutheran Education SA, NT & WA role, she had ‘connected with and supported numerous teachers at varying stages of their vocation’. ‘I look forward to bringing this professional knowledge and experience into the national role’, she said. ‘I have assisted teachers during planning times and through Equip as part of their accreditation to teach Christian Studies in Lutheran schools. ‘I am keen to be part of the Formation Team at a national level, as we work towards strengthening Lutheran identity through our staff, students, families and governing bodies in Lutheran schools and Early Childhood Services. ‘Our Lutheran learning communities have the privilege of bringing Christ’s love to each person associated with that community – through head, heart and hands.’
LCA Insurance broker appointed The LCANZ’s long-term service provider, Aon, has been reappointed as the broker for LCA Insurance following a rigorous tender process. The General Church Board approved the tender panel’s recommendation late last year.
agreement with them will be “business as usual”. Aon has offered us reduced pricing, improved services and a greater focus on ways to weather changes in the global and national insurance market. All this is very good news for our clients.’
‘The tender process provided LCA Insurance with the opportunity to review what options were available to us and to recalibrate our service requirements’, said Lucinda Osborne, LCA Insurance and Risk Manager.
Following the departure of Catholic Church Insurance from the market earlier this year, Aon has enhanced its commitment to faith-based organisations, including churches, schools, aged-care and community-care entities.
Four large leading insurance service providers were invited to participate in the comprehensive tender process, with Aon emerging as the preferred broker from the two short-listed service providers. ‘We are delighted to retain the services of Aon, as they know our church and our insurance needs well’, Lucinda said. ‘But this does not mean the new
‘We are confident Aon can deliver for our Lutheran entities tailor-made insurance solutions for our faith-based context, while keeping premiums as low as possible. They also provide for us the experience, expertise and futureproofing insights of a leader in the Australian insurance industry’, Lucinda said. The LCA Insurance scheme
manages insurance for approximately 730 Lutheran entities, insuring almost $6 billion in assets, with a diverse risk portfolio including congregations, aged and community care and education. ‘We know insurance can be a difficult area to understand, especially in the current challenging environment’, Lucinda said. ‘We are here to serve you, so you can continue to share God’s love in our communities without the burden of worrying about insurance. Please talk to us if you have any questions or concerns in relation to your insurance needs. ‘Your LCA Insurance team remains your first point of contact, with the Aon core service team providing support to LCA Insurance.’ Contact LCA Insurance on 08 8267 7330 or by email at insurance@lca.org.au The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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21 ST R EG U LA R CO N V E NTI O N O F G E N E RA L SYN O D www.lca.org.au/convention-general-synod-2024
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Lay delegates
Pastor delegates
Parishes have been advised that they must elect their delegate/s for the 2024–27 synodical period and return the appointment form to the Secretary of the Church by 31 March 2024. Parishes must elect a delegate for the synodical period even if that person is unable to attend Convention of General Synod in October 2024. It is strongly recommended that parishes appoint an alternate delegate at the same parish meeting that the delegate is elected. It is important to note that delegates serve the LCANZ for the full three-year synodical period, commencing at the 2024 Convention through to the commencement of the 2027 Convention. Parish members and those people nominated for the important role of delegate should be familiar with the responsibilities of delegates. If you have not yet submitted your details for adding to LAMP2, please complete the second page of the delegate appointment form – see www.lca.org.au/conventiongeneral-synod-2024/delegates
Each LCA district is entitled to elect one pastor delegate for every two eligible lay delegates, based on the 2023 statistical returns. District offices are required to supply names of their pastor delegates to the LCA for entry into LAMP2 by 31 March 2024.
The Standing Committee on Nominations (SCoN) is working with the LCANZ’s boards, commissions, councils and committees to identify their membership needs for the next synodical term. Nominations for people to serve on these bodies will open from April
2024 and will be advised through LCA eNews and the General Synod website. Please note that GCB has passed a resolution requiring all members of governing and advisory bodies to have provided proof of their working with children check or
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Principal delegates The principals of each region of Lutheran Education Australia are entitled to elect one secondary and one primary school principal per region as delegates. Notifications of these delegates are due by 31 March 2024.
Payments The parish fee is $550 (plus GST) per lay delegate. This fee covers administration and running costs. There is no fee for pastor delegates. The registration fee is payable even if a delegate does not attend. Parishes will be invoiced in February 2024. Other Convention costs, such as meals and transport, will be detailed on the LCA Synod website when they are available. The costs
for visitors to attend Convention will also be made available on the Synod website. The church will be advised when this information is available.
Proposals The following LCANZ entities may submit proposals to General Synod: congregations, parishes, LCANZ boards (provided the matter is within their terms of reference), General Pastors Conference, General Church Board or its Executive, the Synod of any District, the Church Council of any District or the Pastors Conference of any District. Proposals must be submitted no later than 31 March 2024 using the proposal template – see www.lca.org.au/convention-generalsynod-2024/proposals
Accommodation and travel Information about accommodation and travel will be included on the LCA Convention of Synod website when this is available and advised in correspondence to all delegates in the Synod eNews.
equivalent and the completion of the relevant Professional Standards training before assuming their responsibilities. You will be notified in writing post-Synod regarding your appointment. Service will commence from January 2025.
Your Voice
RS L E T T E ERS MEMB FROM LCANZ OF THE
Allowing the Holy Spirit to work Some years ago, I met a woman I will never forget. She wandered into our church as a newcomer – no shoes, a stranger sitting at the back. As she was on her own, I went to greet her. She kept coming back to church and we became firm friends. She met a congregational member who later became congregational chairman, and a friendship grew. In due course, my husband and I were invited to their wedding. Her hubby encouraged her to join the choir, and soon she was learning old hymns I had been singing since childhood. The Holy Spirit was at work. She became so interested in Christian teachings, that she received her MA, studying theology through Australian Lutheran College. The Holy Spirit was still at work. She used her time at home to attend local nursing homes, praying with the sick and holding their hands as they died. Seeing her love and her faith, the bereaved families would ask her to conduct the funeral of their loved one, to which she would reply, ‘I would love to, but I am not ordained’. In St Peter's sermon at Pentecost, he said: ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy ... Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy’ (Acts 2:17,18). Our Lutheran church services regularly have women doing Bible readings. Women lead and teach the young ones in Sunday school. I feel there is a need to use and ordain both men and women in our colleges and nursing homes, so that holy communion and Christian burials can be given to those the Holy Spirit has chosen to be his own. Cheryl Zacher – Sunshine Acres Qld
Opinions expressed in letters are those of the writers and do not necessarily reflect those of the editor or the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Shorter letters will be given preference over longer letters. Subscribers’ letters will be given preference over those from non-subscribers. Letters longer than 300 words and those containing personal attack will not be published. No more than two letters from the same author will be published in a calendar year.
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY SENIOR ENGAGEMENT & COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER LCA Communications is seeking an experienced communications professional to assist the Churchwide communications team to more actively engage with stakeholders across the church and to promote the mission and ministry of the church. This is an exciting opportunity to bring your Christian faith into the workplace as you put into practice your skills and expertise from your communications, marketing or fundraising background. Location: Churchwide Office, North Adelaide FTE: 0.8 – 1.0 (12-month contract)
Applications close: Friday 16 February 2024
More information from, and applications to: Linda Macqueen, LCA Communications Manager linda.macqueen@lca.org.au The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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Directory
In Memoriam
CA LLS
RO LL O F PASTO R S
Extended
• Rev Peter A Fuhlbohm - Change of call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 10 December 2023
• Rev Joel S Cramer Salisbury SA to Southern Barossa Churches (Grace Tanunda, Bethany-Tabor, Langmeil, Schoenborn and Lyndoch) • Rev Paul A Hannola Tuggeranong ACT to Nundah Qld • Rev Joshua L Pfeiffer Leave of Absence (Study Leave) to Tarrington Vic • Rev Carl P Richter Mildura Vic to Port Lincoln SA
• Rev Neil M Guthrig – Change of call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 31 December 2023 • Rev Stephen C Haar - Change of call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 31 December 2023
• Rev Stephen P Schultz SA-NT District to Unley SA
• Christopher J Janetzki – Removed from the LCANZ Roll of Pastors, effective 27 October 2023
Accepted
• Rev Franz J Moeller - Readmitted to the LCANZ Roll of Pastors as Pastor Emeritus from 16 November 2023
• Rev William J Frost Lutheran Aged Care Albury NSW to Albury NSW • Rev Paul A Hannola Tuggeranong ACT to Nundah Qld
Graduate Assignments • Jacob E D Fabich assigned to Eudunda-Robertstown SA • Thomas L Kitson assigned to Bethania Qld
I N STA LL ATI O N S • Rev Timothy Chen – Installed to Grace Lutheran Chinese Church (Zion Glynde SA and St Stephens Adelaide SA) at Zion Glynde SA on 26 November 2023 by SA-NT District Bishop Andrew Brook • Rev Samuel D Modra – Regularisation of Locum Tenens Call at North Tasmania on 26 November 2023 by Vic-Tas District Bishop Lester Priebbenow • Rev Malcolm D Willcocks – Installed as Specific Ministry Pastor to serve Finke River Mission (Pitjantjatjara Language Area) on 10 December 2023 at Alice Springs Lutheran Church NT by SA-NT District Bishop Andrew Brook
• Jason O Pokela – Resigned and granted a peaceful dismissal from the LCANZ Roll of Pastors, effective 14 December 2023 • Rev John R Ridenour - Change of call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 31 December 2023
Evan Koch Rev Evan Theodore Koch born 22 Feb 1936 (Warwick Qld); ordained 11 June 1967 (Redeemer Lutheran Church Harlow England); married June Mary Koch nee Klingberg 24 Sept 1968 (Bethlehem Adelaide SA); served St Columba East Kilbridge Scotland (1967), Luther Tyndale London (1968–1969), St Pauls Boreham Wood, Herts, England (1969), Lutheran Tyndale London (1969–1975), St Paul’s Tanunda SA (1975–1988), Inter-Church Trade and Industry Mission Chaplain Karratha WA (1988–1994), Newcastle/ Hunter Valley NSW (1994–2001); retired 30 April 2001; died 7 Dec 2023 (Woodville SA); funeral 14 Dec 2023 (St Peters Fullarton SA); mourned by wife June, children Andrew, Mandy and Wendy and their families
In Memoriam
• Rev Joseph D Theodorsen – Restored to the LCANZ Roll of Active Pastors from 14 December 2023 • Rev Kenneth J von Pein – Change of call eligibility status from Specific Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 17 December 2023
I N M EM O R IA M • Margaret Ruth Mayer nee Hentschke, widow of Pastor Rolph Mayer, died on 27 November 2023. Her funeral was held on 6 December 2023 at St Stephens Lutheran Church Adelaide SA • Mrs Edna Elaine Rudolph nee Schilling, widow of Pastor Mervyn Rudolph, died on 19 December 2023. Her funeral was held on 29 December 2023 at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Hamilton Vic
Ian Kleinig Rev Ian Elmo Kleinig born 24 Feb 1925 (Eudunda SA); ordained 15 Feb 1948 (Tanunda SA); married Enid Lois Kleinig nee Wearne 13 May 1948 (Adelaide SA) (She died 20 Feb 1999); served Australian Lutheran Mission, Siassi PNG (1948–1949), New Guinea Lutheran Mission (1949– 1966), India JELC Orissa State (1966– 1974), Coonalpyn SA (1974–1981), Cairns Qld (1981–1990); retired 31 July 1990; died 21 Nov 2023 (Pasadena SA); funeral 28 Nov 2023 (Trinity Pasadena SA); mourned by children Kathy, Bill, Elizabeth, Mark and Leona and their families
O R D I N ATI O N A N N IV ER SA R I ES FO R 2024 70 YEARS Leon Philippi (20/6/1954)
Vincent Gerhardy (29/12/1974) Terence Unger (6/1/1974)
60 YEARS Neville Lienert (19/1/1964) Dennis Obst (19/1/1964) Maurice Schild (22/11/1964) Kevin Zwar (12/1/1964) Graham Zweck (12/1/1964)
40 YEARS Richard Haar (1/1/1984) Peter Janetzi (23/12/1984) Adrian Muller (1/1/1984) Michael Neldner (9/12/1984) Lester Priebbenow (16/12/1984) Stanley Rudowski (8/1/1984) Robin Stelzer (16/12/1984) Norman Wurst (8/1/1984)
50 YEARS James Bryan (22/12/1974)
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25 YEARS Phillip Haar (28/11/1999) Timothy Jarick (28/11/1999) Wayne Kerber (28/11/1999) Adrian Kitson (28/11/1999) Darryl Mattner (28/11/1999) Warren Paltridge (28/11/1999) Martin Scharnke (28/11/1999) Brian Shek (19/6/1999) David Thompson (28/11/1999) Matthew Wilksch (28/11/1999) Robin Zadow (28/11/1999)
PRELIMINARY NOTICE
O R D I N ATI O N S
Pilgrims of Zion Lutheran Church Bookpurnong SA will celebrate its centenary on Sunday 8 September 2024.
Jacob E D Fabich (second from left) was ordained as a General Ministry Pastor on 3 December 2023 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Mildura Vic by LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith (obscured). Those taking part in the ordination service for Jacob, whose first parish is Eudunda-Robertstown in South Australia, included Victoria-Tasmania District Bishop Lester Priebbenow, Jacob’s vicar father Pastor Matthias Prenzler and Mildura Parish Pastor Carl Richter.
Trevor Fielke, Acting Secretary, 0427 838 255
To learn more about Jacob’s ministry journey, see page 29.
www.eckermanns.com.au 08 8366 7988
All past and present members and ministers welcome
ADELAIDE ACCOMMODATION
Thomas L Kitson (centre) was ordained as a General Ministry Pastor on 17 December 2023 at St Paul’s Lutheran Church Blair Athol SA by LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith (second from left). Tom, whose first parish is Bethania in Queensland, was also joined in his ordination service by South Australia-Northern Territory District Bishop Andrew Brook, his father Pastor Adrian Kitson, and his vicar father Pastor Matt Bishop.
Self-contained 1 or 2-bedroom city cottages and 3 or 4-bedroom beach houses – 4 Harriett's Cottages can now be found via www.noblebnb.com.au Make contact via the website and form or phone Noah on 0404 608 196
We all love The Lutheran. But it comes to you only every second month.
To learn more about Tom’s ministry journey, see page 28.
Specific Ministry Pastors • Timothy Chen – Ordained as a Specific Ministry Pastor to serve the Chinese ministries of St Stephens Adelaide and Zion Glynde SA at Grace Lutheran Chinese Church Glynde SA on 5 November 2023 by SA-NT District Bishop Andrew Brook
In the meantime a lot is happening around your church. Keep up with the latest news and updates. Join 4000 fellow Lutherans who are receiving LCA eNews in their inbox every fortnight.
Sign up at www.lca.org.au/enews
• Malcolm D Willcocks – Ordained as a Specific Ministry Pastor to serve Finke River Mission’s Pitjantjatjara Language Area on 10 December 2023 at Alice Springs Lutheran Church NT by LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith
Servant of Christ Award 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.
Please submit nominations to soc@lca.org.au or by post to ‘Servant of Christ Award’, Lutheran Church of Australia, 197 Archer Street, North Adelaide SA 5006, no later than Friday 26 April 2024.
Award guidelines and nomination forms are available from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/soc or from the Office of the Bishop.
For inquiries, please contact Chelsea Bellamy at chelsea.bellamy@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7300.
Our Laudio (Lutheran audio) podcasts will keep you up to date with what’s happening around the church while you are on your daily commute, driving the header, or pounding the treadmill.
Listen at www.lca.org.au/podcasts Be notified when we add a new podcast – click on ‘Sign up to Laudio’ on the webpage.
LCA N Z C O M P L A I N T S 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:
3 WAY S TO E N J OY IN 2 0 2 4 PRINT • PRINT + DIGITAL • DIGITAL ONLY • Print or print+digital – Australia $39, New Zealand $41, Asia/Pacific $49, Rest of the world $57 • Digital-only subscription – $26 • Six editions – Feb, Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct & Dec
SUBSCR IB E TO D A Y ! IT M AK ES A G RE AT G IF T TO O
www.thelutheran.com.au/subscribe 08 8267 7300
lutheran.subs@lca.org.au
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.
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E I G H T M O N T H S TO G O !
In October 2024, General Synod delegates will be voting on a proposal to allow for the LCANZ to function as ‘one church with two different practices of ordination’. This move was resolved by General Synod in February 2023, which instructed the General Church Board and the College of Bishops to ‘work through the theological, constitutional, and governance requirements’ for such a move. The resulting project, known as the Way Forward, began in March 2023. The General Church Board and College of Bishops are the steering committee for the Way Forward project. Overseeing the deliverables and day-to-day operations and reporting to the steering committee is the project management team of Stella Thredgold (part-time), Tim Niewand (full-time) and Tony Vong (part-time). Supporting them is a three-member reference team and eight working groups comprising experts in their respective fields. The entire church was invited to submit models for the Way Forward that aligned with the intent of the General Synod resolution. The more than 50 framework proposals and further general responses received underwent an extensive evaluation process and three frameworks were shortlisted for further consideration and development. These are: Confessional Communities, Congregations Decide and District Alignment. You can learn more about the project by listening to the What is the Way Forward? Podcast at www.lca.org.au/what-is-the-way-forward Ask your pastor, congregation chair or General Synod delegate for more information about the frameworks and for ways to get involved.
J O I N T H E CO N V E R S AT I O N … www.lca.org.au/wayforward Sign up to Way Forward eNews www.lca.org.au/wf-signmeup Submit your feedback on the three shortlisted frameworks by Tuesday 13 February 2024.
You can comment via the online form on each of the framework pages below or by email to wayforward2024@lca.org.au • Framework: Confessional Communities www.lca.org.au/wayforward/framework-cc • Framework: Congregations Decide www.lca.org.au/wayforward/framework-cd • Framework: District Alignment www.lca.org.au/wayforward/framework-da or you can add your comments via the survey link below. Meanwhile, we are reading and answering every question and comment about the three frameworks or forwarding them to the working groups for consideration. Your input is guiding us towards the preferred framework, which will be submitted as a proposal to this year's General Synod. If you need a recap on the three frameworks, you might want to watch the webinar. www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#webinar
W H AT A R E YO U T H I N K I N G ? H OW A R E YO U F EEL I N G ? We'd like to know what you are thinking and how you are feeling about the Way Forward; in particular the three frameworks. Please let us know, by taking the short survey. It's anonymous (unless you choose to tell us your name.) www.lca.org.au/ wayforward/ resources/#survey
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WAY F O R WA R D H O M E PAG E :
www.lca.org.au/wayforward
WAY F O R WA R D
F R E Q U E N T LY A S K E D Q U E S T I O N S :
MAJOR M I LESTO N ES
www.lca.org.au/wayforward/questions GENERAL FEEDBACK:
wayforward2024@lca.org.au
M A R C H 2023 Make appointments:
NEW R ESOU RCES The Way Forward team has been hard at work producing new church bulletin inserts, PowerPoint slides for your church service announcements, and more. You can find them on our Resources page www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#promotions Please ask your pastor or chairperson to use these resources to keep your members informed, and don't forget to share the Resources link with others in your community.
WORKING GROUPS A number of you have requested the terms of reference for the eight Way Forward working groups. We have added the terms of reference to the website, and you can find them at www.lca.org.au/wayforward/#wg-tor
TA L K A B O U T I T We want every member of the church to know what is happening so they can consider the options and contribute to the Way Forward. Please share the webinar recording with your congregations and communities. Synod delegates, in your responsible role, we are looking to you especially to engage your parish members in this conversation. We've prepared some talking points to help get the conversations started, and we welcome your congregation's feedback on the three frameworks via the frameworks webpages. www.lca.org.au/wayforward/resources/#talking-points
D O N ' T F O R G E T TO P R AY You are encouraged to pray for the unity of our church, during congregational worship, in your family and private devotion time, and whenever you meet with each other about the Way Forward project. For petitions especially written for this time in our church's life: https://yourlca.com/wf-prayer-petitions
W H AT ’ S N E X T ? The three shortlisted frameworks are being further enhanced to meet the requirements of the General Synod resolution. After Easter, there will be a move from three frameworks to one preferred option.
The project management team and eight working groups were appointed. The working groups are comprised of people from across the church who are experts in their respective subject areas.
J U N E 2023 Call for models/frameworks: The entire church was invited to submit models for the Way Forward that aligned with the intent of the General Synod resolution.
J U LY - S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Evaluate frameworks:
During this phase, the frameworks were evaluated and shortlisted for further consideration and development.
O C TO B E R 2023 J U LY 2 0 2 4 Enhance frameworks: The shortlisted frameworks are being further enhanced to meet the requirements of the General Synod resolution.
A F T E R E A S T E R 2 0 24 Move from three frameworks to one preferred option
A U G U STS E P T E M B E R 2 0 24 Preparation and prayer: There will be opportunities for the wider church to prayerfully prepare for the proposal to go before General Synod.
O C T O B E R 2 0 24 General Pastors Conference and General Synod: General Pastors Conference will review the proposal, which Synod delegates will debate and vote on. The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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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
There’s special symbolism in a small wooden Christmas tree sitting in the local Lutheran church in the regional Victorian town of Nhill. Not only does it remind us of the birth of Jesus Christ, but this tree’s peculiar decorations also remind us of the new life Jesus brings. This is because the adornments completely covering the tree’s trunk and boughs are damaged, used postage stamps. These stamps have been given a new life on the tree lovingly decorated by 80-year-old Fay Sanders and built decades ago by her late husband Alf, both members of St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Nhill. Each stamp on the tree is damaged, so it can’t be included in the bundles of 103 stamps Fay sends off to raise funds for the LCANZ’s Stamps for Mission program. These stamps are among tens of thousands collected by Fay since she was 15 years old. For more than 60 years, Fay has collected, cleaned and bundled stamps from Australia and overseas which have been donated by individuals and businesses to support the church’s mission work. The program has raised more than $500,000 through the sale of stamps to collectors. Fay started cleaning stamps to lend a helping hand to St Paul’s ladies' guild while she was in high school. When she left school at 15 to help her bedridden mother manage her rheumatoid
TO THIS DAY, TH E BEAUTIFUL TREE BEARING DAMAGED STAM PS STANDS AT TH E CH URCH AS A REMINDER THAT GOD MAKES ALL THINGS NEW. 26
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arthritis, stamp cleaning became a great hobby to suit her lifestyle. ‘It’s something I could do at home while looking after Mum and now it’s something I can do inside when the weather’s hot’, Fay says. It wasn’t long before Fay asked her mum and two younger brothers on her family’s farm at Lorquon, north of Nhill, to help clean and bundle the stamps. Fay recalls that her stamp recycling efforts also helped Nhill clinch a Tidy Town award during her high school days as her unique recycling endeavours gave the town extra points! And the hobby continued after Fay’s marriage to Alf in 1967, and while raising their three boys. The family has since expanded to include a granddaughter and two grandsons. Fay’s favourite stamps are brightly coloured ones depicting animals, birds and exotic scenery from neighbouring regions such as Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Christmas Island. Her preference will always be stamps that aren’t peel-and-stick, ‘I like the ones where you used to lick them and stick them on’, she says. She would soak the stamps, drip-dry them, then lay them on a tea towel. The cat has been known to walk off with stamps stuck to its paws. Fay has come close to discovering the odd stamp rarity. She once found a Christmas stamp that was missing its red printing, but alas, a ripped corner rendered it worthless. Even to this day, she’s still collecting, despite a drop in the quantity of stamps – and the quality, she says, not being a fan of self-sticking stamps. She even wrote a letter to Australia Post: ‘I told them I wasn’t impressed. They wrote back saying they were working on ways to improve them.’ In support of the program, several local Nhill shopkeepers still save stamps, which are collected by one of Fay’s sons for her to clean and sort, with the help of Fay’s cousin Bev Hobbs,
Left: Fay Sanders (right), pictured with Pastor Carl Thiele of the Nhill Lutheran Parish in Victoria, has been volunteering for Stamps for Mission for more than 60 years. Right: The stamp-laden Christmas tree at St Paul’s Nhill, which was decorated by Fay in 1999, continues to promote the work of the mission program more than 20 years on.
a fellow St Paul’s parishioner. This included one surprisingly large box full of old stamps donated anonymously that took a month to sort – ‘I was going morning to night, cleaning’, Fay says. Fay also keeps up with the philatelic news of the day through Australia Post’s stamp bulletin, to find out what kind of stamps are coming out. She remains living independently with family help, supported by a walking frame and regular home care. The stamp-laden Christmas tree continues to promote the work of Stamps for Mission projects in PNG, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Cambodia. It was originally created for the St Paul’s congregation’s annual Christmas Tree Festival, which started in 1999 and emulated a similar festival at the Lutheran congregation in Rainbow, Victoria (see Going Greyt, The Lutheran, September 2019). ‘My husband made the tree frame for me before he went on a four-wheel drive trip’, Fay recalls. She then set to work decorating it, using only the damaged stamps that didn’t have any monetary value. ‘In the kitchen, I had the whole table to myself – a week later when he returned it was done.’ The tree joined the ranks of 50 to 60 tree displays in the 1999 festival under the theme ‘Jesus is the reason for the season’ (no Santas allowed!). To this day, the beautiful tree bearing damaged stamps stands at the church as a reminder that God makes all things new (Revelation 21:5).
STA M PS F O R M I S S I O N Key details Stamps for Mission was established in 1938 through the efforts of Pastor Ted Koch and Mr Ern Unger. Ern became the first stamp receiver and did this for the next 65 years, encouraging many other participants. In 2008 LCA International Mission (formerly Board for Mission) took over the Stamps for Mission program from the Lutheran Youth of Australia. For more information, contact Peter Nitschke, the national Stamps for Mission project director, on 0418 868 103 or at pmnitschke@bigpond.com
Supported in 2024 • National Youth Conference, Myanmar Helen Brinkman is a Brisbane-based writer who is inspired by the many GREYT people who serve tirelessly and humbly in our community. By sharing stories of how God shines his light through his people, she hopes others are encouraged to explore how they can use their gifts to share his light in the world. Know of any other GREYT stories in your local community? Email the editor lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au
• Cultivate Program, Australia and Malaysia • Ogelbeng seminary in Papua New Guinea • Immanuel Music School, Thailand • LCC Sports Ministry, Cambodia For more project details, a list of local stamp receivers, the guidelines for preparing stamps and a promotional poster, visit https://lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/stampsfor-mission/
These two newly ordained graduates from Australian Lutheran College have explored very different study and work backgrounds before answering God’s call to become General Ministry Pastors. They are stepping out in faith to begin their first pastoral ministry parish assignments in 2024. Read on to get to know them a little and discover more about their ministry journeys.
AG E : 32 FA M I LY: Wife Evie, daughter Norah H O M E C O N G R EG AT I O N : Various! V I CA R AG E : St Paul Lutheran Church Blair Athol South Australia, with Pastor Matt Bishop O R DA I N E D : 17 December 2023 at St Paul Lutheran Church Blair Athol SA by Bishop Paul Smith (see page 23) A S S I G N E D TO : Bethania Lutheran Church Queensland
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? Mum and Dad, youth leaders at church, sporting heroes and favourite musicians
The most important thing people need to know about God is … that we have a God who loves us, cares for us, knows us by name and wants us to be part of his family.
Who are the most influential people for you now? My parents and parents-in-law, mentors through previous work, other pastors
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Being a trusted spiritual leader and pastoral carer
What did you do before you went to ALC? I studied journalism and teaching, then had jobs in youth work and disability support work.
What is your favourite leisure activity? Playing soccer, making music and spending time with family
Who or what encouraged you along the journey towards beginning pastoral studies? For me it was a slow build-up, I started off saying I’d never do it and then it became more and more obvious to me God was calling me to ministry. What is your most relied-upon Bible verse and why? There are many, but at the moment it would be John 20:21 – ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ – because it reminds me Jesus is with us and calling us for his purposes.
What is your favourite movie? Gladiator If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be? Jesus, King David
‘ W E H AV E A GO D W H O LOV ES US , C A R ES F O R US , K N OWS US BY N A M E A N D WA NTS US TO B E PA RT O F H IS FA M I LY.’
AG E : 30 FA M I LY: Wife Tegan (married Dec 2023) H O M E C O N G R EG AT I O N : Holy Trinity, Mildura and Immanuel, North Adelaide V I CA R AG E : Goulburn-Murray Lutheran Parish Victoria, with Pastor Matthias Prenzler O R DA I N E D : 3 December 2023 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Mildura Vic by LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith (see page 23) A S S I G N E D TO : Eudunda-Robertstown Lutheran Parish South Australia
Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? Grandparents Who are the most influential people for you now? I’ve got to know quite a few pastors, and they are quite influential. What did you do before you went to ALC? I studied for a Bachelor of Health Science (Naturopathy) and also worked in the ALC Refectory. Who or what encouraged you along the journey towards beginning pastoral studies? 2015 ALC graduates Colin Simpkin, Geoff Schefe, Andrew Neumann and Matt Bishop. Also, a trip down a waterfall in which I experienced God's protection gave me a nudge, finalised by a redundancy. What is your most relied-upon Bible verse and why? Tough call between Philippians 4:4 and Romans 5:1. Romans tells me I have peace with God, and Philippians tells me to be joyful about it! The most important thing people need to know about God is … that he’s done it all!
Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Bringing God’s good news to people in word and sacrament. What is your favourite leisure activity? Ballroom dancing (and playing music for dancing) What is your favourite movie? Chicken Run If you could chat with any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Hyacinth Bucket (the character from the British sitcom Keeping Up Appearances) …why not! – but just the once would probably be enough! It might be helpful in learning interpersonal skills with difficult people.
‘ [I ’ M M OST LO O K I N G F O RWA R D TO] B R I N G I N G GO D’S GO O D N E WS TO PEO PLE I N WO R D A N D SACR A M ENT.’
Embark on a transformative theological journey. Scholarships are now available to help unlock your ministry potential. Enrolments are now open!
Enquire today: enquiries@alc.edu.au www.alc.edu.au phone 08 7120 8200
The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
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M A K E A C U P PA A N D P U T YO U R F E E T U P – I T ’ S T I M E TO R E L A X
IN A FEW WORDS …
‘Everything will line up perfectly when knowing and living the truth becomes more important than looking good.’
LET’S GET QUIZZICAL
– AMERI CAN KEYN OTE SPE AKER AND AUTH OR ALAN COHEN
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).
‘Judgements prevent us from seeing the good that lies beyond appearances.’
1. How much money has the LCANZ’s Stamps for Mission program raised for mission work?
3. On what date does Lent begin this year (other than for Orthodox Christians)? 4. Name the two General Ministry Pastors who are taking up their first parish assignments in 2024. 5. Who is the new Director of Formation for Lutheran Education Australia? And who does she succeed in the role? 6. Since 1886, how many people have been called and served as missionaries of the Lutheran church in Australia in other parts of the world? 7. Which insurance service provider has been reappointed as the broker for LCA Insurance? 8. The Lutheran Church of New Zealand (LCNZ) recently agreed on a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with another district of the LCANZ. What was the MOU for? And why was it entered into? 9. Who does the LCNZ have an MOU with?
SUDOKU 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.
December - January’s solution 5
9
6
2
1
8
3
7
4
1
3
8
5
7
4
6
2
9
7
2
4
9
6
3
5
8
1
8
7
3
4
2
9
1
6
5
6
5
1
8
3
7
4
9
2
2
4
9
6
5
1
8
3
7
9
1
7
3
4
6
2
5
8
4
6
5
7
8
2
9
1
3
3
8
2
1
9
5
7
4
6
7 2
2 3
4
6 7
6
3
8
9
5
8
7 5
7
1 8
1
9
5
6
3
9
4
9
6
4
9 2
5
5 1
6
8 3
QUIZ ANSW ERS
1. More than $500,000 2. National Youth Conference, Myanmar; Cultivate Program, Australia and Malaysia; Ogelbeng seminary in Papua New Guinea; Immanuel Music School, Thailand; LCC Sports Ministry, Cambodia 3. Wednesday 14 February (Orthodox Lent begins on Monday, March 18 in 2024.) 4. Jacob Fabich and Thomas Kitson 5. Sue Kupke; Anne Dohnt 6. More than 1000 7. Aon 8. To provide oversight for the LCNZ until its next synod in two years, as it is currently without a bishop. 9. The NSW-ACT District 10. 14 11. Australian Lutheran World Service; the overseas aid and resettlement agency of the church
2. What are some of the projects the program will support this year?
– U S SELF-HELP AUTH OR AND M OTIVATI ONAL SPE AKER DR WAYNE DYER
10. How many LCANZ parishes are there in New Zealand?
Stress-Free Selling
11. What does the acronym ALWS stand for and what is its role within the LCANZ?
"Kevin’s approach is professional and down to earth. No flashy sales pitches, just an honest appraisal. No upfront fees, no push for auction and respectful of our needs and opinions. We’ll be selling our family home next and without a doubt Kevin will be selling that for us too!"
SCHUBERT & SONS PTY LTD
David & Jane - Black Forest SA
Granite & Marble Memorials . Headstones restored and engraved . Foundation Stones . Bronze Plaques . Member of MMM of SA Inc 179 Flinders Street, Adelaide 5000 08 8223 2473 www.schubertandsons.com.au
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The Lutheran F E B - M A R 2 0 24
For helpful real estate advice or a free no-obligation appraisal of your property call us today.
walterirvine.com.au
Kevin Walter
0413 430 020
Photo: : LWF Burundi
‘Before, we used archaic farming methods and there were a lot of problems. I am looking forward to applying the new modern farming techniques I have learned. For example, now I use less seed. We think that thanks to this training, we will have a lot of harvests.
With the money earned, I would like to buy metal sheet for the roof of my house. I can already see the benefits for my child because I was able to take out a loan and buy him notebooks for school. Now he can follow the lessons like the others. I would like to set up a fish and vegetable business to increase my family’s income. As a woman, I'm really happy to be seen as a role model and to be a representative of the community.’
Oda Kanyamateka, Burundi You can bless others like Oda 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.
alws.org.au * 1300 763 407
ALWayS for those forgotten
Thank you! When 4-year-old Taban was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, his dad disowned him. He then abandoned the family and left them struggling to survive in a displaced persons camp in Somalia. This is where you met Taban. Supported by ALWS, a Lutheran World Federation (LWF) team found Taban in the camp and told his mum Shamsa that Taban could receive help to make the most of his abilities. Physio. Playgroup therapy. Home visits. A four-wheeled wheelchair. Shamsa says: ‘Things have been better since we got a wheelchair for Taban. It has greatly eased his movement as he can go where he wants.
part for my child, and I hope for a day when our world is adapted to be inclusive for everyone with different abilities.’ The average cost to support a child like Taban for a year is $52, but the 5:1 grant means our impact is SIX TIMES our donations!
The good news is our Lutheran ministry in Somalia through ALWS is matched 5:1 by the Australian Government!
‘Many families cannot afford the mobility aid that their child needs. These mobility aids play a critical
Our ALWS Lutheran goal is to help 3,500 children with disabilities in Somalia like Taban receive the support they need to achieve all their potential in life – including at school. Shamsa is thankful for what your kindness means in the life of her child:
‘Taban is a brilliant boy, and he’s getting better by the day. Society should be mindful of people living with disabilities by giving them equal chances in life, as this will help them achieve their dreams. All that these children want is inclusivity.’
You are welcome to use the 5:1 grant to help another child with disability in Somalia, like Taban, receive practical care, and support to go to school:
1300 763 407 * alws.org.au
ALWayS for those forgotten