LCANZ Bishop
LUTHERAN CHURCH OF AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND BISHOP’S REPORT
TO THE LUTHERAN CHURCH OF NEW ZEALAND 2025
Kia ora.
Sisters and brothers in Christ, we gather as people of the risen Lord who travels with us and continually reveals his heart of grace and mercy to us. This was his purpose from his resurrection as revealed to us in the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus from the Gospel according to Luke, Chapter 24:
“As they came near the village to which they were going, (Jesus) walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, ‘Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.’ So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?’ That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, ‘The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!’ Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread. (Luke 24: 28-35)
The powerful conclusion in this story, is the missionary purpose of the first Christians. As the Risen Lord made himself known to the disciples in the Emmaus event, their response was to return, even at the late hour through difficult and darkened ancient roads, to share the good news. Since that time, we have joined in with them, in being a missionary people and speaking that same hopeful message each Easter Sunday: The Lord has risen indeed!”
God bless your witness and service as people of this gospel.
On behalf of your sisters and brothers in Christ across the Tasman, I express thanksgiving to God for the oversight provided for the LCNZ by Bishop Richard Schwedes. He has proven himself a faithful visiting pastor who has set about getting to know the communities and people of the Church in New Zealand through first hand engagements, travelling to both the South and North Islands, whilst continuing his oversight throughout the wide lands of the NSW ACT District in Australia.
I thank God for Richard’s ongoing mission passion, to promote the cause of the Gospel in every place. Please keep Bishop Richard and his wife Veronica and their family in your regular prayers, that their hearts would continue to burn within them with the good news.
I also thank God for the faithful women and men of the LCNZ’s Council of Synod – both members and consultants. I was privileged to join with COS for their March meeting. They worked purposefully together through issues of mission and Church administration, seeking what would further the cause of the Gospel of our Lord. Please make a list of you COS members and pray for them in your personal devotions and in your prayers during Sunday worship.
The 2024 Convention of General Synod:
It was a significant milestone in the history of our Lutheran Church in New Zealand and Australia, that our 2024 Convention of General Synod, on the basis of ongoing prayerful study of the Scriptures and of the Lutheran Confessions, resolved to remove our prohibition against the ordination of women: the clause VI:11 of our “Theses of Agreement”. There are a number of matters about this resolution of the Convention, that I want to address for you in this report.
Ordination Resolution – Implementation: Resolution 21-06 of the 21st Convention of General Synod: “General Synod direct the General Church Board and the College of Bishops to implement the Way Forward Detailed Framework, with particular attention to the resourcing and provision of pastoral care and support to address issues that may arise from the introduction of female pastors to the LCA pastorate.”
The implementation of the “Way Forward Framework” includes elements that were established in the Synod resolution and draws on the structures of the Church to provide a robust, transparent and purposeful process for the sake of the Gospel.
Central to this implementation, are the “commitments” in the Convention resolution:
“General Synod affirm the commitments outlined in the Way Forward Detailed Framework (Agenda 8.1):
– Section 5 (Part A): Maintaining the identity and form of the LCANZ
– Section 7 (Part C): Commitments to pastors and pastoral ministry candidates
– Section 8 (Part D): Commitments to congregations and parishes.”
The College of Bishops and General Church Board have the charter to guide this implementation through the next three years of the regular triennium of the Church. A lot of work was put into the development of and the presentation of the framework tabled to the 2024 Convention and a lot of work is still being undertaken to provide for the people and communities of the Church.
Ordination Resolution – Documentation:
One of the key elements in the Convention resolution is the preparation by the Commission on Theology and Interchurch Relations (CTICR) of a Doctrinal Statement on Ordination. The CTICR tabled its draft document to the joint March joint meeting of the General Church Board and College of Bishops for distribution to the Church for consideration at the Pastors Conferences and District Conventions of the Church. This Doctrinal Statement includes elements required by the 2024 October convention resolution.
Ordination Resolution – Candidacy:
Another key element in the Convention resolution is the engagement with Christian women of the Church, who might be potential candidates for ordination. This began in January with a gathering of women from various ministries of the Church who were identified by District Bishops. Australian Lutheran College is working with the College of Bishops and General Church Board to ensure that there are clear, common pathways and standards for both women and men on the journey to ordination in the Church. A number of congregations and communities of the Church have notified their District Bishop of their interest to include women as candidates for their call. The key elements in any candidate’s journey to the being considered for ordination are:
- Theological certification;
- Vocational certification;
- Assessment and formal engagement with the College of Bishops;
- Call or call under assignment in the Church.
At the time of writing, there are three women amongst the current group of candidates preparing for the rite of ordination: Maria Rudolph; Sue Westhorp; Dr Tanya Wittwer.
Ordination Resolution – Maintaining the Form and Identity of the Church:
The first of the elements of the Framework adopted by the October 2024 Convention, was the continuity of the form and identify of our Church. This includes the continuity of our Confession of faith that our delegates make at every Convention, whether District or Churchwide:
“We accept, without reservation, the holy Scriptures of the Old and the New Testaments, as a whole and in all their parts, as the divinely inspired, written, and inerrant word of God, and as the only infallible source and norm for all matters of faith, doctrine, and life.
We accept, without reservation, the confessions of the evangelical Lutheran church as contained in the Book of Concord.”
It is therefore sad to hear some folk claim that our Church is no longer faithful to God’s Word, or to the Lutheran Confessions. We are faithful to God’s Word and to our confession as a Lutheran Church.
Other Matters from the October 2024 Convention:
The Convention resolved to consider the proposed “Doctrinal Statement on Ordination” in a subsequent special convention. This has been set for Saturday, October 18th, 2025 as an online convention. Other matters from the Convention are provided for you in the “Popular Report”: https://www.lca.org.au/projects-events/convention-general-synod-2024/delegates/popular-report/ (or you can read the Minutes of the Convention: https://www.lca.org.au/synod2024/ )
The Convention also re-elected the members of the General Church Board: Tim Wiebusch, Paul Argyle, Kim Baumeler, Pastor Ben Hentschke, Charmaine Harch, Peter Zweck. Kelly Matthews was added to the GCB and Pastor Stephen Schultz was elected as Assistant Bishop. Please remember to pray for these faithful leaders amongst us.
There were two significant mission highlights at the Convention. Firstly, the Convention Dinner speakers were young Lutheran people from Indonesia, from Papua New Guinea and from our LCANZ, speaking about their hopeful participation in the mission that God has given us. Secondly, the inaugural local mission fund grants were presented. Delegates at the Convention heard testimonies of creative and purposeful mission strategies from various communities across the Church. Further details about these are available on the Church’s website: https://www.lca.org.au/congregations-supported-in-mission/
Church of the Gospel:
In his first letter to the Corinthians, the apostle Paul describes our charter as Christians:
“Now I should remind you, brothers and sisters, of the gospel that I proclaimed to you, which you in turn received, in which also you stand, through which also you are being saved, if you hold firmly to the message that I proclaimed to you—unless you have come to believe in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I in turn had received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the scriptures, and that he was buried, and that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers and sisters at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. Last of all, as to someone untimely born, he appeared also to me.” (I Cor 15:3-10)
We pass on what is of first importance, that is the gospel of Jesus Christ. There are some who have suggested that the LCANZ has introduced another gospel. As Christian people in the LCANZ, we remain faithful with the Apostle Paul, passing on what we have received which is of first importance: The gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Church is always cautious about those who spread doubt and mistrust amongst God’s people. When we read the letters of St Paul, we learn that the Church has always had to deal with this issue. St Paul speaks various warnings to his congregations about those who would create division.
But rather than be focused on that divisive behaviour, the apostle Paul writes to the Corinthians, to be busy with that which is of “first importance” which is preaching Christ for life, salvation and the forgiveness of sins – that is the Gospel!
New Church House:
The 2024 Convention was presented with the General Church Board’s property work, to sell our North Adelaide precinct and to relocate both the Australian Lutheran College and other LCANZ ministries in a new Church House.
Over 2025 and 2026 we will see the end of much of the location of our LCANZ ministries in North Adelaide and the establishment of our Church House in a multistorey inner-city building purchased by the Church. It is located at 139 Frome Street in the same region of Adelaide city as Bethlehem Lutheran Church and St Stephen’s Lutheran Church. As I write this report for you, plans are underway for farewelling our North Adelaide places and commissioning the new building to the glory of God. Specific details about these plans will be provided as they are confirmed.
As our LCANZ “Church House”, the specific focus of this building is to be a mission and ministry resource and support centre for our Church. Our Executive Officer, Brett Hausler has given extraordinary service to the Church, ensuring this matter of properly transition has been undertaken in an orderly way which promotes the mission of God.
LLL Changes:
There has been much published for the Church regarding the transition that the LLL has made during 2024, from an ADI (authorised deposit-taking institution) to a RCDF (Religious Charitable Development Fund). Many people have had to be guided personally through the implications of this change and many have had to work through various difficult things. May the Lord bless all the work that has been undertaken to transact this change. At the heart of the change was the desire to ensure that the LLL continues as a place of finance in mission.
International Mission – New Assistant to the Bishop:
At the end of 2024, the General Church Board, collaborating with the Committee for International Mission of the Church, called Pastor Mark Schultz to the role of Assistant to the Bishop – International Mission. Pastor Mark, formerly of the Lifeway Congregation in Sydney, accepted his call and he was installed into his new role on February 23rd, 2025. Please pray for Pastor Mark and his family as they settle into their new life caught up in this work of International Mission. The General Church Board has worked with Pastor Mark to enable him to reside in Sydney for a preliminary period of 12 months, rather than relocate to Adelaide.
As you commend Pastor Mark to the Lord in your prayers, please remember to pray for our other workers in this ministry: Erin Kerber; Hanna Schulz; Pastor Murray and Tracy Smith; and Pastor Mick and Milka Hauser and their family.
Asia Regional Leaders: Hong Kong:
At the end of November in 2024, on behalf of the LCANZ, I attended the Asia Pacific Lutheran Leaders gathering in Hong Kong, with our Acting Assistant to the Bishop International Mission, Erin Kerber. This included regional participants from Lutheran Churches all the way Japan to Palestine, to India and to our part of the Pacific. Throughout the days of the gathering there were three strong messages: Firstly: “evangelisation”. What can we do better to bear the gospel of salvation to our neighbours? Secondly: “discipleship”. What can we do better, to grow the people of God as disciples in God’s mission? Thirdly: “Solidarity in the cause of the Gospel”. How can we help one another and serve one another in our common mission?
It was a privilege to participate in this event and to experience the high regard given to our LCANZ. We are only a small Church numerically here in New Zealand and Australia, yet we are surrounded by neighbouring Lutheran Churches whose members are counted in the millions.
New Church in Australia: Lutheran Mission – Australia:
According to the new LM-A Church’s website, President Anker’s message to those who gathered for his installation, reported him as saying “I am enormously thankful to the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod and President Matthew Harrison and his team who have not hesitated to support and encourage us in every way possible as we have begun this endeavour.”
These words, along with the involvement of LCMS representatives in President Anker’s installation, underscore the strong relationship between LM-A and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. It is helpful for people of the LCANZ to understand the bond that exists between LM-A and the LCMS as this impacts the doctrinal position and ecclesiastical organisation of LM-A.
This does not mean that we have lost our LCANZ long term mission relationship with the LCMS. Throughout the history of our Lutheran Churches here in Australia and New Zealand, we have worked together with Lutherans from many lands, including with our sisters and brothers of the LCMS.
The General Church Board and the College of Bishops of the Church have begun the process to invite LM-A to consider “recognising a relationship” between our two Churches.
Observer Status in the International Lutheran Council (ILC):
Last year, I informed delegates of correspondence from the ILC which reminded member and associate member Church communities in the ILC, of the doctrinal position of the ILC regarding ordination. The Bylaws of the ILC explain: “Concerning the Office of the Ministry, we believe that while all Christians—men and women—are redeemed and able to serve the Church in many ways, Holy Scripture requires that only men who are spiritually qualified in life and doctrine are to be called and ordained as pastors to preach the gospel and administer the sacraments” (Bylaws II, D, 2, b).
Following the 2024 Convention, our LCANZ Secretary Dr Nigel Long informed the ILC of the change in our teaching, regarding the removal of the prohibition of the ordination of women. The ILC immediately responded that LCANZ would continue in the ILC with an observer status and no longer as an Associate Member. On March 26th, the ILC discontinued our association and so we are no longer an Associate Member or Observer. At the time of removing the LCANZ from the ILC, the Japan Lutheran Church was also removed for the same reason (the inclusion of both women and men in the office of the public ministry.)
As the ILC includes Lutheran Churches which have been our mission partners over many years, we will continue to serve along side these sisters and brothers in the cause of the Gospel.
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF):
At our October Convention a proposal asking for the LCANZ to become full members of the LWF was defeated. Subsequently, we continue as associate members of the LWF and so there is no significant change in our relationship with other Lutheran Churches in the LWF. Most of our Asia Pacific Lutheran neighbours are full members of the Lutheran World Federation and they engage with us as partners in the mission of God.
Schools and Education Ministries:
There are regular reports for you from Lutheran Education Australia so I would like to contribute, in this report, a brief call to encouragement for you about our School Leaders. Many folk in Australia and New Zealand do not know much about the Lutheran Church but thousands of people know about Lutheran Schools. Our small Church has a major place in non-government schooling across the Tasman in Australia.
A key factor behind the tremendous impact of our Lutheran Schools ministry, is the faithful witness and service of the women and men who serve as Lutheran School Principals. The work of a principal is complex and regularly deals with interpersonal conflicts but our Lutheran School principals continue because of their sense of call to serve the Lord. I invite you to make contact with any one of our Lutheran school principals and give to that person some words of encouragement for their Christian service.
District Modelling and the Future Structure of the LCANZ:
When the LCNZ farewelled Bishop Emeritus Mark and sought a new bishop, the Convention decided to operate with an interim oversight, which we now experience through the kind fellowship of the LCA NSWACT District, so that the LCNZ can be served by Bishop Richard.
But this was intended to be only an interim arrangement. In the Western Australia District at its 2025 Convention our sisters and brothers in the far west asked the LCANZ to undertake a Church Wide review of Districts and structures with renewed mission purpose. The WA District proposed a timeline from 2027 to 2030. If the LCANZ takes up this work it will include conversations in and with the LCNZ about the best way to serve together as a Lutheran Church in Australia and New Zealand, in the mission that our gracious God calls us to.
Personal:
In every report to the Districts of the Church, I try to give some brief information about my well-being.
At the Convention in 2024, a number of people approached me, noting that I seemed to have “lost weight”. Throughout 2024, I have been able to reduce my weight by 30 kilograms, from 126 in December 2023 to my present weigh-in at 96. This has been possible by regular exercise and careful diet. Also, throughout 2024, my wife Heidi and I practice a “one day only sugar day”, which we do each Sunday. This is a Swedish practise we learned about where the Swedes began “Lordagsgodis” in the 1950s. In Sweden, lollies and sweets were only sold on Saturday and not during the week. I thank God for the opportunity and focus to be able to undertake this change in my health.
Also, I am blessed to have time each morning to immerse myself in various chapters of the Scriptures and in a part of the Lutheran Confessions, helping me to let the “word of Christ” dwell in me richly (Col 3:16)
Finally, some have noticed my hands “shaking” when I am assisting with communion or preaching. I have been diagnosed as having an “essential tremor” which is not the same as Parkinson’s disease or other similar debilitating conditions. There is no cure and no medication for essential tremor and it becomes more pronounced when I am weary.
Mission:
I began with the road to Emmaus. Regularly we sing this story with the hymn “Abide with me” which Henry Francis Lyte wrote specifically about the gospel story in Luke chapter 24. He personalises this Scripture and makes it into a prayer for the Christian travelling on “life’s rough way”, in the presence of the risen Lord. I commend these closing verses of ‘Abide with me’ to you as a prayer for the people of our Lutheran Church in New Zealand and Australia as we travel the way forward together:
“I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless:
Ills have no weight and tears no bitterness.
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.
Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes,
Shine through the gloom, and point me to the skies;
Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee:
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.”
(LHS 543 Henry Francis Lyte (1793-1847)
Pastor Paul Smith
Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand
Adelaide
INTRODUCING REPRESENTATIVES OF THE TWO GROUPS IN THE CHRISTIAN WORLD
WITH CONFLICTING VIEWS REGARDING THE SCRIPTURAL TEACHING
ON THE WITNESS AND SERVICE OF WOMEN IN CHURCH AND IN SOCIETY
We are dealing with disagreement over what the Scriptures teach in 1st Corinthians 14 and 1st Timothy 2 on the witness and service of women in Church and in society.
In the Christian world, this is an ongoing debate between many Churches. This disagreement is distilled into two groups: one group is identified as “complementarian”. The other group is identified as “mutualist”. Both groups are faithful in studying the Christian Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the Word of God.
Two contemporary scholars with an accessible online ministry who represent each of these two groups are Mike Winger (complementarian) and Terran Williams (mutualist).
Terran Williams serves as a pastor of a Church in South Africa. He is a published author and maintains his own website: terranwilliams.com. He is not a Lutheran.
Mike Winger is part of BibleThinker.org. He served in as a pastor in North American Churches but is now in full time in online teaching the Christian faith. He is not a Lutheran.
Two websites, one from each of Mike Winger and Terran Williams, provide good insight into the disagreement and the faithfulness of both groups:
TERRAN WILLIAM’S WEBSITE:
MIKE WINGER’S WEBSITE:
