LCNZ 2025 Convention of Synod
Highlights
The Convention began on Friday night with a casual gathering at Mountainside. During this we were greeted with a Mihi Whakatau delivered by Rhiannon Morris from Auckland Mountainside Congregation.
Nau mai, haere mai
ki tēnei whenua rangatira. E mihi ana ki ngā mana whenua o tēnei rohe – ngā iwi o Ngāti Pāoa me ngā hapū e noho ana i konei. E mihi ana ki a Maungarei te maunga, E rere ana ngā wai o te Tāmaki, Ko te whenua nei, ko Ellerslie, e mihi atu nei. Nau mai, haere mai ki Mountainside Lutheran Church. Haere mai ki tēnei huihuinga tapu o te LCANZ. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa
I am Rhiannon, and it is a great joy and honour to welcome you all here to Mountainside beneath the gaze of Maungarei, the mountain we call Mt Wellington, especially at such a special time in our calendar – the season of Matariki.
We acknowledge the mana whenua of this place – the guardians of this land – particularly Ngāti Pāoa and the wider iwi and hapū of this region.
Matariki, the Māori New Year, is not just a celestial event – it is a time of deep spiritual and communal significance. For generations, Māori looked to the Matariki star cluster for guidance: to understand the seasons, predict the success of future harvests, and to set the rhythm of community life. The stars of Matariki told stories of life, death, and hope.
But this isn’t only a Māori story. Nearly all of our ancestors – whether from Europe, Asia, the Pacific, or elsewhere – once looked to the stars. For navigation, for agriculture, for timekeeping, and for spiritual meaning. The heavens have always been a way for humanity to seek direction – both practically and spiritually.
In that way, we are all connected by the stars. And today, the Matariki stars still call us to do three things:
First, we remember those who have gone before us. In our context, we give thanks for the faith of our ancestors, the pioneers of our church, the leaders, pastors, and communities who planted and nurtured the seeds of faith across our lands. Their memory continues to guide us.
Second, to gather – with joy and purpose. Matariki is a time for feasting, for stories, and for reconnecting. And this gathering is just that – a time to come together as the family of Christ across Aotearoa and Australia, united by faith and mission.
And third, Matariki is a time to plant the seeds of hope for the future – to dream, to plan, and to look forward. In the same way, our gathering is not only to celebrate who we are, but to seek God’s guidance in discerning who we are called to be – a church refreshed, renewed, and ready for tomorrow.
So as we begin this time together, may we be mindful of the past, present in this moment of connection, and faithful as we look to what God has in store.
Once again, nau mai, haere mai – welcome. May your time here be rich with meaning and filled with God’s presence.
On Saturday we started with the Opening Service led by Bishop Richard Schwedes, where we joined in Synod and we cited the rite of opening for District Synods. Pr Andy Marr
welcomed all delegates and visitors to convention both in the chapel at Mountainside and those online.
There were 23 delegates and 3 LCA guests in attendance for the two days. Bishop Richard and Rev Andy Marr shared the chairing duties.
The delegates received the LCNZ and congregation reports and were able to question all presenters, discussed 10 remits (an eleventh one was referred to Council of Synod to process as unfinished business), received reports from the LCA Bishop, International Mission and Church Operations. The videos that were presented along with a number tha
t were not able to be played during the convention are being loaded to the LCNZ website for your viewing.
Bishop of New Zealand there was no election for the Bishop Role as the Synod agreed to continue the current MOU with LCA NSW & ACT to use their Bishop for episcopa
l oversight.
Elections were not required as the nominations received were sufficient to fill all positions for the 2025/2027 Synodical period. The announcements were made on the Sunday afternoon and the results are:
Council of Synod
- Bishop Richard Schwedes (NSW & ACT)
- Assistant Bishop Warren Paltridge (Marton)
Treasurer Dennis Mollet (Manawatu)- Pastor Rep Andy Marr (Upper Moutere)
- Lay Reps David Pang (Botany) and Amaana Pilli (Auckland)
- Congregational Phil Husband (Whanganui and Kawerau)
Life Rep
Roman Catholic – Lutheran Dialogue Commission
- Pr Mark Whitfield (Ōtautahi Christchurch),
- Dr Petrus Simons (Wellington) and
- Georgina Preston (Wellington)
Delegates attended the Auckland Mountainside service on Sunday where LCANZ Bishop Paul was the preacher.
Two long time members of Council of Synod did not stand again at this convention. Council of Synod farewelled Anrew Mattiske at its May meeting. During the final session of Convention Pr Andy Marr presented a farewell gift to Lesley Johnson acknowledging her retirement from Council of Synod.
The closing service saw the installation of Council of Synod members and the closing rites of convention.
The next convention will be held at St Paul’s Lutheran Church in Ōtautahi Christchurch in 2027.
Formal notifications of the remits will be advised in separate formal communications.
