Parish Administration
Congregational Life Hub
There are a number of sections in the hub that are of use to all our congregations. In this series we are looking at some of the webpages that are of use to LCNZ congregations, parishes, leaders and members. Have a read and make use of these resources.
Parish Administration (Parish Administration – Lutheran Church of Australia)
Parish administration plays a vital role in supporting the life and mission of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. Good practices in areas such as copyright, records management, policies and forms help ensure our congregations operate smoothly and responsibly. Tools like LAMP2 and the LCA Portal assist leaders in managing these tasks with efficiency and care.
The topics include:
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Copyright
Most LCANZ congregations and agencies use, reproduce, store or distribute copyright-protected material. The LCA Churchwide team keeps abreast of copyright legislation applicable to our communities, and we’ve curated and collated the essential information for you.
Some congregations create material over which they hold the copyright.
You have a legal and moral responsibility to ensure you are using copyright-protected works with permission and are aware of what works over which your congregation, agency or members could hold copyright.
LCNZ congregations and agencies do not receive any special provisions under the New Zealand Copyright Act 1994; breaches can cost thousands of dollars.
The LCNZ National Office administers the copyright subscriptions for CCLI at a New Zealand wide level. All other copyright requirements are the responsibility of the individual congregations.
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Records Management
Church records tell the story of your congregation and your ministries. They highlight how God has worked and is working through your congregation and how you are bringing God’s love to life. They are integral to our history as the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand. From these records, we can gather and tell the stories about who we are, who we belong to, and God’s faithfulness to us.
Your church records will let future generations know how God has blessed you and how he has been a blessing to others through you. There are two reasons to keep good church records:
- Firstly, you must keep records to fulfil administrative and legal requirements, such as recording decisions, finances and significant events.
- Secondly, you must also keep the ‘soul’ records that complement these legal records and turn them into the story of God’s faithfulness.
To keep good records, you need to ensure they are being properly created and documented in the first place. Take photographs of events. Document the meetings, ministries, events and stories of the people who reach out into the community, showing how we live out God’s love.
What records to keep
To help you with your record keeping, there is a list compiled on the LCA website: Records Management – Lutheran Church of Australia
These records should initially be managed at your congregation’s premises (not in a member’s home). When they are no longer being regularly accessed, many should be deposited at Lutheran Archives which can be accessed via the LCNZ National Office.
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Policies
Our policies and procedures give us practical guidance to help us care for and protect God’s people and encourage the good use of his gifts. Our policies and procedures reflect the LCANZ’s core values and help us to reflect God’s love to each other and to all who come into contact with us.
A list of current policies applicable in the Lutheran Church of Australian and New Zealand can be found here, noting this is not a full list as policies are being developed and updated on an ongoing basis: Policies – Lutheran Church of Australia
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Payroll
You matter. You matter to God, and you matter to us. We want to make sure you’re supported personally and professionally. We want to free you from excess paperwork so you can get on with the work God has called you to do.
You’re the only person in the Lutheran Church in Australia and New Zealand who can do your job the way you do it. While we have hundreds of pastors, lay workers, and employees, along with thousands of volunteers, each performing a unique role, you’re the only person God is using to do this particular job at this particular time.
The Lutheran Church of Australia Payroll System (LCA Payroll) will help you manage these ministry support functions:
- payroll administration and payment, using STP2-compliant processes
- superannuation guarantee payments
- leave records management
- interpretation of legislative requirements and other compliance and regulatory requirements
LCA Payroll will help us serve you better. We can lighten the burden for volunteer treasurers, help officeholders meet their legal obligations, and ensure that all church workers have their entitlements properly met. We’re happy to take some of this load off your back, so you can get on with the things that matter most.
LCA Payroll operate across Australia and New Zealand using the Employment Hero platform. For further details and onboarding or current queries please contact the LCNZ National Office. Frequently asked questions can be found here: Payroll – Lutheran Church of Australia
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LAMP2
LAMP stands for Lutherans in Australasia Members Portal. For many years, LAMP has been the LCA’s and LCNZ’s electronic directory. It has been the go-to electronic resource for people, places and groups across the church.
LAMP2 is now the place to look to find contact information about:
- people (pastors, lay workers, employees, congregation office-bearers, Churchwide and District office officials)
- congregations and parishes (locations and contact details; statistics)
- worship services (places and times, including special/irregular services)
- associated church entities (camps, schools, commissions, boards, etc).
Access to LAMP2 is via the LCA portal (see below). To be assigned access to LAMP2 go here: LAMP2 – Lutheran Church of Australia
- LCA Portal
The portal gives access to those that need it to many resources. The link to the portal is here: Welcome to our Portal
If you don’t already have access, please discuss with the LCNZ National Office.
Please make use of these resources as they have been developed for you and your congregaions.
