The Lutheran February 2022 Digital Edition by Lutheran Church of Australia

M A 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 AL A N D

FEBRUARY 2022

Thank you

AND GOD BLESS

Get to know

OUR NEW BISHOP

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eryone v e r fo y ‘Pra uthority.’ a in is o wh VOL 56 No 1

H 1 T IM O T

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Christian

L EADERSHIP

LUTHERAN

CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

EDITORIAL

Editor Lisa McIntosh p 08 8267 7300 m 0409 281 703 e lisa.mcintosh@lca.org.au Executive Editor Linda Macqueen p 08 8267 7300 e linda.macqueen@lca.org.au

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Keeping up with what’s happening The Lutheran’s Lutheran’s digital edition enabled Job Thiele, 12, to spend time during school holidays catching up on stories from around the LCANZ, while keeping an eye on the cricket and the family dog, Billie. Job is a member at Seaford Lutheran Church in South Australia. His dad, Bob, took the photo.

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People like YOU bring love to life Fay Klinge Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Noosa Qld

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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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Most treasured Bible text: Philippians 4:6

Stephen Kroker St Pauls Lutheran Church Glenelg SA Australian Lutheran World Service Operations Support Manager Most treasured Bible text: Mathew 7:7 ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.’

Heather Grealy St Johns Lutheran Church Wodonga Vic Church secretary-receptionist, grandma Most treasured Bible text: Ecclesiastes 3:1–8 ‘For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven.’

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, what they enjoy doing, most treasured text in these difficult times) and your contact details.

February Special features EDITOR'S

let ter

Over summer the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to dominate the news in Australia and New Zealand, as cases, hospitalisations and deaths attributed to the virus have escalated dramatically in some places. We had hoped 2022 would be different – safer and less stressful than the past two years. And perhaps it yet will be. But for now, things remain uncertain.

At times like this, we crave wisdom and reassurance from our leaders in government, health, business and the church. It’s a difficult time for those making decisions, impacting lives and livelihoods. They need our prayers, as encouraged by St Paul in 1 Timothy 2:1,2. But what makes a great leader? Commanding respect by decisive actions or forthright words? Being consultative and willing to delegate and trust those in their charge? Is the best leader someone who can enact a plan, bringing their team along with them? We expect a lot of our leaders. We demand that our political leaders deliver prosperity, security and opportunity. We call for the axing of our sporting leaders if they and their teams don’t win premierships, series and championships. We believe our church leaders should oversee our return to the so-called glory days or enact whatever changes we deem necessary to move forward.

Willing, dedicated and gifted to serve

We thank God for your servant-leadership

Retiring bishop: My hopes for the church

Meet our new pastors

Serving to lead others to Christ

God is at work … even in a pandemic

Regulars

But what Jesus asks of all leaders though is both far simpler and far more difficult. He says that to lead, to be first, to be great, we must be servants (Matthew 20:26, Mark 9:35 and 10:43).

This year, there are leadership changes in the LCANZ, so we thought it was appropriate to focus on this topic and to thank God for raising up leaders for each new season. The church welcomes its incoming bishop, Pastor Paul Smith, who will be installed to this leadership role later this month, and we farewell his predecessor Pastor John Henderson. You’ll hear from them both in the following pages, including through Bishop Paul’s first monthly column for us.

And we expect them all to be perfect, without a character blemish or skeleton in the closet. We stand ready to judge them harshly.

Jesus’ model of servant-leadership is the ultimate template for Christian leaders.

Get to know our new bishop

Because we bear your name: Bishop Paul’s letter

Dwelling in God’s word

Go and Grow

Church@Home

The inside story

Your voice

Sudoku

Directory

Prayer calendar

You’ll also meet members of the General Church Board and learn more about this crucial governance body of skilled, gifted and committed volunteer leaders. And we’ll also introduce you to the newest pastors of the LCANZ as they begin their parish ministries. And, along with a Bible study on the theme, our devotional and prayer pages are back this year, in addition to news, views and information about resources and events. Thanks so much for your support. God bless,

Lisa

PS. Our popular column ‘Going GREYT’ will return next month.

Our cover: Incoming LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith and his wife Heidi Inset: Retired LCANZ Bishop, Pastor John Henderson, and his wife Valmai The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

Because we bear your name

BISHOP PAUL’S LE T TER RE V PAUL SMITH Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand

Because we bear your name. I share these words with you, as a prayer for our journey together as people of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand.

Fourthly, the song is so very hopeful about the presence of the Lord at work in and through us as we bear the Lord’s name.

For the coming years of my service as bishop, I would like to use these words as the title for my column in The Lutheran. Lutheran.

Finally, there is something of the song that is deeply meaningful to me personally. It is something that is significant in my story as one who did not grow up in the Lutheran Church. (Actually, I did not grow up with any Christian church participation.) When I was enrolled at St Peters Lutheran College in Indooroopilly, Queensland, for Year 11 in 1978, my English teacher was a college chaplain, Pastor John Kleinig. We called him ‘PK’ at the time. PK not only taught me in the English classroom but, in 1979, taught me and three other students in confirmation classes and I was subsequently confirmed by PK that year.

Why these words? Many people would recognise these words as the refrain from the song, ‘Lord Jesus, we belong to you’. This Australian Lutheran song was published as number 292 in the All Together Everybody songbook. The words are written by our Australian Lutheran theologian Dr John Kleinig, and put to music by another Australian Lutheran theologian, songwriter, Dr Robin Mann.

I ALSO WANT TO On his website, Robin tells the story, Dr Kleinig later became a lecturer at ‘Dr John Kleinig, lecturer at Luther ENCOU RAG E YOU ... Luther Seminary in Adelaide where Seminary in Adelaide, preached at I was studying. In 1988, he kindly took TO ANTICI PATE OU R the monthly student service at part in my ordination at Bethlehem St Stephen's in October 1985. He LORD’S DELIG HT TO Lutheran Church in Adelaide. not only prepared a sermon on Mark BE AT WORK I N AN D At that same time, I was experiencing 9:38–50 but also this powerful set of a profound influence from Robin lyrics for which I wrote the melody TH ROUG H EACH OF US , Mann’s song writing. Much of the way ... The text from Mark seems like a AS WE ‘ BEAR H IS NAM E’. that I speak of the work of our Lord collection of disconnected teachings, Jesus in his life and his death and his but John wove these together resurrection for our salvation has been beautifully under the theme spelled formed by the language that Robin has taught me in his out in verse 41, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water in many songs used for worship and devotion in our church. my name because you belong to Christ”.’ Let me give a brief explanation as to why I have chosen the refrain from Dr Kleinig’s song as the title for my regular articles to you. Firstly, the song is a prayer to our Lord Jesus, in whom we live and move and have our very being. Secondly, the song is wonderfully evangelical. Each verse is caught up in our Christian witness and service in the world, as we serve each other and the world around us in the name of the risen Lord. Thirdly, the song is filled with the language of ‘us’ and ‘we’. Our Lord has gathered us through the waters of baptism to be with and for each other.

So, with these words from ‘Because we bear your name’, I gladly acknowledge with gratitude the witness of both doctors, Kleinig and Mann, in my journey as a Christian. I also want to encourage you, the members of our church, to anticipate our Lord’s delight to be at work in and through each of us, as we ‘bear his name’. ‘Help us receive each other, Lord, for you receive the least of us, and come to us in them – because we bear your name.’ Your fellow in Christ,

Paul

Lord Jesus, we

live in us, we live in you; work for you – because we bear your name

you

we live and

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belong to you,

Get to know

OUR NEW BISHOP Some Queensland Lutherans would know at least a little about new LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith, who served as their district bishop between 2015 and 2021. But many in our church may not have heard the incredible and inspiring story behind the faith journey of our sixth churchwide leader. Who is Paul Smith and how has God led him to this role?

With a surname like Smith, with no German heritage, and hailing from the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland, it’s hardly surprising that the incoming LCANZ bishop is not a born-and-bred Lutheran.

the ordained ministry and began studying at the then Luther Seminary (now Australian Lutheran College) in Adelaide in 1980.

He took time out of his pastoral ministry training in While God brought him to baptism through the Anglican 1982 and worked in factories, studied at Adelaide church in Western Queensland as an infant in 1962, University and continued with part-time seminary study. Bishop Paul Smith was not raised After a bout of glandular fever, he as a churchgoing Christian. And, returned to ‘the Sem’ full-time in ‘ I B ELI E V E GO D as the biography of Paul in Robin 1984. Also in 1984, Paul met Heidi Kleinschmidt’s book Your Most Muller from Henty New South Wales, CO NTI N U ES TO Humble Servant states, his childhood who was studying at Lutheran family life gave him ‘no experience Teachers College and was the sister YO U F O R of regular worship, religious teaching, of his best friend at seminary, Tim. A NY A N D E V ERY RO LE prayer or Christian formation’. Heidi and Paul were married in 1986 and today they have three adult A N D GO D W I LL A LWAYS But God had his eye on Paul and children, Ben, Felicity and Jeremy. when family circumstances led to SU R PR IS E YO U.’ him attending St Peters Lutheran Today, Bishop Paul calls Heidi his College at Indooroopilly in Brisbane ‘co-worker’. ‘She will pray with me, as a boarding student in Year 11, his life and faith were pray for me, encourage me, listen to me and tell me transformed. His teachers – including chaplain and when I'm being a cranky old goat’, he says of his wife, English teacher Pastor (now Dr) John Kleinig and the late who has studied theology and is a qualified secondary Adrienne Jericho, who would later become the executive teacher, as well as having worked as a Lutheran ageddirector of Lutheran Education Australia and took Paul for care chaplain. This year she will begin work for the Scripture classes – were among those whose Christian SA-NT District as its chaplaincy ministries coordinator. example and gospel witness greatly affected him (see ‘And so, we have that open and robust relationship. She's also page 4). 4). Some of his classmates were instrumental a faithful follower of our risen Lord as a Christian and she in his early faith journey, too. loves the community and people of the Lutheran Church. He was not only confirmed in his Christian faith while She's a dyed-in-the-wool, card-carrying Lutheran but attending St Peters, but he also acknowledged a call to she understands it doesn't mean culture, history and

prepare

Right: New LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith pictured with wife Heidi Smith in 2015 when he was elected as Queensland district bishop.

community only, it means pointing to the big arrow down – what God does for us, and Heidi is good at keeping me earnest in that way. I'm very grateful for that, so she's a co-worker in that sense and a team participant in my life as a Christian.’ Having completed his vicarage year at UnderdaleGlandore parish under Pastor Clem Traeger in suburban Adelaide in 1987, Paul was ordained the following year at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adelaide. Pastor Paul’s first assignment was as the first Lutheran college chaplain at Trinity Lutheran College Ashmore on Queensland’s Gold Coast. This first ordained ministry role continued for Paul what has become a close and valued relationship with Lutheran schools. His next call was his first parish ministry, at Tailem Bend/Karoonda in South Australia, where he served between 1992 and 1995. To follow were parish ministries at Immanuel North Adelaide from 1995 to 2001 and from 2002 to 2005 at Good Shepherd Toowoomba in Queensland. These calls were followed by a return to service as a college pastor, firstly back at St Peters Indooroopilly and then at Pacific Lutheran College at Caloundra. During his time at Toowoomba, Pastor Paul was first elected as a member of Queensland’s District Church Council, a role he would fill from 2003 to 2007, rejoining in 2010. Later that year he was elected as the first vicepresident of the LCA’s Queensland District, a role he would fill until being elected bishop in 2015. Committed to encouraging and progressing the service of younger leaders in the church, Bishop Paul committed to serving two terms and so did not stand for re-election in 2021. He returned to St Peters as an interim college pastor in the latter half of 2021 and was elected as bishop of the LCANZ in October last year during the church’s historic first online sessions. He believes God will use his life and ministry experiences in his service as churchwide bishop.

‘I believe God continues to prepare you for any and every role and God will always surprise you’, he says. ‘Has God equipped me especially with experience for this role? Yes, the people in the church have given me the opportunity to make mistakes in the name of Christ and in the cause of the gospel. The people of the church have given me great privileges.’ Bishop Paul comes across as a great optimist when it comes to people and the church. He whistles while he walks, smiles often, loves speaking with people and describes himself as ‘not a glass-half-empty person, nor a glass-half-full person, but a glass-overflowing person’. He lists three main hopes for the coming years in the LCANZ. ‘The first one is that we would find good dialogue with young Christian people’, he says. ‘At the moment we don’t have a good dialogue with them. What we say, young people aren’t really hearing too well. What they say, is often not heard or properly understood. ‘The second hope that I'd have is that we would discover a growing collaboration with Christian sisters and brothers of our New Zealand and Australian church communities around us. ‘The third one is to discover the way Lutherans are evangelical in the 21st century. How are we Lutherans being evangelical to bring Christ to the nations? We have this great tradition of Lutheran witness, let’s see that grow and flourish in a way that’s authentic to who we are.’

Bishop Paul Smith will be installed as bishop of the LCANZ at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Adelaide on 20 February. Attendance will be by invitation only, but the service will be livestreamed. See page 25 for details.

Left: New LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith with a fellow Queensland pastor, the late Rev Dr George Rosendale, the latter of whom in 2000 took part in a historic Rite of Reconciliation at the General Convention with then LCA President, the late Rev Dr Lance Steicke.

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Victoria SES Chief Officer Operations Tim Wiebusch is interim chair of GCB. He’s also a recent recipient of the National Medal for Service, for 25 years of service to the Victorian community including work during the pandemic.

OUR GENERAL CHURCH BOARD …

WI LLI N G , D ED ICATED A N D G I F TED TO SERVE

GCB member Peter Zweck manages a NSW farm business and has church governance experience at local, district and churchwide levels for more than 20 years.

by L I S A M C I N T O S H

The LCANZ’s General Church Board (GCB) is often described as being ‘Synod in between synods’. And that’s true to an extent, but after tapping the wisdom of members present and past, it becomes apparent that the role of these highly dedicated and gifted church volunteers is more multi-faceted than that. Known as the General Church Council (GCC) until 2018, GCB has an extensive range of responsibilities when it comes to the functioning of the organisation of the church.

‘GO D H AS PROVI D ED US W ITH S K I LLS , EXPER I EN CE, TI M E A N D EN ERGY TO TH E CH U RCH .’

serve

In reality, GCB does not have the scope General Synod does to enact change. But many regulatory, compliance and administrative matters handled by GCB need to be dealt with in the three years between Conventions. The board also takes direction from Synod to research, explore, expand upon or deliver policies and programs, and supports and facilitates the work of departments and agencies of the church. Members donate many hours each month to prepare for and attend meetings, and in follow-up to directions or decisions. Some members take annual leave from their paid employment or lose wages to attend meetings and, in pre-COVID times, also may have had to be away from home for several days each month to serve. While previously all district bishops sat on GCC/GCB and most lay members were put forward by their districts, since 2018 the board has comprised the churchwide bishop and assistant bishop, one pastor member and six lay members, all elected by General Synod. Former lay member Faye Schmidt, who served on GCC/GCB from 2015 to 2021, says those changes

Hobart barrister Kim Baumeler, pictured left with colleague Philippa Willshire, is the newest member of GCB, having been elected by General Synod in October 2021.

brought great benefits. ‘I think it increased both the efficiency of the General Church Board and it also helped to coalesce and strengthen the role of the College of Bishops’, she says. The longest serving member of GCB and a 13-year veteran of District Church Council for Victoria-Tasmania, Tim Wiebusch, agrees. ‘We were tying our bishops up unnecessarily with a whole lot of governance and administration’, says Tim who is interim chair of GCB as part of a lay chair trial designed to allow the churchwide bishop to be a more active participant in board meetings. ‘But for those things that they are critical to, such as the doctrine of the church and the health and wellbeing of the pastorate, we’ve been quite deliberate in setting up a regime to make sure they are connected in.’ These days GCB is a skills-based entity rather than a purely representative one, with experience and expertise required in areas including mission, law, governance, The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

‘ W E A R E J UST LI K E A NY O F TH E OTH ER CO U NTLES S I N TH E LC A NZ W H O US E O U R TA LENTS TO GO D A N D TH E CH U RCH W E LOV E TO TH E B EST O F O U R A B I LITI ES .’

serve

volunteers

finance, human resources, and organisational and change management. The aim is, however, to still include people of a mix of perspectives and backgrounds with a geographical and gender balance.

Above: Charmaine Harch is a Queenslandbased corporate governance professional with a legal background, who has been a company secretary for a large Indigenous health charity since late 2013 and a member of the General Church Board since 2018.

G EN ER A L CH U RCH BOA R D M EM B ERS AT A G L A N CE

Paul Argyle, a farmer with governance experience in national grower organisations in New Zealand and member of the NZ Council of Synod, believes the diverse backgrounds and God-given skills each member brings to the team is a real strength, as they ‘come together as a team with a common objective to offer servant leadership to the LCANZ’.

• K I M B AU M EL ER – GCB member from

The GCB pastor member since 2018, Rev Dr Tim Stringer, also reflects on the teamwork of the group. ‘We do not act as individuals, but as a board. Yet we bring unique perspectives and experiences to the table for discussion and to assist decision-making’, says Pastor Tim, who has also served on the Victoria-Tasmania District’s Church Council since 2017 and is on the LCANZ’s Churchworker Support Committee.

• C H A R M A I N E H A R C H – GCB member

But while the members’ CVs make impressive reading, as Faye says they are primarily committed to serving the interests of the church, including upholding its confessions and constitution and adhering to its objects.

• PAU L A R GY L E – GCB member since 2018, farmer, member of St Lukes Palmerston North NZ 2021, barrister, member of St Peters Hobart Tas

since 2018, corporate governance professional, member of Good News Middle Park Qld

• R E V N E V I L L E OT TO – GCC/GCB

member 2009-2018 and from 2021, LCANZ Assistant Bishop, pastor of St Pauls Box Hill Vic

• R E V PAU L S M I T H – GCC/GCB member

2015-2018 and from 2022, LCANZ Bishop, former LCA Queensland District Bishop 2015-2021

• R E V D R T I M ST R I N G ER – GCB

pastor member since 2018, pastor of Calvary Greensborough/Thomastown Vic

• T I M W I EB U S C H – GCC/GCB member

since 2008, interim chair since 2021, Victoria State Emergency Service Chief Officer Operations, member St Pauls Box Hill Vic

• M EL Z ER N ER – GCC/GCB member

since 2009, chartered accountant, member of St Peters Blackwood SA

• P E T ER Z W EC K – GCC/GCB member since 2016, farmer, member St Pauls Henty NSW

The 2021 GCB cohort includes two farmers, a chartered accountant, a corporate governance professional, a barrister and three pastors. Tim, whose ‘day job’ is as Victoria’s State Emergency Service Chief Officer of Operations, says the LCANZ is ‘blessed to have such breadth and depth in terms of the skillsets that our GCB members voluntarily bring and offer to the church’.

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Corporate governance professional Charmaine Harch, who joined the board in 2018, also says GCB members ‘take their role seriously and endeavour to make God-directed decisions that are best for the LCANZ’. ‘GCB discusses and prayerfully considers strategic matters that need to be dealt with, ensuring "the mission of the church, the proclamation of the gospel of Christ, remains central in the work of the church”’, she says, citing the relevant by-law relating to the board’s responsibilities. Chartered accountant Mel Zerner stresses, too, that GCB members are ‘ordinary members of congregations in the LCA’. ‘God has provided us with skills, experience, time and energy to serve the church in governance and planning for future directions of the church’, says Mel, who has been on GCC/GCB since 2009 and has served the LCANZ as its Finance, Audit and Risk committee chair since 2013, in addition to 20 years on the South Australia-Northern Territory District Church Council. Farm business manager Peter Zweck, who has also served at district church council level in New South Wales and has been on GCC/GCB since 2016, agrees. ‘We are just like any of the other countless volunteers in the LCANZ who use our talents to serve God and the church we love to the best of our abilities’, he says. But while there are many dedicated and selfless volunteers across the church, there is no doubt GCB members are a willing, committed and well-credentialed bunch. A newcomer to the board in 2021, Kim Baumeler, a barrister and former chair of the LCANZ’s Ecclesiastical Discipline Review Team, says in her short time on the board, she has seen ‘that everyone is very dedicated to serving the LCANZ’.

DWELLING IN GOD'S WORD

Christian leadership Leadership matters. We applaud leadership skills like decisiveness in decision-making and the ability to plan strategically, and we readily recognise good organisational skills in our leaders. We are also quick to note when leadership gets it wrong. We may notice a lack of consultation before a decision is made or a short-term solution with no apparent long-term plan. It is fairly easy to list skills that leaders require, through recognising what we admire in some leaders and what is lacking in others. But what does the Bible say about leadership? Paul gives some great leadership advice. Read Romans 12 and make a list of the leadership skills that you notice. The passage addresses teamwork, humility and a sacrificial attitude, and what else? Discuss what those attributes look like, sound like and feel like today. The book of Proverbs is full of wisdom for leaders. Solomon (see Proverbs 1:1–7 NRSV) begins by listing the purpose of the book as: • For learning about wisdom and instruction • For understanding words of insight • For gaining instruction in wise dealing, righteousness, justice and equity, etc Read a few random verses of Proverbs and ask, ‘What wisdom can I gain from this advice?’ Alternatively, here are some suggestions: • Read Proverbs 4:23 on self-reflection • Read Proverbs 11:14 on guidance and wise counsel • Read Proverbs 12:19 on truthfulness • Read Proverbs 29:4 on justice

by Tania Nelson

alongside her brother Moses and was a spiritual leader as well as a prophet. Read Micah 6:4 and Exodus 15:20,21 to hear of Miriam’s leadership. What does Exodus 15 suggest about godly leaders and where they point those they lead? Huldah was a prophet. When the Book of the Law was discovered during temple renovations, King Josiah sought guidance that would lead the nation to repentance and a fresh commitment to God’s covenant. Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Nahum, Habakkuk, or Huldah could have been consulted. Huldah was chosen to help lead the nation back to God. Read 2 Kings 22 and describe Josiah’s leadership and the implications of his attitude. In the New Testament, we hear of the leadership of apostles, prophets, deacons, church planters, leaders of house churches and evangelists. Read Romans 16:1–15, Luke 2:25–38, Acts 21:7–14 and Colossians 4 and consider how these leaders enact their leadership. How can we honour our leaders today? Priscilla and Aquila were a missionary couple. Paul lived and worked with this leadership team, and they travelled with Paul. Read Acts 18:24–28. How do Priscilla and Aquila show leadership regarding Apollos? Importantly, what does Jesus teach us about leadership? The mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus asking for a favour. Her request was about status and recognition, and what mother doesn’t want the best for her children? However, Jesus turned the request, and the subsequent grumbling of the disciples, into a lesson on leadership.

• Read Proverbs 29:14 on fairness You may want to compare different Bible versions to see how wisdom is expressed in each translation.

Read Matthew 20:20–28. How would you describe Jesus’ leadership style? How can you model this in your home, at your work, in your play and in the community?

The Bible contains many men and women who functioned in positions of leadership and responsibility, sometimes alongside one another. We know of the accomplishments of leaders such as David and Solomon. Miriam and Huldah are lesser-known leaders. Miriam was recognised as a leader

To conclude, read Philippians 2:1–5 and turn the passage into a prayer. Dr Tania Nelson is LCANZ Executive Officer – Local Mission.

Left: Former LCANZ bishop, Pastor John Henderson, with his wife Valmai after his farewell service in December 2021. Below: With LCANZ Executive Officer – Local Mission Dr Tania Nelson, former Assistant Bishop Rev Dr Andrew Pfeiffer and Secretary of the Church Dr Nigel Long looking on, Bishop Henderson, right, delivers his final report to the Convention of General Synod’s online sessions in October 2021.

WE THAN K GO D FO R YOU R servant-leadership In his eight-and-a-half years as bishop of the LCANZ, Pastor John Henderson was known as a servant-leader and ‘a pastor who kept Christ at the centre’ for those he served alongside.

for us’ and someone who ‘approached complex issues and situations in a calm, reasoned, organised and balanced way that used (his) gifts’.

sessions of General Synod.

‘Thank you for your servantleadership of “Te Waka o te Whare Karakia” – the ship of the church. You have led us with a sense of purpose and direction and have reminded us to always be filled with the hope of Jesus that will not disappoint us.’

The SA-NT bishop also acknowledged the service, gifts and sacrifice of Bishop John’s wife Valmai and those of In December at his home church in suburban Adelaide, their family. Bishop John laid down his pectoral cross as part of a final As part of the farewell, Bishop rite of farewell. Having announced Mark Whitfield from the Lutheran ‘ TH A N K YO U F O R YO U R earlier in 2021 that he wouldn’t Church of New Zealand thanked seek re-election as bishop at the Bishop John for the way he had S ERVA NT- LE A D ERS H I P Convention of General Synod in conducted his ministry, sharing O F … TH E CH U RCH . October after three synodical terms, ‘the breath and life of the church’. he also retired from active pastoral ‘You have shared in the challenges YO U H AV E … R EM I N D ED ministry after nearly 40 years. and joys of our ministries, always US TO A LWAYS B E FI LLED reminding us that the only breath South Australia-Northern Territory that really matters is the breath District Bishop David Altus led the W ITH T H E H O PE O F of the Holy Spirit of Jesus, which rite that day and, as the longestmakes us new in Christ’s love and J ESUS T H AT W I LL N OT serving member of the LCANZ’s compels us to and empowers us College of Bishops (CoB), also D ISA PPO I NT US .’ for ministry in his name’, Bishop spoke as part of a farewell to Mark said. Bishop John during the online ‘Together with the other members of CoB, I thank God for your availability and support, your vulnerability and strength, your encouragement and direction, and ultimately your reliance on Christ which is our best witness to each other’, Bishop David said. ‘For all these gifts and ways in which you have served, and more, we thank you and we thank God for you.’ Bishop David had also asked his District Church Council members what they wanted to thank God for regarding Bishop John’s time of leadership. Among their responses was that he was ‘a pastor who kept Christ at the centre

Bishop John’s successor, Bishop-elect Paul Smith, will be installed on 20 February in Adelaide. The members of the LCANZ thank John and Valmai for their years of service and sacrifice for the church and pray for God’s richest blessings on the Hendersons as they step out in faith into a new chapter in their lives.

R ETI R I N G B IS H O P:

My hopes for the church Pastor John Henderson has a simple and yet all-encompassing hope for the church he led as bishop from 2013 until retiring late last year. ‘It’s the familiar adage that it's all about Jesus and that Jesus is the answer to everything’, he says. ‘My hope for the church in everything is to hold to our faith in Jesus our Saviour – and practise that faith in an authentically Lutheran, biblical, sacramental and liturgical setting. The church should remain true to who it is.’

PASTO R J O H N H EN D ERSO N

Key service dates 1981 Vicarage at Manawatu Palmerston North Parish NZ

1983 Ordained at Woden Valley ACT

1983 –20 01 Parish ministry at Woodville West SA, Dalby Qld, Croydon (Melbourne Outer Eastern) Vic

20 02–20 0 8 General Secretary National Council of Churches in Australia

20 06 –2011 LCA Vice-President

20 09–2013 Principal, Australian Lutheran College

J U LY 2013 Installed as bishop of the LCA, the first leader to have that title and the first non-South Australian to occupy the role.

D EC 2021 Retired as bishop and from pastoral ministry

John also believes the Lutheran faith has a strong role in the ecumenical scene in Australia and New Zealand, because ‘it brings a focus and a special contribution that adds to the richness of the Christian scene’. ‘We shouldn't step away from that’, he encourages. ‘I don’t mean our Germanic, Scandinavian, or locally developed cultural peculiarities. I mean the hard-fought Reformation truths of the 16th century translated into the 21st century. We must discern those things that we must at all costs hold to and recognise those that we can legitimately change or let go of.’ Another of his prayers is that the church will continue to foster peaceful dialogue and respectful methods of engagement when there are points of difference over such issues as the ordination of women. ‘We need those skills more than ever now in COVID times and with the various community compliance issues confronting us, we need to learn to talk together peacefully about what matters’, he says. He says that during his time as bishop ‘the world of the church became more complex’, through increasing regulatory requirements. These, along with an ageing population and diminishing resources, add to the challenges facing churches, but he remains optimistic about the future. ‘We're increasingly subject to regulations and higher community expectations than we have been in the past. Society is expecting us to set the highest standards’, he says. ‘Complying with those expectations may seem to absorb some resources that otherwise we might have put into mission or helping others. But we must do it for the sake of the gospel and for the good of society. We can no longer take the goodwill of the population for granted. ‘I am a great believer in the church. It has been a lifeboat for me all my life. It is a lifeboat for me because Jesus is in it, no matter what the current storm may be. ‘And the LCA has such fabulous people in it. We've got fantastic people in the churchwide office. We've got wonderful people in the districts. We've got amazing volunteers and committed people; they’re just marvellous. ‘So, thank you to the church for allowing me the privilege of serving you as bishop. In each one of you, Jesus is present. And if I’ve been able to be Jesus for you once or twice, I’m grateful to God for that opportunity and that’s my life’s purpose now fulfilled.’ The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

Is God calling you to the Centre? Will you bring your family, faith, gifts, skills and talents to Central Australia? Goodbye bleak rainy winters. Hello sunshine! Low humidity, great for health Long-established (140 years) and respected Lutheran heritage Schools, childcare, medical clinics and hospital, supermarkets, restaurants Daily flights to most capital cities Endless outdoor activities ... golf, hiking, 4WDing, camping

L U T H E R A N

People who come to live amid the vast landscapes feel a deep connection with God. For many, a trip to the Red Centre is an awakening of the spirit. When Lutheran missionaries arrived at the Finke River in 1877, the Aboriginal people were ready to hear the new stories about God the Creator, and his son Jesus Christ. Today there are around 6,000 Aboriginal Lutherans in the heart of Australia. The Lutheran Church in Central Australia employs more than 200 people through Alice Springs Lutheran Church, Finke River Mission (including the Historical Precinct and Hermannsburg Store), Lutheran Care, Yirara College and Living Waters Lutheran School. There are ministry roles available with Alice Springs Lutheran Church and Finke River Mission, while Yirara College and Living Waters Lutheran School are looking for teachers and ancillary staff. Inquiries from volunteers are always welcome, too. What’s life like there? Read the testimonies of people who’ve served God in Central Australia at finkerivermission.lca.org.au Interested? Contact Wayne Beven (Finke River Mission Operations Manager) for more information via email at lcica@lca.org.au

C H U R C H

I N

C E N T R A L

A U S T R A L I A

ES R ESO U RC ... O T U O FOR Y

E X PA N D I N G O U R FOCUS ON CARE

BY TA N I A NELSON

I’m excited to tell you about the LCANZ’s Care Ministries (incorporating the Ageing). It’s not a new department of the church, though the name is new. Formerly Ministry with the Ageing, Care Ministries (incorporating the Ageing) will continue to support ministry with and alongside the ageing, and now will also advocate for all caring ministries. The change of name, and expansion of focus, is a natural extension of the work of Ministry with the Ageing.

H O W C O N G R E G A T I O N S C A N B E I N V O LV E D Our Christian Care Sunday project, for example, was designed to be much broader than celebrating the care that occurs in aged care. This project celebrates all caring in our communities, by volunteers as well as paid staff. Because God loves, we care. A new year provides new opportunities to see those people and places around us who are providing care and support to the vulnerable, and to thank them! Even better, our church communities can get involved, and continue to bring love to life, by looking out for the needs of our family members, friends and the strangers we encounter, and meeting those needs as we can. The Christian Care Sunday project invites every congregation to consider hosting a Christian Care Sunday celebration in 2022. Find all the resources you need to get started on the new Department for Care Ministries webpage: www.lca.org.au/care-ministries

A DV I S O RY B O DY S U P P O RTS W O R K The work of Care Ministries is supported by the Committee for Care Ministries, an advisory committee of the Council for Local Mission. The Committee: • provides advice on ageing-related matters and ministry with the ageing • provides advice on community care-related matters and ministry with vulnerable members of our community • promotes the Lutheran ethos of aged care and community services. • facilitates the development and promotes the use of relevant resources • consults and facilitates communication with Lutheran agencies engaged in this ministry.

HELPFUL WEBINARS NOW ONLINE If you missed the series of informative webinars presented by the former Ministry with the Ageing in the latter half of last year, they are available on demand to view online. The topics are: • Dementia & the Church: Becoming dementia-friendly • Lutheran Care: How God’s love influences our care • Branding & Marketing: The value of the Lutheran brand You can watch the webinars at www.lca.org.au/local-mission/careministries/events-training-resources Please pray for our expanded ministry, as we seek to support you as you show God’s love in your community. And we’d love to hear from you! Email ideas or needs to careministries@lca.org.au Dr Tania Nelson is LCANZ Executive Officer – Local Mission.

The Committee for Care Ministries is ably led by chairperson Colleen Fitzpatrick, alongside committee members Chris Hoey, Pastor Ian Lutze, Wendy Rocks, Phillip Schmaal and Naomi Zanker. The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

P R EPA R I N G LEADERS AFTER GOD’S OWN H EART BY J A M ES W I N D E R LI C H

There are many useful theories and models for effective leadership. These approaches allow us to identify traits and skills necessary for good leadership in diverse contexts. At Australian Lutheran College (ALC) we use these varied approaches to help us prepare people to serve as pastors, teachers and layworkers throughout the LCANZ and its partner churches. At ALC we challenge our students to not only consider human perspectives of leadership but also engage with God’s perspective. And what does God desire from leaders? In Jeremiah 3:15 God promises leaders who are ‘after God’s own heart’. Through the Holy Spirit leadership happens heart to heart. The approach to leadership with which we challenge our students begins with following Jesus. This leads us to sacrificially and joyfully serve the people placed in our care. That sacrificial service is always grounded in God’s forgiveness. We learn to serve and lead by learning to forgive. We learn to forgive through God’s forgiveness of us.

TA K I N G A C H R I ST- C E N T R E D A P P R O A C H As they prepare to serve in our congregations, schools, aged and community care facilities, our students are challenged with radical, Christ-centred approaches to leadership at ALC. These approaches rarely offer advancement by any human expectation. Instead, they offer the precious, world-changing gift of humility; the humility that confuses the proud; the humility whose seedbed is God’s own heart (Philippians 2:5-11). Are you called by God’s own heart? Are you being called to make a difference in people’s lives? Leadership in the LCANZ can take different vocational directions through ALC. Contact us to find out where your worldchanging place might be as a sacrificial, humble and joyful leader by emailing enquiries@alc.edu.au

F EST I VA L C E L E B R AT ES LEARNING ABOUT GOD To be held later this month, ALC’s Festival of Learning is a celebration open to anyone interested in thinking, talking and learning about God. The festival will have a range of offerings, both in-person and online, including panel discussions, chapel services, presentations and electives. This year’s theme – Speaking Many Languages, Hearing One Voice – examines some of the ways in which God speaks to enable many to hear in their own tongue. To register for the festival to be held from 16 to 19 February, go to www.alc.edu.au/festival-of-learning or email events@alc.edu.au for more information.

Pastor James Winderlich is Principal of ALC.

S H A R E H O S P I TA L I T Y A N D S U P P O RT O U R OV E R S E A S PA RT N E R S LCA International Mission’s Soul Food cookbook has already proven a well-loved gift and family and community resource since its recent release. A book of recipes from countries where the LCANZ’s partner churches are based, it contains instructions and ingredients to make 23 dishes from Cambodia, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Myanmar, along with colourful photos. By ordering your copy (or copies), you support ministry done through hospitality among LCA International Mission partner churches, with all proceeds helping our overseas partners to share the gospel. Order your book or some extra copies to give away for a donation of $20 per copy, plus postage. For more information or to order, contact Erin Kerber at erin.kerber@lca.org.au or phone 08 8267 7317. You can also watch a video about the book, which features testimonies from our overseas mission partners at https://vimeo.com/617489062

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P R AY E R G U I D E F O R L E N T Each year, LCA International Mission produces a prayer guide and devotional for Lent as a resource to invite our LCANZ family to join our overseas mission partners, as together we pray for God’s global mission. The 40 Days – a Lenten Devotion and Prayer Guide for 2022 includes devotions written by members and leaders of our partner churches from South-East Asia, as well as daily prayer points. As people read the devotions, we hope that they will not only learn more about the people with whom we partner but that the Holy Spirit will also speak into their hearts and they will be made aware of the many ways God is present in their life. Furthermore, during this Lenten period, the guide presents an opportunity to join us in prayer with and for our partners, knowing that our Heavenly Father hears the prayers of his children. The 40 Days guide is available in printed and electronic forms. Go to the LCA International Mission website at www.lcamission.org.au/pray to download an electronic copy or request a printed copy by sending an email to lcaim@lca.org.au or phoning 08 8267 7300.

LE A D I N G A N D I N FLU EN CI N G

BY A N N E H A N S E N

I never thought I was a leader – rather, I thought I was better at influencing others. But in many ways, they are the same. To be a leader you need to know your subject, but to be an influencer, you need to be passionate about your subject. As Christians, we are all passionate about our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. However, knowing how to share our passion with others, and what to share, is always the issue and can cause us anxiety or concern.

KNOWING + LEARNING = GROWING + SHARING At Lutheran Tract Mission (LTM), we do not only have tracts to help others in their pain or sorrow or to bring a smile to a face. We also offer teaching tracts to help you grow in your faith and knowledge of Jesus and his saving love for all people. By learning and growing, your faith becomes stronger and you can then become more confident and passionate in sharing your faith. In growing you become a person who can lead others to Christ. Search our website at www.ltm.org.au under Christian Growth to learn more. There are more than 950 tracts to help you and others in many situations. Start today and grow in your knowledge of Christ.

Anne Hansen is LTM Development Officer. LTM is an outreach ministry of the LLL. The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

H ELPI N G FA M I LI ES W E AV E FA I T H I N TO T H E E V E R Y D AY

Julia, 9, (pictured) loves using the Woven Together resource: ‘We use them as a family devotion once a week. But the best part is being with my family.’

Grow Ministries has created a new resource to encourage home devotions for families with children of all ages. Woven Together has been designed to assist families to weave faith conversations and practices into their everyday lives. It comes in a beautifully presented folder with printed devotion sheets ready for each month of the year. To follow are some ideas of how you could use it or share Woven Together. Together. At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista in suburban Adelaide, the congregation has given Woven Together to families whose child has been recently baptised. Family Support Coordinator Georgie Schuster explains: ‘We gifted our baptism families this wonderful new resource from Grow Ministries. We used the last baptism class, held prior to the actual baptism day, to place this resource in parents/caregivers’ hands. We explained what the resource is and offered suggestions about how it could be used. Its simple monthly format provides a

structure for families to follow as they engage in their important role of nurturing faith in their homes.’ At St Andrews Tallebudgera on Queensland’s Gold Coast, the congregation gave Woven Together to each of their families for Christmas, while Maria Rudolph from Concordia Duncraig in northern Perth says her daughters have enjoyed using the resource together at home.

L C A C H I L D Y O U T H & F A M I LY M I N I S T R Y

R ESOU RCES FO R LEAD ERS H I P I N M I S S I O N BY R I CH A R D F OX Coping with uncertainty is not easy, especially when you are leading others through it too. Thankfully God has promised to always be with us and gives us hope through Jesus Christ and his great love for us. Lutheran Media resources to help you and others cope with uncertainty can be found at messagesofhope.org.au/coronavirus There are short videos to watch, podcasts to listen to and PDFs to read. You can share these with others too. This month, your Messages of Hope is offering hope for relationships and surviving financial trouble. Watch and listen to these words of encouragement at messagesofhope.org.au Pastor Richard Fox is Director of Lutheran Media.

We know you love The Lutheran … now there’s a new way to enjoy our award-winning LCANZ magazine with our

digital edition! edition!

It makes a great gift too – and current print subscribers can register for digital access at no extra cost!

Go to www.thelutheran.com.au/subscribe 16

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J u st

$ 30

11 issues

CHURCH

@home

www.lca.org.au/churchhome

PSALM 62:1,2

MY SOUL FINDS REST IN GOD ALONE; MY SALVATION COMES FROM HIM.

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With many people facing uncertainty, loss or grief almost two years into the COVID pandemic, we can all benefit from encouraging words, uplifting Scripture and a sense of God’s closeness. Nurturing our faith at home through regular devotions can help strengthen our relationship with Jesus. We pray that you will be blessed by the devotional materials here and in the Church@Home resources collection online at www.lca.org.au/churchhome

Lisa

DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP These reflections are adapted from a collection of devotions written for our LCANZ family and friends to help us to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus no matter what we face. You can find the full versions of these and others on the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/daily-devotion

Listening for the Lord’s voice

YRA B CHAELST ZR

‘The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness”’ (Jeremiah 31:3). Read Jeremiah 31:1–6. Today’s Bible passage is one of contrasts. The people of Israel have been defeated by the Babylonians and exiled from the Promised Land. Jeremiah has had many harsh and difficult things to say to the people. But in this passage, God comforts and promises to restore Israel. God speaks gently and encouragingly through Jeremiah to ‘Virgin Israel’. God promises that they will dance once again with timbrels, that their farmers will again plant vineyards and enjoy their fruit, and most importantly, that they will once again be able to go to Zion, the holy mountain, to meet with God in the temple there. Perhaps the hardest thing for the people is understanding God’s plan in all this devastation. God reminds them in this passage, ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness’ (Jeremiah 31:3). On the face of it, God seems to have had a funny way of

showing this! It is easy to fall into the trap of seeing the God of the Old Testament as vengeful and harsh – a total contrast from our New Testament understanding. But throughout the history of God’s people, God has always shown his everlasting love – not just for them, but for all people. God’s master plan, the plan of salvation, has been coming to fruition. At times, it has taken disaster and generations of displacement and grief for the people to turn back to the Lord, but God has always been enacting his sovereign plan. And now they are recalling God’s words of everlasting love. The people waited for their restoration and salvation. We wait for our restoration too. At times, it feels like we will never make it, and the many voices of our world compete for our attention. But we cling to the God who has loved us with an everlasting love, came to be one of us and will come back to restore all things. Thanks be to God! Dear God, help me see you in every circumstance, loving me with an everlasting love, drawing me with unfailing kindness. Teach me the joy of waiting on you. Amen.

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DEVOTIONS FOR HOME WORSHIP Drawn out of the water

BY PASTOR NATHAN HEDT

‘Pharaoh’s daughter named the child Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water”’ (Exodus 2:10). Read Exodus 2:1–10. Sometimes in life, it feels like we are in deep water. There seems to be no way out. But God’s plans are not only bigger than our own troubles; they are prepared over a longer timespan than we could conceive. God’s plans take in the sweep of a whole lifetime. Moses’ mother saw little hope, perhaps, when she was forced to place him in a basket on the Nile River. But God had other ideas. God delights in working all things for good for those who love him! Ironically, it was Pharaoh’s order that Hebrew babies be thrown into the Nile that led his own daughter to adopt the child who would become God’s deliverer for the Hebrew people. Not only did Moses’ mother get to care for him, but she was also paid for the privilege! Later, God used Moses to deliver God’s people through the water of the Sea of Reeds in the great redemptive act of the Old Testament. Like Moses, we too are people who are ‘drawn out of the water’. In the water of our own baptism, we get immersed in God’s redemptive plans and purposes for us. No matter how deep the waters we pass through, the water of baptism means we are deep within God’s plans for us. Our lives are plunged under the life of Jesus. Even our death is plunged into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Isaiah 43 expresses God’s promise for all he loves, all the people he draws out of the water: ‘Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you … For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour… do not be afraid, for I am with you.’ Dear God, sometimes it seems like I’m in really deep water and can see no way out. Thank you that you are working my troubles for my ultimate good and that in the water of baptism, you have promised to redeem and rescue me. Amen.

PRAYER STILL ME! Still me Lord Still me, so that I can hear you Meet me here Still me, I want to learn to love you Take me deep Meet me in the darkness Bring your truth Bring your light Still me Lord! – Julie Connah, from justprayer.org

JOHN 16:24

ASK, AND YOU WILL RECEIVE, THAT YOUR JOY MAY BE FULL. CHURCH

@home

Confident victory! ‘I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades!’ (Revelation 1:18). Read Revelation 1:9–20. This is not the image of ‘gentle Jesus, meek and mild’. Quite the opposite, in fact! The verses preceding this one describe Jesus as truly awesome, mighty, powerful, brilliant and glorious. Definitely not someone to be messed with! John’s human reaction was to ‘fall at his feet as though dead’. (That sounds a bit like fainting.) But Jesus didn’t leave him. He touched him and told him not to be afraid. Then he declared these victorious truths, to John, to us and to everyone. These truths reverberate throughout all time and reach every ear, and I mean every single one! ‘I am the Living One; I was dead … I am alive forever … and I hold the keys of death and Hades.’ When we ‘picture Jesus’, we sometimes dwell on earlier accounts of him. Jesus, wandering around Israel hanging

BY GEORGIE SCHUSTER out with people, teaching and healing them, for example. Perhaps even the horrific picture of him on the cross. But he is not confined to that time and space any longer. Right now, he is living victoriously at the right hand of God the Father. And he’s got the keys! To remember all he went through to redeem us and to know where he now reigns is humbling and awe-inspiring at the same time. But it also gives us tremendous confidence. His triumph is final. We share in the victory he paid for. Don’t be afraid! You are loved. Dear King Jesus, we are humbled and filled with awe as we come before you. We praise and adore your magnificent name. Thank you for your great mercy and love. You reign forevermore! Amen.

To the moon and back!

BY DARREN POPE

‘There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars … When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near’ (Luke 21:25a,28). Read Luke 21:25–36. Dappled silhouettes sway as lush leaves dance in the summer breeze. As they transition gently, the tarnished gnarled remnants flutter silently downward, weaving a mat of biomass. Wintery westerlies sing a restful lullaby, and dormancy prevails. Stillness. Rest. Recharge. The majestic magnolia tree framed by my window actively heralds new seasons. Patiently, we wait as across the night sky, celestial stars twinkle as moon phases wax and wane. The ordained passage of time ticks by. Change is coming. Change is exponential by nature and our constant companion as we do life together. Driving past my magnolia, casual observers gain a momentary glimpse, a selective snapshot of ‘now’. They may only see full bloom or perhaps mere skeletal sticks. Change is incremental, too, honouring a journey of small daily growth. Recharged, the tiny shoots become tightly twirled buds, bursting energetically into the light. Generous beauty is unveiled and shared. New life, hope and growth rise up. Advent pokes us in our slumber and stirs our anticipation of what is to come. In the tomb below Golgotha, dormant and still, Christ rested. Our loving Lord burst energetically into the light, and generous beauty was also unveiled and

shared. Advent encourages us to lift our eyes in hope. A new season is coming. New life. Hope. God’s work changes everything. His love is a timeless treasure. He loves you always. He loves you to the moon and back! Lord of love, thank you for the gift of your grace each day. Thank you for loving me, no matter what. Thank you for being with me today. You and me, Lord. Amen. Let’s go!

The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

Meet our

new pastors

Each of these three pastoral ministry graduates from Australian Lutheran College has grown up with ordained ministers in their families, with Ben Graham and Mitch Kitson being the sons of Lutheran pastors and David Cherry having an Anglican minister as his grandfather. But, apart from that, their ministry journeys differ greatly. Recently ordained, they will all be stepping out in faith to begin their first assignments as LCANZ pastors in 2022. Read on to discover more about our newest shepherds.

D AV I D CHERRY AG E : 30 FA M I LY: Wife Kayla, daughters Esther and Eloise H O M E C O N G R E G AT I O N: Wodonga Vic A S S I G N E D TO: Wagga Wagga and Milbrulong NSW

Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? My grandfather, Bruce Ellis, a minister in the Anglican church. He would go to different parishes where priests had been removed and work with the congregation in their problems until a new priest could be called. Witnessing that ministry showed me the importance of forgiveness and how God’s word can speak into our problems. Who are the most influential people for you now? My vicar father Pastor David Kuss. Going on vicarage with him showed me many things about ministry. What did you do before you went to ALC? I started out in carpentry, then completed three years as an apprentice boilermaker. I volunteered with the NSW Rural Fire Service and the Vic and NSW State Emergency Services. I also completed a Certificate III in Civil Construction. I had a gut feeling where God was calling me and kept trying to avoid his call. Who or what encouraged you along the journey towards beginning pastoral studies? I am still not sure, but while I was working in Albury/Wodonga I received a letter from ALC asking me if I was interested in studying in the pastoral stream. That was all the encouragement I needed. After that, everything fell into place, as if I were finally going where God was calling me. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Ephesians 2:8–10, because when I was in a really dark place and could see no way forward, that verse told me I was created in Christ Jesus to do things God had already prepared for me. That gave me hope and peace. The most important thing people need to know about God is … Christ died for us, for our sins, which means when we struggle and are trying to find our own way out, we need to simply be still and know that he is God, that he loves us first. Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Being able to bring peace, hope and love to people through the words Christ has given us.

W H EN W E STR U GG LE … W E N EED TO S I M PLY B E STI LL A N D K N OW T H AT H E IS GO D, TH AT H E LOV ES US FI RST. 20

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What is your favourite leisure activity? Working with my hands, whether metalwork and welding, or carpentry, or repairing my car and things around the house. Also working on farms remains a favourite. What is your favourite movie? I don’t really have a favourite movie, but I do have a favourite TV series – Dr Who. Who. If you could chat to any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? I would like to sit down and talk with three people: C.S. Lewis, Hermann Sasse and Martin Luther.

MITCHELL KITSON

Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? I’ve had many different influences in different areas of life: family and friends, teachers, sports coaches, church members and others. Who are the most influential people for you now? A range of people influence who I am today. I’d add lecturers and pastors to the list as well.

AG E : 24 FA M I LY: Wife Olivia

What did you do before you went to ALC? After high school I completed a Certificate IV through ALC and then tried starting a Bachelor of Arts at Adelaide University.

H O M E C O N G R E G AT I O N: St Petri Nuriootpa SA A S S I G N E D TO: St Martin’s Mount Gambier SA

Who or what encouraged you along the journey towards beginning pastoral studies? I felt that my life had a purpose that my degree wasn’t directing me towards. A few people suggested that I inquire about studying at ALC and I soon found myself beginning pastoral studies. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? It has to be Ephesians 2:8–9. We can all be very good at patting ourselves on the back or blaming ourselves for our shortcomings. This verse reminds me that I am saved purely by God’s grace. The most important thing people need to know about God is … that he isn’t distant or impersonal, but the exact opposite, which is why he sent Jesus into the world. Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Living and breathing God’s mission in the community he has placed me in and working alongside people in that great task. What is your favourite leisure activity? Olivia and I love going camping together. I’m also a keen follower of a few different sports. What is your favourite movie? I’ve always loved the whole Star Wars saga, but Return of the Jedi is my favourite.

W E N EED (GO D’S) G R ACE A N D M ERCY TO ACCO M PLIS H A NY T H I N G .

If you could chat to any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Melbourne Demons AFL ruckman Max Gawn. He seems like a genuine bloke with a brilliant sense of humour.

Who were the most influential people in your life as you were growing up? [Writers] Raymond E Feist, Isaac Asimov, Douglas Adams and HG Wells Who are the most influential people for you now? My wife, Brianna What did you do before you went to ALC? I spent 10 years as an industrial chemist working for Bundaberg Sugar. Who or what encouraged you along the journey towards beginning pastoral studies? Mostly Jesus, but also my dad [who is a pastor] and good friend Tony Bowes. What is your most relied upon Bible verse and why? Philippians 4:13 for two reasons. I cannot so much as wake myself up from a nap if it were not for our Heavenly Father. We need his grace and mercy to accomplish anything. Also, the verses around this remind me what is really important … mercy, humility and forgiveness. The most important thing people need to know about God is … written in the Bible. You should have a read for yourself and see if you can find it. What is most important for one person might not be most important for another.

BEN GRAHAM AG E : 36 FA M I LY: Wife Brianna H O M E C O N G R E G AT I O N: St John’s Bundaberg Qld A S S I G N E D TO: Lowood Parish Qld

Which privilege of being a pastor are you most looking forward to? Blessing God's people. I really like the part of the liturgy where the pastor gets to say, ’The Lord be with you’. What is your favourite leisure activity? Playing computer games, learning how they work and overcoming the challenges that they set before me. What is your favourite movie? Possibly Redline (2009) or Gurren Lagann the Movie: Childhood's End (2008). Both are pretty and have great characters. [Also] Avengers Assemble (2012). Of all the Marvel movies, this was the most fun to watch. If you could chat to any famous person, living or dead, who would it be and why? Apparently, Albert Einstein was really good at telling jokes, so he might be a fun famous person to hang out with.

IN OUR REGION

SERVI N G TO LEAD OTH ERS TO CH R IST

Former Lutheran Church in Malaysia Bishop Aaron Yap (seventh from right) visits an Orang Asli community, along with LCA International Mission’s Pastor Matt Anker and Erin Kerber, and LCM Orang Asli District’s Rev Daniel Mualip (second from right) and Pastor Andry Alang (far right).

The Lutheran Church in Malaysia (LCM) is one of the LCANZ’s overseas partner churches. Among LCM ministries supported by our Lutheran family is its mission alongside the Orang Asli, the indigenous peoples of Peninsular Malaysia. We asked Rev Aaron Yap, who served as bishop of LCM from 2013 to 2021, to share his thoughts on Christian leadership. B Y A A R O N YA P When we talk about ‘leadership’, we are also addressing ‘servanthood’. It is blended together according to biblical teaching. Jesus called his disciples and sent them out to serve and reach out to those in need. Jesus addressed the servant-leadership role model as the One who came to serve, not to be served (Matt 20:25–28), 20:25–28), which was echoed by St Paul (Phil 2:6,7). A leader must be humble to seek the Lord by receiving his vision and mission for his people. After the past eight years serving as the bishop of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia, I see that we need to emphasise two ‘Ss’ when we talk about leadership – succession and sustainability. We can’t merely occupy a role without carrying out the responsibility, mission and ministry entrusted by God – as the church is bigger than any individual. Succession emphasises ‘internal matters’ covering all levels of leadership, including congregations, ministries, districts, subsidiaries, institutions, and the offices of bishop and executive officer. We need to train our people in leadership and discipleship. In preparing church leaders, we need to identify, call, have fellowship and worship with them, practise giving and learning as a lifestyle, and encourage theological education and training. We want to enable younger pastors and leaders to have an opportunity to serve and grow. And among the Orang Asli

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peoples (OA), we are creating a systematic way of growth and empowerment by training OA community members to be their own leaders and pastors. We are developing their capacity to be self-governing and sustainable through the formation of an ‘OA District’ and providing educational opportunities for younger generations so that they can return home after studying to rebuild their land and community. We are also emphasising outreach mission and evangelism. There is a wise saying, ‘it is by the local, for the local and through the local’. We recognise that Orang Asli are the indigenous people in Malaysia, hence we create and recreate new avenues for reaching out. We have set up the OA Training and Cultural Centre and encourage personal evangelism training to bring the gospel to younger generations. Through our Social Concern Ministry, people become God’s legs, hands, eyes and ears and can walk, touch, watch and hear what God is doing and seeing in a holistic manner. As the prayer of Archbishop Oscar Romero says in part, ‘we cannot do everything … it may be incomplete, but it is a beginning … an opportunity for God’s grace to enter and do the rest’. All this is being done for, on and through our Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour and Lord. May all glory be unto our Triune God!

Some people question what God is doing through the suffering of the COVID-19 pandemic. But no matter what the circumstance, God can and does continue to change hearts and lives, says Pastor David Christian.

G O D I S AT WORK … EVEN IN A PA N D E M I C BY DAV I D C H R I S T I A N

God works wonderfully and mysteriously. In the 1960s, I feared I might be called to kill people in Vietnam. Fifty years later I was among LCA pastors called to teach and preach eternal life to people there through the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Vietnam. Before COVID, through five visits I have met amazing Christians – pastors, interpreters and students who are hungry to be taught the gospel. Among them are Esther and Mai Duong. Both were drawn to Christ, out of Buddhism.

‘ I SAI D TH AT GO D LOV ES TH EM … TH ER E W ER E A BO UT 136 PEO PLE I N TH E Q UA R A NTI N E CENTR E. I TO LD A LL O F TH EM A BO UT J ESUS A N D 118 O F TH E 136 ACCEPTED J ESUS .’

Mai Duong was unhappy and unwell. About seven years ago she was led to a church, heard the good news of Jesus, and in desperation became a reluctant believer. Within a week she was healed and began to tell others about Jesus’ love. Every week she writes to tell how she has led people to Christ, seen them healed in answer to prayer, and followed up to teach them and gather them into Bible study groups. She is poor, and when COVID struck, she fasted so she would have food to share. As she gave people food, she told them about Jesus, and many were saved. Mai Duong does not know her birthday but knows she will be 50 in 2022. She also knows the day of her birth into God’s kingdom and the day she chose my wife, Joy, and me to be her ‘parents’. In Esther’s case, while at university, a fellow student noticed how unhappy she was and said, ‘I will take you to the place of joy’. That place was a church. There she heard the gospel and was saved. Esther is an interpreter when we

Top: Interpreter and evangelist Esther, third from right, meets with people who became Christians after she shared the gospel with them in a COVID-19 quarantine centre. Above: Some of the women, who meet with Esther for prayer and teaching, pray together.

teach and preach in Vietnam. She has also chosen Joy and me to be her ‘parents’.

When COVID-19 came, Esther continued to share food with hungry people and tell them about Jesus. Each week she wrote of people she cared for and led to Christ. In preparation in the event she had to go into a quarantine centre, she bought food and Christian tracts. Then she caught COVID. And every day in quarantine she led people to faith. ‘I shared that Jesus was born into this world, he was crucified, and he rose again, she explained. ‘I said that God loves them, and I asked them to pray to receive eternal life. ‘There were about 136 people in the quarantine centre. I told all of them about Jesus and 118 of the 136 people accepted Jesus.’ She has since followed up with people by phone, visiting them and leading them to nearby churches. This has led to more people accepting Christ. What a privilege and blessing it is to teach, encourage and pray for this Lutheran church every day. Nothing has inspired me so much as seeing and being part of what God is doing in Vietnam. Glory be to him. The Lutheran F E B R UA RY 2 0 2 2

WE’VE HELPED SEND 14,000 KIDS TO SCHOOL Right: As part of Walk My Way, the Sunday school children and friends of St Matthews Lutheran Church Maclagan in Queensland walked 26 laps of their church complex to help support schooling for refugee children. Far right: Almost 200 people came together at Hervey Bay in Queensland for a special walk to honour the late St James Lutheran College teacher and ALWS rep Christian Stern.

Our Lutheran family and friends in Australia helped to send more than 14,000 refugee children to school through Australian Lutheran World Service’s Walk My Way in 2021. A record number of 4,178 people from around the country took part in the 26km walking challenge last year, with walkers asking friends and family to sponsor them. As of 12 January, the $368,708 raised was enough to support 14,181 refugee children to go to school through ALWS. Each $26 raised helps a refugee child in East Africa go to school for a year by providing teachers, textbooks and tables. And there will be more walks and opportunities to give your support in 2022. Participants walked, wheeled and woofed their way in more than 30 events from the southwest coast of Western Australia, through South Australia and the Northern Territory to Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The young and the not-so-young, people living

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with a disability, mums and dads, kids in prams, dog walkers and cyclists all united in changing the future for refugee children. While 610 people walked their way through the largest walk of 2021 in SA’s Barossa Valley in May, many schools, churches and groups who lived further afield organised their own walks locally. Members of St Matthews Lutheran Church in the small Queensland town of Maclagan cheered on their 10 Sunday school children – with a few extras – as they walked 26 laps of the church and Sunday school building for their Walk My Way. St Matthews member Margaret said: ‘The congregation, as well as various mums, dads, grandmas, grandpas, uncles, aunts, cousins and neighbours, helped fill the donation box with a wonderful amount of $1394. The kids gave it their all with lots of sweat and “are we there yet?” comments and were

thoroughly busted when done, but they all felt strongly about helping the children in Africa to go to school.’ Although a small church, St Matthews helped 54 refugee children to go to school – five children for every Sunday school child! Meanwhile, in October, almost 200 people came together at Hervey Bay in Queensland for a special walk to honour the late St James Lutheran College teacher and ALWS rep Christian Stern, who died last year of cancer. Before he died, Christian shared his dream of getting his community involved in ALWS’s Walk My Way challenge, to help a preschool in Cambodia. Walk Sterny’s Way has raised more than $22,616 as of 12 January to support the people of Mean Serei village, who will now have a preschool for their children. Walkers included Christian’s wife Tanya and 10-year-old son Jasper and many from the college community.

Celebration as cultures come together It was a ‘day of celebration’ for members of Bethlehem Lutheran congregation at Morley in suburban Perth recently, when a visiting Sudanese community choir swelled their numbers and shared African hymns and songs during worship. The congregation’s Pastor James Luk, who was born in South Sudan and spent seven years in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya after fleeing his country because of civil war, has been building relationships with the local Sudanese community members since being installed at Morley in February 2021. Bethlehem secretary Keith Kowald said several Sudanese families had been regularly worshipping with the congregation due to Pastor James’s outreach and that, at his invitation, the choir had ‘blessed us with some African

Members of the Morley congregation in Western Australia were blessed by the visit and singing of a Sudanese community choir during a worship service.

hymns and songs’ during a Sunday worship service. ‘They didn’t need amplification for their singing as the rafters reverberated with the melodic sound of their voices’, Keith said.

on their faces. The choir members also brought their families and friends with them resulting in 60 Sudanese men, women and children boosting the church attendance that day.

‘Their love of the Lord was reflected in their songs and the expressions of joy

‘What a day of celebration it was bringing two cultures together in praise to God!’

LUTHERAN CHURCH LUTHERAN CHURCH

continued from page 24

WE’VE HELPED SEND 14,000 KIDS TO SCHOOL ALWS Executive Director Jamie Davies said the scale of the challenge to support refugee children is ‘astounding’. ‘We live in a world where more than 80 million people have been forced to flee from their homes – that’s more than three times the population of Australia’, she said. ‘We can take heart in this amazing outpouring of love and compassion – it is truly an example of our church in action bringing love to life! ‘Thank you – whether you walked, wheeled or woofed, with every step, you’ve shown your refugee neighbours that they will never be forgotten.’ You can find out more about Walk My Way on the website (https://walkmyway.org.au/) Walk My Way returns this year. Email walkmyway@alws.org.au or sign up to ALWS eNews (https://www.alws.org.au/contactus/) to stay informed.

OF AUSTRALIA

INSTALLATION SERVICE

Pastor Paul Smith

as Churchwide Bishop Bethlehem Lutheran Church Flinders Street, Adelaide SA 20 February 2022 commencing at 3.00pm Due to current COVID restrictions, attendance will be by invitation only. The service will be livestreamed. See the LCA website and eNews for further details.

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Pastors’ input sought for research project

New fruit from church, college collaboration

Pastors are being invited to share their insights into how religious beliefs and practices have been used in the perpetration of violence, as part of a research project initiated by the LCANZ. The research, commissioned by the church’s Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence Campaign task force and supported by Bishop Paul Smith, involves interviewing and surveying pastors about their understanding of domestic violence and experiences as they ministered to men who have used violence. It also involves interviewing and surveying men who have used violence to understand their recovery journey and beliefs. It is hoped that the research’s outcomes will support the development of more effective policies and practices to prevent domestic violence, both inside and outside of church settings. Bishop Paul said, ‘Anyone who has been with a victim/survivor of domestic violence knows deeply that we cannot ignore this great wickedness at work in our society, in our congregations, and even in many of our own families. ‘Our Lord has called his people to be on guard against all kinds of evil and wrongdoing. He has taught us to pray, “Deliver us from evil”. Hence, as people of the LCANZ, as God’s people seeking to bring God’s love to life in our society, I commend to you this project.’ The research is being led by Professor Sarah Wendt, at Flinders University, in partnership with Professor Wendy Mayer at Australian Lutheran College. The confidential online survey for pastors can be accessed at: https://qualtrics.flinders.edu.au/jfe/form/ SV_01CpsPDf4wveJ9Q A separate online survey for men who have previously used violence against their partners is at: https://qualtrics.flinders.edu.au/jfe/form/ SV_79QdDy5Bium80fk For more information, contact Professor Sarah Wendt on 08 8201 3978 or at sarah.wendt@flinders.edu.au Phone 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) or MensLine (1300 789 978) for free, 24-hour domestic violence counselling.

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Above: The sanctuary in the new worship space at Noosaville in Queensland, which will be used by both Good Shepherd Lutheran congregation and the co-located college of the same name. It features two large, stained-glass windows, made of a total of 12 panels, including a depiction of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Right: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Pastor Mark Hansen and Good Shepherd Lutheran College Principal Anthony Dyer mark the dedication of new joint congregation and school facilities on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.

The recent dedication of a new worship and ministry centre at Noosaville on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast is the newest fruit of 35 years of collaboration between Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and Good Shepherd Lutheran College. Both the congregation, which was formed in 1985, and the co-located college’s original incarnation as a Lutheran primary school which opened in 1986, were planted out of Cooroy Lutheran Church, approximately 17 kilometres to the west. Since 1991, Lutherans in Noosa have worshipped in a multi-purpose hall on the campus the church shares with the college. After five years of planning and development, that hall has now been renovated and extended to provide a complex of worship and ministry facilities that will be used by both Lutheran communities. LCA Queensland District

Bishop Mark Vainikka dedicated the new facilities late last year. Good Shepherd congregation’s Pastor Mark Hansen said the development of the new facilities was based on five purposes church members had identified that they needed to ‘fulfil as a Christian congregation: worship, fellowship, discipleship, evangelism and ministry’. The new facilities feature a dedicated worship space with a seating capacity for 250 people and an overflow area into the adjoining hall. In addition to being used for weekly congregational worship, the college will use this space for daily chapel services. Other new rooms will host church youth and educational activities as well as a playgroup, while the college will use these for outside school hours care and vacation care programs. Also included is an administration area with workspaces, offices, meeting rooms, a church library, storage and amenities.

YOUR VOICE Pentecost ‘shows God chose women to speak his word’

A New Year’s wish for Synod Dear Lord – your kids are fighting: yes, fighting over you! We fight all day (and some all night) o’er what you say and do.

Most of the women’s ordination discussions use Scripture texts from letters written by individuals to specific situations. If only we had a record of God directly, unambiguously, independently choosing women to preach and teach publicly.

Your law has less compassion than gospel, so some say, But is not your compassion there on each and every day? Some say that hell has had its day, some ancient myth of man,

I believe we do – at the birth of the church when the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost in Acts 2. All the believers had gathered, the Spirit came, and they all spoke in tongues, so that everyone, in their own language, heard them declaring the wonders of God (2:11).

You must have known ‘twould happen when you spoke your awe-filled plan. The devil too is cast aside, now humans rule supreme, The Bible is more human than your word is, it would seem. The book itself is not enough, ‘ordaining’ can’t be found.

Peter said this was a fulfilment of Joel’s prophesy: ‘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’ (2:17,18).

We look to other sources and round we go – and round. I can’t believe it’s come to this one tiny little word, Was Adam first made as a ‘man’, ‘ungendered’ now preferred? ‘Enough’s enough’ is heard the cry that would the fighting stay, But then we join the martyrs’ song ‘How long, O Lord?’ we pray. They tell me I am sinning, and that I must repent, But no-one comes and holds my hand when I am wrought and spent.

Women prophesied; not necessarily predicting the future, but publicly proclaiming God’s message by preaching and teaching (2 Peter 1:20,21, Hebrews 1:1). How did this happen? Exalted to the right hand of God, he (Jesus) has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear (Acts 2:33). Father, Son and Holy Spirit chose, enabled, gifted and inspired these women prophets. Not the church or apostles, but God himself.

O Lord, they so confuse me, I don’t know what to do, Today please be here with me and all my whole life through. Some say it will be better, some say it will be worse, When LCA ordains the girls and ponders on the curse. Some even say that naught will come but can this well be true? A single time I cannot find where naught occurs with you. How can we speak of God’s own wrath? Not kosher – not at all. ‘You’ve changed’, they say, but Christ has not, by this I stand or fall. So, come now Holy Christ-Child, a New Year usher in, And with it your most precious gift, forgiveness of all sin. Karen Tromans – Glandore SA

In Corinth at least, women continued to prophesy openly in worship (1 Corinthians 11:5), for the church’s strengthening, encouragement and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3). Why the early church did not allow, encourage and/or accept more women for pastoral roles, is debatable. But that God chose women for public preaching and teaching at his church’s birth is surely clear. Since God called women then to speak his word directly, why can’t he call women as pastors to interpret, explain and apply his word now?

Mark Schubert – Glynde SA

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. Some letters may be edited for clarity.

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.

2 9

1 6

December's solution 3

2 4

7 1

2 7

5 6

LETTERS FROM MEMBERS OF THE LCANZ

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. Award guidelines and nomination forms are available from the LCA website at www.lca.org.au/soc or from the Office of the Bishop. 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 22 April 2022. For inquiries, please contact Chelsea Bellamy by email or phone 08 8267 7300. LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

DIRECTORY CALLS Extended • Rev Guntars Baikovs St Pauls Tanunda SA to UnderdaleGlandore SA • Rev Roelof A Buitendag Ipswich Qld to Living Faith Murrumba Downs Qld • Rev Greg J Fowler Golden Grove SA to Wyndham-Hobsons Bay Vic • Rev Richard W Fox Lutheran Media LCANZ to Langmeil Tanunda SA • Rev Richard W Fox Lutheran Media LCANZ to Morphett Vale SA • Rev Mark C Hansen Good Shepherd Noosa Qld to Bendigo Vic • Rev Tim J Jarick Pacific Lutheran College Caloundra Qld to St Peters Lutheran College Indooroopilly Qld • Rev Darren M Kupke Temora NSW to Horsham Vic • Rev Graham K Pfeffer Biloela Qld to Bundaberg Qld • Rev Kevin A Wood St Peters Blackwood SA to Seaford SA

Accepted • Rev Guntars Baikovs St Pauls Tanunda SA to UnderdaleGlandore SA • Rev Tim J Jarick Pacific Lutheran College Caloundra Qld to St Peters Lutheran College Indooroopilly Qld • Rev Graham K Pfeffer Biloela Qld to Bundaberg Qld • Rev Kevin A Wood St Peters Blackwood SA to Seaford SA

Declined • Rev Roelof A Buitendag Ipswich Qld to Living Faith Murrumba Downs Qld

• Rev Richard W Fox Lutheran Media LCANZ to Langmeil Tanunda SA • Rev Jon M Goessling Tatachilla Lutheran College McLaren Vale SA to Holy Trinity Lutheran College Horsham Vic • Rev William P Heidrich Southport Qld to Bendigo Vic • Rev Darren M Kupke Temora NSW to Horsham Vic • Rev André D Meyer St Johns Perth WA to Wodonga Vic • Rev Richard P Schwedes St Pauls Sydney NSW to Tea Tree Gully SA • Rev David L Spike Geelong Lutheran College Vic to St Martins College Mount Gambier SA • Rev John W Strelan St Stephens Adelaide SA to MoorabbinDandenong Vic

• Rev Joseph D Theodorsen Released from assignment to Top End Lutheran Parish NZ effective from 1 January 2022 • Rev Gordon A Wegener Change in call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 12 December 2021

CHANG ES OF ADDRES S • Rev Paul A Hage 6 Cheviot St Harristown Qld 4350 • Rev Vernon P Kleinig 121 Murray St Nuriootpa SA 5355 • Rev Dr Dan C Mueller 8 Peter Ct Buderim Qld 4556

IN MEMORIAM • Mrs Rosie Nangala Young, Young, wife of Rev Joe Young, died on 9 January 2022 at Kintore NT.

ROLL OF PASTOR S

In Memoriam

• Rev Philip W Bentley Released from assignment to Greenock Parish SA from 28 November 2021 • Rev Glenn J Crouch Change in call eligibility status from Specific Ministry Pastor to General Ministry Pastor from 3 December 2021 • Rev Paul C Fielke Change in call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 31 December 2021 • Rev John R Henderson Change in call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 31 December 2021 • Rev Joshua L Pfeiffer Granted leave of absence effective from 31 January 2022 • Rev Robert I Schubert Change in call eligibility status from General Ministry Pastor to Pastor Emeritus from 2 January 2022

Erich Renner Rev Dr Johannes Theodore Erich Renner, born 2 May 2022 (Horsham Vic); ordained 6 February 1944 (St Pauls Eudunda SA); served Lower Murray Home Mission Field (1944–1948), Victor Harbor (1948–1951), Immanuel Seminary/Luther Seminary/ Australian Lutheran College as lecturer (1952–1991, including overseas study 1954–1958/9); retired 31 December 1991; died 31 December 2021 (Glynde SA); funeral 11 January 2022 (Marananga SA); mourned by family members, friends and former colleagues

ORDINATION ANNIVER SARIES FOR 2022 60 YEARS

40 YEARS

25 Y E A R S

Rev Rev Rev Rev

Rev Rodney H Nembach (3/1/1982) Rev Jim D Pietsch (3/1/1982) Rev Andrew J Kowald (10/1/1982) Rev Garry R Hodgson (5/12/1982) Rev William J Narnst (5/12/1982) Rev F Detlev Vosgerau (5/12/1982) Rev Dr Peter J Close (12/12/1982) Rev R M (Gus) Schutz (12/12/1982) Rev Peter W Traeger (12/12/1982) Rev Robert P Bartholomaeus (19/12/1982) Rev Wayne R Muschamp (19/12/1982) Rev Stephen G Nuske (19/12/1982)

Rev Rev Rev Rev Rev Rev Rev Rev

Robert J Wiebusch (14/1/1962) Donald W Heyne (21/1/1962) Peter D Koehne (1/8/1962) Dr John B Koch (19/11/1962)

50 YEARS Rev John H S Heidenreich (2/1/1972) Rev Dr Malcolm I Bartsch (9/1/1972) Rev Christopher M Bartholomaeus (16/1/1972) Rev Noel H Noack (7/5/1972) Rev Robert K Fechner (10/12/1972) Rev Vernon P Kleinig (17/12/1972)

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Bruno E Matuschka (22/06/1997) Reneth C Tschirpig (22/6/1997) Peter W Faggotter (7/12/1997) Mark A Kleemann (7/12/1997) Jim Overduin (7/12/1997) Fraser A Pearce (7/12/1997) Malcolm B Pech (7/12/1997) Matthew D Thiele (7/12/1997)

LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA

ORDINATIONS Left: Ben Graham (centre), whose first parish is Lowood in Queensland, was ordained at St Johns Bundaberg Qld on 9 January 2022 by Qld District Bishop Mark Vainikka (second from left). Ben, whose father and two brothers are also LCANZ pastors, was also joined in his ordination service by his dad, Pastor Greg Graham (far left), who serves at Bundaberg; brother Pastor Joseph Graham (second from right); and Bundaberg’s Pastor Ryan Norris (far right). Photo: Sabrina Lauriston

Above: Mitchell Kitson (second from right), who begins his parish ministry at Mount Gambier South Australia, was ordained at St Petri Nuriootpa SA on 12 December 2021 by SA-NT District Bishop David Altus (second from left). Mitchell was also joined in his ordination service by his dad, St Petri Pastor Adrian Kitson (far right); and his vicar father, Pastor Ben Pfeiffer (far left). Photo: Monica Schiller

Above: David Cherry (second from right) was ordained at Holy Cross Birdwood South Australia on 5 December 2021 by SA-NT District Bishop David Altus (second from left). David, whose first parish is Wagga Wagga New South Wales, was also joined in his ordination service by his vicar father, Pastor David Kuss (far left), who formerly served at Birdwood; and NSW-ACT District Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus (far right). Photo: Adrian Krollig

O ville r Ne o t s Pa

tto

sch iebu W Tim

INSTALL ATIONS • Mr Paul Argyle Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at Palmerston North NZ on 21 November 2021 by Rev Geoff Schefe • Rev Paul A Hage Installed at Toowoomba Qld on 21 November 2021 by Bishop Mark Vainikka • Rev Neville R Otto Installed as LCANZ Assistant Bishop at Box Hill Vic on 28 November 2021 by Bishop John Henderson

Paul Argyle er Zern Mel

Pasto r Tim

String er

eck r Zw e t e P

• Mr Tim Wiebusch Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at Box Hill Vic on 28 November 2021 by Bishop John Henderson • Mr Mel Zerner Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at Blackwood SA on 28 November 2021 by Rev Kevin Wood • Ms Kim Baumeler Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at Hobart Tas on 5 December 2021 by Rev Stuart Kleinig • Mrs Charmaine Harch Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at St Andrews Brisbane Qld on 12 December 2021 by Bishop Mark Vainikka • Mr Peter Zweck Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at Henty NSW on 12 December 2021 by Pastor Will Frost • Rev Dr Tim P Stringer Installed to the LCANZ General Church Board at Greensborough Vic on 19 December 2021 by Assistant Bishop Neville Otto

Charm aine H arch umeler Kim Ba

• Rev Kees C Sturm Installed at Townsville Qld on 19 December 2021 by Bishop Mark Vainikka

Let this prayer calendar for next month encourage each of us to lift up our fellow LCANZ members and faith communities to God every day.

March 2022

S U N D AY

M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

P L E A S E P R AY F O R …

W E D N E S D AY

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

Government leaders in NZ and Australia, as they deal with the complexities and uncertainties of the pandemic

Christians around the world on Ash Wednesday, as we begin the Lenten season of reflection and repentance

Members and leaders of St James congregation Hervey Bay Qld and Pastor Timothy Spilsbury

Leaders on LCANZ boards and committees, that they may be encouraged in their governance service

Pastor Levi Graham and members of Dimboola, Edenhope, Goroke, Natimuk and Vectis congregations Vic

Our youth leaders, that the Holy Spirit empowers them to build relationships and share the gospel with other young people

Members and leaders of St Johns congregation Downfall Creek Qld

Those serving at Lutheran Services’ Mary and Martha's domestic violence refuge in Qld, on International Women’s Day

Pastor Anthony Price and members and leaders of Gawler Lutheran congregation SA

Leaders in our LCANZ districts, departments and agencies, that they may find purpose and joy in their service

Pastor Peter Ghalayini and the members of Our Saviours Knox and Good Shepherd Ringwood Vic

Frontline healthcare workers in countries where coronavirus case numbers and hospitalisations are continuing to grow

Members and leaders of Peace Gatton and Cross Mount Sylvia in Qld’s Lockyer Valley Gatton Parish and Pastor Rob Edwards

People who are experiencing any kind of persecution because of their faith

Members and leaders of UnderdaleGlandore congregation SA and their incoming Pastor Guntars Baikovs

Leaders in our Lutheran schools, that they may be blessed as they guide young people in their care

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on National Close the Gap Day

Pastor Steve Hibbard and members of Immanuel Kadina, St Pauls Maitland and St Johns South Kilkerran SA

Leaders in aged and community services, that they may also know Christian care and love as they support others

Members and leaders of Grace Lutheran Church Tanunda and Bethlehem Schoenborn SA

An end to the scourge of racism on the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

Members and leaders of Kawerau Lutheran Church in NZ’s Bay of Plenty region

Leaders in business, that they may set an example of ethical practice and treat people in their employ fairly

Teachers, families and children who have had to juggle online learning with other teaching, home or work responsibilities

Pastor Denis Grosser and the members and leaders of St Pauls congregation Swan Hill Vic

Leaders in children’s ministry, as they partner with parents, families and congregations to nurture faith in young hearts

Members of the LCANZ’s Convention of General Synod committee, as they prepare for in-person sessions in February 2023

Members and leaders of Kingscote worship centre and Parndana worship centre Kangaroo Island SA

Leaders in law and order, that they may have resilience and show wisdom as they work for justice in their communities

Pastor Michael Jarick and the members and leaders of St Johns congregation Corinda Qld

Leaders and members of congregations who are without a pastor to serve alongside them

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DISCOVER MORE AT

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

LOBETHAL LUTHERAN CHURCH SA

30th Anniversary

of opening and dedication of new church

Sunday 6 March 2022 9.30am thanksgiving service

GREETING CARDS SHARE HOPE Share hope through the gift of a card. Messages of Hope greeting cards are available for you to give to your family, friends and people in your community. Two packs of five cards are available for just $5 a pack. Order at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/greeting-cards or call us on 1800 353 350.

at 50 Main St, Lobethal Guest preacher: Pastor Tom Peitsch Light lunch available to purchase Register by email: lobethal.sa@lca.org.au or phone 08 8389 6069 RSVP by 22 February 2022

LATELY?

CHURCH FITTINGS AVAILABLE

St Paul’s Lutheran Church Woorak Vic is about to close and would like to distribute their fittings to a church in need. ASSO C I A Tto RE gcmoll@bigpond.com Inquiries

WATCH

DBON

Family fun at happyland.com.au Enjoy the Happyland app. Download it from the App Store on your iPhone or iPad. Happyland stories are now also available to watch on the website.

Worship live or in your own time with St Michael’s Lutheran Church from Hahndorf South Australia or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church from Toowoomba Queensland at www.lutheranmedia.org.au/worship. You can also order weekly worship DVDs or join us on our Lutheran Media Facebook page at facebook.com/luthmedia

PLAY

Tune in on local radio or go to messagesofhope.org.au or messagesofhope.org.nz

LISTEN

Join Richard and Celia each week through February for hope-filled conversations on relationships and keeping the romance alive along with surviving financial stress, especially during these COVID times.

HAVE YOU LISTENED TO YOUR

OCIAT

RADBONE AND ASSOCIATES BARRISTERS AND SOLICITORS

Wills and Estates Lawyers

Peace of Mind 300 Flinders Street Adelaide SA 5000 Telephone: 08 8223 1388

THANKS

YOUR DONATIONS AND PRAYERS ARE HELPING TO COMMUNICATE CHRIST AND HIS MESSAGE OF HOPE TO MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.

It’s no secret, our spacious, new, two-bedroom apartments in Tanunda have incredible views. It’s time to relax, sit on your balcony and take in the Barossa. Inspect today, discover a treasured, easy going lifestyle. The new designs are on show now at Langmeil Road.

ADELAIDE ACCOMMODATION Self-contained 1 or 2-bedroom city cottages and 3 or 4-bedroom beach houses – 4 4 Details: www.harrietscottage.com.au or Rob Fitzgerald on 0408 083 584

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• low maintenance • flat floors • no steps • modern finishes • excellent facilities • attached garage • easycare gardens • pet-friendly

www.eckermanns.com.au 08 8366 7988

LCA N Z C O MPL A IN 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: 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.

Thank you! Sometimes leadership starts in surprising places.

Emily, Giaan, Megan and Ruby are Year 4 students at St John’s Lutheran School in Kingaroy in Queensland.

When they achieved their target, one nine-year-old explained:

Throughout 2021, they and their classmates spent lunchtimes collecting and sorting drink containers from around the school – including flavoured milk containers with drips and drops gone sour in the Queensland sun!

change another child’s whole future!’

Students recycle the containers through the Containers for Change program ALWS uses to support refugee children at Kakuma in Kenya to go to school. The 20 children in Kingaroy Grade 4, supported by their teacher Naomi, aimed to raise enough money to support 20 refugee children to go to school. At $26 per child for a year’s schooling, and 10 cents per container, that’s 5,200 containers that needed collecting, cleaning and recycling.

‘A little bit of effort on our part can Grace is one of the refugee children at Kakuma whose future is changing thanks to the support of our Lutheran family, with Kingaroy Grade 4 leading the way, through ALWS. After a year of COVID lockdowns inside the refugee camp, children like Grace are excited to be back in the classroom. Thank you for making sure these children are not forgotten … and now have the hope that comes with a Lutheran-supported education. Education is a gift no-one can ever take away, so it is a blessing ALWayS. Thank you!

You can see more of your ALWS ministry at alws.org.au – or call 1300 763 407 to arrange an ALWS guest speaker to visit your church, school, or fellowship group!

ALWayS for those forgotten