Being the Lutheran Church in New Zealand today
Being the Lutheran Church in New Zealand Today
Occasionally in New Zealand, someone may ask a member of one of our Lutheran congregations, “What is a Lutheran or what is the Lutheran church?”
There are many ways we could respond to this. While we could speak about our historical roots in Germany or Denmark, a more effective and Gospel focussed approach is to explain why we are Lutheran and why the Lutheran movement has spread across the world.
At its heart, being Lutheran means we know God and understand our relationship with Him through the Bible—most clearly revealed in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
This leads us to focussing on and sharing that:
- We are loved and accepted by God (John 3:16–17; 1 John 4:8–10)
- We need God’s love and forgiveness (Romans 3:21–24; Romans 5:6–8)
- We follow, trust, and worship Jesus in all situations (Philippians 2:1–11; Mark 8:34–38)
- Our future with a loving God depends on His grace, shown in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection—not on us or what we do (Ephesians 2:8–10; Titus 3:3–7)
- We receive our understanding of God and the Christian life from the Bible (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 1 Peter 1:23; Revelation 1:1–3)
- We invite people from all walks of life to know God and follow Jesus (Matthew 28:16–20; Romans 1:16)
Now this is a message worth sharing, is future focussed and will resonate with a lot more people. The focus shifts from what we or others have done or must do, to what God has done, is doing, and will do because of His love for all people.
And with more than 50% of the population disconnected from Christian communities, it is a perspective they often don’t hear, and we are likely to have daily opportunities to share this Jesus-centred perspective with others.
In the bigger picture as the Lutheran Church of New Zealand, we are seeking to support our congregations and members in sharing this message and helping them connect others to Jesus by:
- Helping them nurture meaningful relationships
- Use technology effectively
- Helping them engage in culturally appropriate ways their local communities
- Helping them develop sustainable approaches to ministry and church life
If you or your congregation would like support or wish to explore these opportunities further, please feel free to reach out: richard.schwedes@lca.org.au
May the love of God shape you and overflow into every part of your life and relationships.
Bishop Richard Schwedes
Sydney
11 June 2026
