LCNZ Professional Standards
Our Professional Standards team works to protect the people in our care, while also supporting the church’s pastors, employees and volunteers. Our focus is on matters that relate to behaviour or safety.
The church has foundational documents, the Standards of Ethical Behaviour, and Child Safety Standards for Congregations, as well as a range of policies and procedures to guide our ministry and activity.
How we serve
The Professional Standards Department provides a comprehensive Safe Church Training program, which is available online, in both self-paced and live formats. Visit the Safe Church Training page.
We supply resources to assist congregations and agencies to implement robust safety practices.
We also assist congregations and other ministries to work through difficult situations that may impact people’s safety. Our church is certainly not immune from the problem of abuse and its considerable impacts, so it is essential that we take all reasonable steps to protect children and vulnerable adults in our community. If you have any concerns about inappropriate conduct or behaviour, or if you believe someone in the church may not be safe, please contact us immediately so we can assist you.
It should be stressed that the gospel message of forgiveness does not remove the need to take actions that are necessary to protect our vulnerable people. Please keep in mind that the need to demonstrate God’s love is the foundation of all of our assistance. Together with the other areas of the church, we are aiming to bring God’s love to life.
NZ Abuse in Care Royal Commission
In July 2024 the final report and recommendations of the Abuse in Care Royal Commission were published.
The disturbing fact is that there are very high levels of abuse in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially among our children and young people.
The Lutheran Church in New Zealand is committed to the protection of all people, and in particular our children, and strives to provide a safe church environment for everyone. It has no tolerance for abuse of any kind.
Contact us
To request the scheduling of a Safe Church live online session, inquire generally about the Safe Church training program and what is required, or for assistance in relation to risk of harm or safety management, contact the below.
Liz Ewers
pso@lutheran.org.nz
+61 8 8267 7300
ChildSafe and Safe Place
The ChildSafe policy of the Lutheran Church of Australia and the LCNZ ensures a safe environment for children, including safe people and safe programs. If you are running ministry programs for children (anyone under the age of 18 years), you should be ensuring your program is compliant with the ChildSafe policy.
Safe Place reflects the Lutheran Church of Australia and LCNZ's aspiration that we should be a safe place for all, where the grace of God is active, enabling wrongs to be confronted and healing brought to hurting people.
