Section 4 Reports to 2016 Synod

Transcription

1 Section 4 Reports to 2016 Synod District Bishop s Report

2 Bishop s Report Rev Paul M Smith, LCAQD Convention of Synod, Pacific Lutheran College, Caloundra 3-5 June 2016 Convention Theme: Meet in Christian Communities - Hebrews 10:25 For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. On Easter Sunday there is a resurrection shout that resounds across the globe: He is risen. He is risen indeed. This great indeed was first shared amongst the earliest disciples who gathered in Jerusalem after they had seen the Lord crucified just days earlier. Cleopas and the other disciple who had met the risen Lord on the road to Emmaus went amongst the disciples and told them, The Lord has risen indeed. In the very next verse of Luke 24, we find the risen Lord in the midst of the gathering of the disciples, speaking words of consolation and blessing, Peace be with you. We Christians are people of an extraordinary message from God. God has dwelt amongst us in the person of Jesus. This same Lord is risen from the dead and promises to be with us wherever we gather in his name. We gather with the promise that the Lord is amongst us be it in Atherton or Alberton, be it in Salem or St James. We gather as people of the great indeed. In the footsteps of another. The work of Bishop in the Church is an office that is handed on from man to man. I want to begin this report with my thanksgiving to our Gracious Lord for the gift of our previous Bishop Noel Noack who served two solid terms in this leadership position for the Church. Bishop Noel, who can rightly be spoken of as Bishop Noel Noack Emeritus certainly strengthened the governance work of the Office of the Bishop and of the District Church Council, but that is only secondary to his greater passion for evangelization. Bishop Noel Emeritus continually encouraged the people of the District to give themselves whole-heartedly to the work of proclaiming Christ and him crucified. We ask the Lord of the Church to continue to bless Bishop Noel Emeritus and his wife Meg with good health and renewed passion for the work of the Gospel. Since 2016 is our 50 th anniversary as a Lutheran Church in Australia, I have included, as an appendix to my report, an historical document of the LCAQD for delegates to reflect on. This is the first ever President s Report to a Convention of the LCAQD from the first President Rev. F. H. Schmidt. (Some careful delegates will note that it is dated This was the year of the first LCAQD Synod after the 1966 Union.) It is certainly worth reading through the matters that concerned the President in and to consider what concerns are the same now 50 years on, and then to consider what has changed either for better or for worse. District Bishop s Report Page 2 of 15

3 Growing Future Leaders. We need workers for the harvest. The Scriptures call us to pray to the Lord of the harvest to raise up faithful labourers. Currently, we have our Departments and National Church working to train people to do the tasks that Synod has established in the work of our Church. This includes the programme of the Australian Lutheran College in South Australia, where there is careful review and study underway to ensure that our national training institution continues in financial and educational good health. Last year, two of the four Pastoral Ministry graduates were from the LCAQD: Geoff Schefe and Andrew Neumann. Training leaders is also a high priority for our Departments of LEQ and LCC, (and QLECS is included in LEQ here.) These two Departments have the charter to build up people to serve as leaders who are committed to the work of the Church in schools and community care services. Aaron Glover and the team at LYQ have made a special focus on leadership training with carefully constructed programmes for both camping and congregational ministries. It is fact of history that we are facing a significant decrease in our current cohort of Lutheran leaders, particularly amongst pastors and school principals. As I write this report, I am still just 53 years old and that is the median age of our Australian Lutheran pastors. I am committed to working with the parishes, LCAQD Departments and with the National Church so that our Church will continue to provide the best opportunities for people to train for leadership in the Church. Our Lutheran tradition has purposely upheld high standards of academic training and field experience for those seeking ministry leadership roles, whether in parishes or institutions. Our Faithful Auxiliaries Upon becoming Bishop, I have attempted to make my participation with the Auxiliaries of the District a high priority. This means attending LWQ Rallies and LYQ Events and also Men s Shed, as my diary permits. I grant that Men s Shed is not specifically an auxiliary, but I find that our men s shed groups seem to represent the kind of evangelical heart intended by the original Men s Fellowships. (There are still some active Men s Fellowships in the Church and the Lutheran Men magazine is widely distributed.) These groups are sometimes small, but like mustard seeds that might flourish to provide shelter, our auxiliaries continue to give consolation and encouragement to many folk both within and outside of our congregations. Please pray for their continuing service. Salary and Governance Agenda At the February District Church Council meeting, James Doecke from the LCA National Office attended to present to the meeting the timeline and agenda of the National Church s Human resource programme and centralised payroll roll-out. Pastors and congregations need to have a good understanding of what is planned and the strategy for implementation. We can expect information will continue to be distributed both from our LCAQD DEO Michael Turner as well as from the National Office. District Bishop s Report Page 3 of 15

4 Local Mission Luminate: Delegates can read about the Luminate programme elsewhere but in my report I want to highlight this wonderful opportunity for young people to grow in their Christian lives. I join with Synod in thanking God for the work put into this programme by Aaron Glover and his LYQ team, especially with the service rendered to the programme by the newly-appointed Programme Director, Isaiah Logan. Renew Studies: Our Adelaide Office has distributed information and resources for the Renew Mission Life programme which includes five sermons that can be used strategically in your communities. Our Queensland Mission Director Pastor John O Keefe is supporting congregations on the local application of these resources. I encourage congregational leaders to seek out John for any questions regarding this programme. South Metropolitan Region in Brisbane: I have asked John O Keefe as our Mission and Ministry Director, to gather representatives of our Lutheran communities south of Kessels Road in Brisbane, to explore mission collaboration. Visitation: Throughout the second semester of this year, John O Keefe and I will be planning a visitation of every congregation/parish across the LCAQD. This will include a dialogue with local Lutheran leaders with a focus will be on our missionary collaborations as Lutheran communities of the LCAQD. Ordination of Women. Following the General Synod in October last year, 2015, there has been an invitation from the College of Bishops for pastors and congregations of the Districts to continue the conversation that was begun at Synod. In the meantime, there will be ongoing work from the Commission on Theology and Interchurch Relations to produce a statement which would present the theological basis for the ordination of women and men. The statement be would in a form that could be placed before the General Pastor s Conference and General Synod for consideration. This work was given to CTICR by a resolution of Synod Luther Conference in Melbourne A month after our District Synod, Australians will see the first major international event on World Lutheranism ever held in this country. If members of our District are able to attend, I encourage them to take up the opportunity to be present at this tremendous educational opportunity to explore the international witness of world Lutheranism. This event will be in Melbourne at the end of June with the Conference Theme: Martin Luther s theology in the ecumenical and global context. The dates are 28th June to 3rd July and the venue will be the Catholic Leadership Centre in Melbourne. The speakers include Franz Posset, Kirsi Stjerna; James Nestingen; Risto Saarinen; Theodor Dieter and the event forms part of the lead up to the 500th Anniversary of the Reformation in October Domestic and Family Violence The Tuesday in March that I finished my 2016 Synodical Report, was the day that the District Bishop s Report Page 4 of 15

5 Royal Commission into Family Violence in Victoria was handing its findings to its State Government. At the General Synod last October, resolutions about this matter were passed, which resulted in an LCA working group being established. As that group begins it work, it would be helpful for our Queensland pastors and people to discuss how the Church should be engaging the matter of Domestic and Family Violence as this concern continues to have a higher profile in our communities. I reprint the two relevant General Synod resolutions for you: Prevention of Domestic Violence RESOLVED that the Convention of Synod reaffirms its condemnation of all forms of violence in the family and authorises GCC to commit resources for a churchwide campaign to address the prevalence of Family Violence amongst us, which may include sharing of resources, education initiatives and the provision of pastoral care to the survivors of violence, as well as the perpetrators of abuse. RESOLVED: That Synod request CTICR study the Lutheran theological and scriptural understanding of subordination and the role of male headship in marriage and the contextual implications for family violence. ALWS and International Mission For the past decade I have served as a School Pastor in two of our Lutheran Schools and I have been given the opportunity to be actively involved in tremendous work done by Australian Lutheran World Service. As I write this report, ALWS Week is being celebrated in a number of our Queensland Lutheran schools. My College ministry has shown me the wonderful way that many young people outside of Lutheran Congregations will be learning how we as Lutherans work for the well-being of those who are in difficult circumstances overseas, as we reach out with the love of Christ through ALWS. I encourage you to continue to lift up this ministry of the LCA to our Lord in your prayers. Bishop s Diary. What does the bishop do each month? I try to be as transparent as I can in providing the Church with details about my tasks. At both the DCC meeting and DCC Executive meeting I list my monthly activities. I also give a basic guide to events that I am involved in when I give my reports to Pastors Fraternals; in my Bishop s letters to the Pastors; and in Reports to the Zones of LWQ. The District Newsletter has also become the place that I notify members of coming events such as the installation of pastors. The LCAQD Bishop s diary certainly lists travel. This includes travel to congregations and institutions in the District as well as travel to South Australia for meetings, such as College of Bishops or General Church Council. I have also been appointed to the Commission on Theology and Interchurch Relations which meets twice a year in Adelaide. The District Office Staff and District Church Council have been very helpful to me in ensuring that there is at least one day in a week where I can put tools down for District Bishop s Report Page 5 of 15

6 restoration. In most weeks of a month, the Bishop s restoration day will be the Monday. Handing on what we have received: Wandoan On Sunday October 8th last year, the people of our Lutheran Community in Wandoan gathered for their last time as a congregation of the Church. Pastors Murray Smith and Lionel Rohrlach joined with me for the closing service, followed by a fellowship tea with many good stories about the life and times of the Congregation. Members of Wandoan have joined other neighbouring Lutheran congregations notably in Downfall Creek and Miles. We thank God for their years of faithful worship and work in Wandoan. What to call me? Our Australian Lutheran Church is new to the word, Bishop. In a previous report, our Bishop Emeritus Noel explained how people react differently to the word, Bishop than they do to the word President. With this new word used amongst us, there is no common practice on using the word Bishop and many folk have asked me about the proper way to address me or speak to me in public. My focus in this, is to highlight our flat-level of pastoral ministry in the LCA. We do not have a hierarchy of pastors. Hence, I am a pastor with a special role of serving as bishop. My business card had Rev Paul Smith, Bishop+ written on it. Subsequently, it is perfectly fine to address me as Pastor or Pastor Paul or Pastor Smith. When introducing me to a congregation on a Sunday, I am happy for something like, This is Pastor Paul Smith, our District Bishop. I don t mind is someone wants to call me Bishop Paul or Bishop. It is also fine to call me Paul when we are speaking one to one. With one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ Team work in the Gospel Whenever I think of a team, the dominant image in my mind is that of a husky sled, where a team of huskies are harnessed together to pull a load. There is a lot of barking and the different huskies are tethered into different positions to make the most of their various skills. When I think of the work of the Bishop in our District, I see that the Bishop is tethered with a variety of sisters and brothers in Christ, to do the common work of the Gospel as we serve in the name of Jesus. The Bishop is tethered with Church Workers given to works of service in the mission of God in a diversity of communities of our Church, including our pastors, teachers, lay workers and other Church workers, principals, managers and other administration staff in the organizations and institutions of our Lutheran Church in Queensland. The Bishop is tethered into the work undertaken in our District Office at Milton, by the staff and other volunteers who meet in the committees and Departments of our Church. This involves our staff of Level Three including my Executive Assistant Neil and Executive Officer Michael. This includes the Directors of Departments and their Councils: David and Lyndal in Lutheran Education Queensland; Jacqui in Lutheran Community Care; Aaron in Lutheran Youth Queensland; John in Mission and Ministry along with their staff members and their Councils made up of faithful Christian servants District Bishop s Report Page 6 of 15

7 from the congregations of the District. The Bishop is tethered with a faithful team of District Church Councilors who have offered their gifts as volunteers in the cause of the Gospel. This team travels to Milton for monthly meetings to take up the matters presented to them by the Church. The Bishop is tethered into collaboration of the people of the congregations of our District: the women and men, the old and young, Christian people of the communities gathered through the Holy Spirit to be people who have been called out of darkness into his marvelous light, in order that we may proclaim the mighty acts of our Lord. This includes my own family and especially my co-worker in the Gospel, my beloved wife Heidi, who celebrates 30 years of married bliss with me this year. Let me conclude this report with St Paul s own reflections on the gospel of resurrection for the Christians gathered in Corinth. If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied. But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of those who have died Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord, because you know that in the Lord your labour is not in vain. (1 st Corinthians 15) In Christ, Paul Smith Bishop Lutheran Church of Australia, Queensland District Appendices: 1. LCAQD Pastor Statistics as at 21 March, Pastoral Transfers and Events since the 2015 Convention of Synod 3. Original President s Report to first LCAQD Synod District Bishop s Report Page 7 of 15

8 Appendix #1 to the Bishops report: LCAQD Pastor Statistics as at 21 March, 2016 Pastors in full time Parish/Congregational Ministry Full time SMP Pastors Chinese Full time SMP Pastors Other Part time SMP Pastors Other Incl SMPs 68 Incl SMPs 66 Incl SMPs 68 Incl SMPs 72 Incl SMPs x x x x 0.5 Full time School Chaplains F/T Other Chaplaincy Aged: 3 Police: 1 Uni: 1 PT Aged: 3 Police: 1 Uni: 1 PT Mixed role Congregational/School chaplain Administration ALC Lecturer Total, full time, active Total, part time, active x 0.5 Average age of active pastors Median age of active pastors Pastors eligible to retire in the next 3 years Leave of Absence Part Time - no salary Retired Pastors Pastoral Vacancies in LCAQD 13 ~22 total LCA ALC graduates for ordination (Estimated) ~20 total LCA ~20 total LCA ~24 total LCA total LCA

9 Appendix #2 to the Bishops report: Pastoral Transfers and Events since the 2015 Convention of Synod Pastors Transferring to another District of the LCA Rev Greg Priebbenow Bundaberg Parish to St Pauls Congregation, Blair Athol, SA Rev Noel Due Regional Resourcing to SA/NT District Rev Joshua Pfeiffer St Pauls Nundah to Bethlehem Congregation, Adelaide, SA. Rev Peter Janetzki Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Noosa to Good News Lutheran College, Wyndham Vic. Rev Gregory Noll Orana Aged Care to Leave of Absence, resident in Vic. Rev Will Frost Wilsonton-Glencoe Parish to Leave of Absence, resident in ACT. Rev Brenton Fiedler Good Shepherd, Toowoomba to Yirara College, Alice Springs NT. Rev Andrew Vanderwal Emmanuel Fellowship, Toowoomba to Victor Harbor, SA Rev Sam Davis Maryborough-Childers Parish to St Matthew Congregation, Footscray Vic Rev Luke Spilsbury St Martins Gladstone to Onkaparinga parish, SA Pastors coming into the LCAQD Rev Matthias Prenzler Bethlehem Congregation, Adelaide SA to St Peters congregation, Indooroopilly installed by Bishop, Rev Noel Noack 12 July 2015 Rev Adam Eime Henty Parish, NSW to Peace Lutheran College, installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith at Trinity Lutheran Church Cairns 7 February 2016 Rev Wayne George Greenock Parish, SA to Bundaberg Parish, installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, 20 Dec 2015 Rev Damien Martin Dimboola-Jeparit Parish, Vic to Redeemer Lutheran College, Rochedale installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, 26 February 2016 Rev Michael Grosas Pastor without a call, resident in Ferny Hills Rev Michael Lockwood Immanuel Congregation, Kadina SA to Redeemer Parish Toowoomba installed by 2 nd Assistant Bishop, Rev James Haak at Redeemer Toowoomba, 14 June 2015 Rev Peter Faggotter Pilgrim congregation, Magill SA to Wilsonton-Glencoe Parish, to be installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, 3 April 2016 at St. Johns Wilsonton Rev Tim Jarick Victory Lutheran College, Wodonga Vic to Pacific Lutheran College, to be installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, May 2016 Pastors moving within the District Rev Paul Smith Rev Stephen Cronau Rev Mark Nitschke Rev Mike Neldner 9 Pacific Lutheran College to Bishop, LCAQD, installed by Rev John Henderson, Bishop of the Church, 16 Aug 2015 Leave of Absence to Townsville, installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith at Townsville, 10 January 2016 Good Shepherd congregation, Noosa, to St Pauls Nundah, to be installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, 10 April 2016 Bethania congregation to St Pauls Caboolture, to be installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, 15 May 2016

10 Rev Carl Thiele Rosewood Parish to Alberton Parish, to be installed by Bishop, Rev Paul Smith, 29 May 2016 Pastors who have ceased active service Rev Graham Caddies SMP Townsville Retired Rev Robert Fechner South Burnett Parish Retired Rev Vince Gerhardy St Pauls Caboolture Retired Rev Noel Noack Bishop Retired Rev Lou Pfeiffer Townsville Parish Retired Rev Keith Stiller Professional Standards Unit Retired Rev Tony Lee Southport Trinity Chinese congregation Retired Pastors of the LCAQD who have been called to their heavenly home Rev Kevin Kotzur 9 April August 2015 Rev Roger Munchenberg 17 December January 2016 Rev David Siegle 12 October January 2016 District Bishop s Report Page 10 of 15

11 Appendix #3 to the Bishops report: Original President s Report to first LCAQD Synod Dear fathers and brethren in Christ, PRESIDENT S REPORT From the Tabor heights of the Constitution Conventions at Tanunda and St Peter s at the end of last year, with their inspiring services and devotions, their fine discussion and their exhilarating promise of great things to come, we have now returned to the plain of every day live and duty, here on District, parish and personal level to apply what was there resolved. The motto of this convention GROWING UP INTO CHRIST very aptly, we believe, summarises our immediate task and duty at each of these levels. The prospect and promise given in the decision to consummate the oneness in faith and confession in organic union of the Lutheran Churches of Australia after 120 years of separation may well be likened to a seed planted I hope. That it may grow and bear fruit of which it gives promise, will require careful tending and watching. Growth comes from within. It comes unobtrusively, slowly, but surely. Any attempt at pressuring and forcing may well prove harmful. All of which is surely applicable also to our work and experience as a Church. The growth which we eagerly look forward to will be forthcoming and will be sure and lasting only as we grow up into Christ, drawing strength from Him through His Word and sacrament in worship and bringing forth fruit for Him and through Him in Christian Service. The Church on District level has entrusted to us its Church Council the task of watching over the doctrine and tending the development of the Church. We pay a tribute of thanks to the men elected to the Church Council at the Constitution Convention. Pastors R. J. Burger (Vice- President), E.M. Kloeden (Secretary), J.H. Biar, L.B. Grope, D.B. Hoopmann and K.J. Schmidt and the brethren K.W. Kessler, A.R. Muller, C.A. Noller, E.C. Stollznow, L.J. Tesch and I.A. Vonhoff, who with Pastor F.W. Noack, Honorary President, have freely and cheerfully given of their time and experience in the service of the Church. At four meetings in the short while since the beginning of December, they have given careful thought to the many and varied questions requiring attention. It has indeed been a pleasure and privilege to work with them in this intricate and yet exciting task of welding together what had long been separated and together undertaking the task which awaits us. It is, we suggest, not without significance and importance that in the structure of the Church, increased emphasis has been given to the vital role of the Christian Family within the Christian congregation, outwardly evidenced by the election of the Congregational Life Committee which on District level is charged with the responsibility of applying the principles and programmes mapped out by the Department of Church Development for adult education in the family and the congregation. That this may be done effectively and the Home Mission Fields of the District assisted practically and supervised adequately, presupposes a full time Executive Officer of Church Development for the District, as the Constitution Convention readily acknowledged and resolved. The implementation of this resolution was left to the Church Council in consultation with the Committees concerned. The initial intention of the Church Council Home Mission and Congregational Life Committees to call Pastor S. H. Held, one of the Directors of the Board of Church

12 Development, to Queensland that he may supervise our District Home Mission Fields while at the same time directing the Home Mission aspect of Church Development, did not materialises on account of the decision of the Board of Church Development that for the first synodical period at least the established procedure continue and that the two directors, Pastor S.H. Held and E. Leske, carry on their work form Adelaide. It has, therefore, been agreed that a pastor be set aside for this very important office, and the call has been extended to and accepted by K.J. Schmidt, of Nundah. The reports of the several committees will reveal how in the early months of this year, they have undertaken the tasks allotted to them and the plans which they entertain for the future. It has naturally taken somewhat longer to convene some of the committees than others. Suffice it to say that it has been one of the really pleasurable experiences of these firth months of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Queensland District, to see how the several committees are applying themselves with one heart and one mind to the tasks entrusted to them. The immediate effect of union at congregational and parish level has been the amalgamating of congregations here and there and the realigning of parish boundaries in quite a number of areas. Considerable progress has been made during these months. The former E.L.C.A. Gympie Parish has been absorbed into the Maryborough and Gympie Parishes. In Central Queensland overlapping has been eliminated through the decision to amalgamate the congregations at Biloela and at Rockhampton and to place the three pastors implicated more strategically at Biloela, Rockhampton and Emerald. An immediate effect of this has been that it has been made possible to sell one of the manses at Rockhampton, to shift one of the Church halls to Capella and to dispose of the resultant vacant allotment. A further effect of this decision has been the opening of the Mundubbera-Monto field, and the calling of a pastor for this area. In the South Burnett, the former E.L.C.A. congregation at Mondure has decided to disband, and that the members link up with the neighbouring congregations of Wondai and Murgon. This makes the Mondure church redundant and the members have decided to give the building and furnishings to the District, if and where required. At Kingaroy, it has been resolved that the two parishes amalgamate and in future be served as a two pastor parish. The decision of the two congregations at Gatton to amalgamate has meant that the former U.E.L.C.A. St Mark s church is no longer required there. This has been offered to Brassall, Ipswich, that it may provide the initial unit for a suburban development project in Ipswich. This has also prepared the way for realignment in the Brisbane Valley and made possible the stationing of a pastor in the area, which has so long been served from a distance. At Laidley the two congregations have amalgamated and the former Grace, U.E.L.C.A. church hall has been closed. In the Peninsula area, Redcliffe and Woody Point have united to form one parish. Caboolture, Petrie, Dayboro the other. Likewise, at Southport, the former E.L.C.A. congregation has joined the Southport parish. On the Downs considerable progress has been made towards realignment of parish boundaries. In Chinchilla the two former parishes have amalgamated. The one parsonage in Chinchilla has been sold and a parsonage bought at Miles, enabling one pastor (Pastor J.W. Prenzler) to

13 concentrate on the western segment of the field and the other (Pastor T.R. Nitschke) on the eastern with the promise of a third parish in the area centering on Jandowae and embracing Macalister and Bell as soon as a pastor is available. At Dalby the two congregations are in the process of amalgamating. Pastor N.J. Minge has been called to this parish which will temporarily include Bell, where organisation of a congregation has been made possible through certain members transferring their membership from Yamsion. The Oakey Parish has become a reality through the amalgamation of the two congregations in Oakey and itwill take in Aubigny hitherto served by Pastor Janetzki of Dalby and Norwin hereto served by Pastor K.M. Scholz of Dalby. The Greenwood congregations replaces Oakey in the former Goombungee Parish and Peranga congregation plans to join the Maclagan Parish, as also the remnant of Yamsion. In Pittsworth initial steps are being taken to amalgamate the two congregations; St Peter s congregation Pittsworth and Milmerran, formerly of the Darling Downs have placed themselves in their spiritual care of Pastor D.B. Hoopmann who, with the assistance of a vicar, is caring for the enlarged field pending stationing of a pastor at Pittsworth when the opportunity to do so offers. We are confident that having a pastor resident in more of the towns will prove to be of a great benefit and blessing to the work of the Church. The realignment of parish boundaries has had an inevitable side effect that there have been a large number of call meetings and transfers, as indicated by the Chronicle appended to this report. It has been encouraging to find a good understanding at the various centres and to observe a willingness to exercise patience and goodwill a each learns to appreciate the others varying background and a resolve together to grow up in Christ. The auxiliaries of the Church, its Youth, Women s and Mens organisations have all been at work planning to go forward together to the task waiting to be done. The Youth Constituting Convention was held at Luther Heights Coolum on the weekend of January 29 th ; that of Lutheran Men at Nundah on February 4 th and that of Lutheran Women at Gatton on March 30 th. It is through these auxiliaries, as through the Pastor s Conferences in the respective areas, that we believe that the Zones agreed upon at the Constituting Convention, will be organised and we will, I believe, through experience, learn how these zones can most effectively function. The Queensland District as one of the Districts of the Lutheran Church of Australia, has as its representative on the General Church Council, the President and Bro. J.W. Kessler. For the initial period, the Vice-President will serve as a consultative member with the full right of vote. Bro. A.K. Muller has been appointed as one of the three General Finance Council representatives on the General Church Council. All four of the Queensland representatives

14 attended the first meeting of the General Church Council in Adelaide in mid-february. The Trinder Park Rest Home Committee is quietly and unobtrusively working towards the realisation of its endeavours a Lutheran Rest Home at Woodridge. Salem Rest Home Toowoomba and the Rest home at Laidley are both continuing their ministry of love and mercy. The Lutheran Aid Society of the former E.L.C.A. is having its concluding meeting on May 28 th when thought will also be given to possibilities of the Aid Society being reorganised and assuming responsibility for a particular aspect of the practical expression of Christian love and service. OUR COLLEGES Both St Peter s College and Concordia Memorial College report increased enrolments for 1967 and both have plans for further and future development. At St Peter s the opening and dedication of the new Science Block marked an important step forward as does the erection of the Chapel which is anticipated will be completed by the end of October. Upon the authorisation of the Constituting Convention the Church Council and representatives of the College Council and Finance Council accepted the tender for the chapel at $123,938, which we were pleased to note, was below the estimated cost. At Concordia the erection of a new Science Block is an urgent necessity. Negotiations are under way to ensure Commonwealth Government assistance if possible. The College Co-ordinating Council will be meeting immediately after convention. To it is entrusted the important assignment of co-ordinating the work of the two Colleges that each may the more effectively and efficiently discharge its particular task and fulfil its particular mission. Upon the authorisation of the Constitution Convention the Church Council is renting an additional suite upstairs in Andrew House. This provides office space for the Treasurer and for the Executive Secretary of Church Development and for a typiste to serve both of these officers. The Finance Council has been entrusted the important task of allocating the budget adopted by convention to the several congregations. Its work will meet with the desired success and result only as congregations see in the allocation made a target to be reached and, if ever possible, to be exceeded. For the budget adopted always represents minimum requirements and the church can carry on its programme of maintenance and expansion only if the budget is really raised. The budget for the ensuing two years will also be presented to convenient for careful perusal and appropriate action. The British and Foreign Bible Society in this year celebrated its third Jubilee. Because of the appeal for Luther Seminary claiming priority it has been decided that in our church the appeal for the Bible Society be deferred until August. This will assist in printing the New Testament in pidgin, which will be of particular assistance to our Church s mission work in

15 New Guinea. We trust that our members will not only support this appeal generously, but will also take cognizance of the suggestions made that this 150 th anniversary be the occasion for fervent prayer for the spread of the Scriptures and for the sincere resolve to read and study God s own Word of Truth. Pastor R.A. Schmaal of Moorooka has been appointed as an additional representative of the Lutheran Church on the R.F.B.S Brisbane Committee on which Bro. C.F. Radke has been serving for a number of years and of which he is at present the Chairman. On the evening of January 31 st it was my privilege and pleasure to attend a special Service of Thanksgiving in the Chapel at Concordia College to mark the services of our Honorary President, Pastor F.W. Noack, who served for more than 41 years as President of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Australia, Queensland District. It was fitting indeed that the service was conducted by Pastor T. Nuske and the address given by Pastor H.E. Temme. At the complimentary dinner which followed I was given the opportunity of expressing the Church s thanks for and appreciation of services faithfully rendered for so many years surely a unique record. Our Christian sympathy goes out to all who suffered loss in the tragic Tasmanian bush fires and North Queensland floods, especially to our brethren of the household of faith in those areas. Practical expression was given to this in the ready response to the appeal for assistance. May we all hear and heed the voice of our God as he speaks to us through these experience of life, which serve to remind us that our safety and refuge lies alone in Him. And so, was we move forward into a new year of synodical life and work we are necessarily very mindful of the many things still to be done. We are at times made painfully aware of the dividing walls of lack of understanding and mutual trust which need patiently and quietly to be removed and that there are bridges of mutual understanding and respect which still need to be built here and there. May we ever remember that our hope as out help lies in Jesus Chris our Lord and that out problems will be solved and our difficulties overcome and prejudices banished only as we grow up into Christ. F. HERB SCHMIDT, President. (For the First Regular Convention of the LCAQD Held at Concordia Memorial College, Toowoomba April 29 th May 2 nd, 1967.)