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Board for Lay Ministry

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The logo for the Board for Lay Ministry symbolises the ministry of lay workers. It features two hands raised in prayer. The hands are in different colours, representing lay workers working hand in hand with pastors in ministry. The cross in the palms of the ministry team's hands emanates from the shape of the church underneath. The curve represents the Holy Spirit moving through the church out into the world.

 

The Board for Lay Ministry was established to encourage, support and assist lay workers as they lead ministries, and to assist employing bodies with the processes to achieve their ministries through the employment of trained lay workers, so that ultimately people’s lives will be transformed in and through Christ Jesus.

Vision

The vision of the Board for Lay Ministry is that all congregations and organisations of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) will have access to appropriately skilled lay workers to be involved in their ministries, and to equip and empower ministry partners as they build faith within their communities. As the Spirit works through these ministries, more people will experience Jesus’ love for them and commit to follow him.

Purpose

The Board for Lay Ministry exists to promote and nurture lay ministry across the LCA, to advise congregations and church agencies as they seek to better utilise lay people in their ministries, and to encourage, support and assist lay workers and their employers as they carry out their ministries.

To achieve its purpose the board’s core activities include:

  • developing a forward-looking vision and supporting policies for lay ministry;
  • promoting a deeper understanding of the value of lay ministries and the role of lay workers in the ministry of the LCA;
  • encouraging and supporting church agencies and their lay workers as they plan and implement the ministries God is leading them to do:
  • establishing and communicating uniform standards for lay workers including accreditation requirements, mentoring and support arrangements, salary scales and other terms and conditions of employment;
  • ensuring appropriate pre-service and in-service training programs are available to and undertaken by LCA lay workers;
  • providing mediation services where necessary, to assist employers and lay workers resolve disputes in God-pleasing ways;
  • supporting the Director in his administration of the lay worker program and overseeing wise management of the Board’s human and financial resources.

The term ‘lay ministry’ refers to areas of ministry that are led by appropriately trained and equipped lay people, and are focused on showing Jesus’ love to people, on caring for others, and on mentoring Christians in their faith.

The diagram below illustrates the board’s primary focus of supporting lay workers and their employers, and its broader responsibility to encourage all God’s people to be involved in ministry.

The Board for Lay Ministry Focus Areas

 

Primary focus: Lay workers and their employers

 

Secondary focus: The priesthood of all believers. All God’s people are called to mission and to participate in the ministry of bringing the gospel to all people who come into their lives. Therefore the board is committed to encourage, resource and affirm these people wherever it is possible and practical to do so.

 

 

Definition of a Lay Worker

A lay worker is a lay person who has been installed into a defined ministry position by a congregation or agency of the LCA. The position may be a paid one, or occupied on a voluntary basis.

The office of the Director of Lay Ministry maintains a register of LCA lay workers. To be eligible for inclusion on the register a lay worker will:

  • occupy a position that has a written position description which includes a definition of the ministry, ministry goals, and the specific responsibilities of the position
  • have signed an employment agreement or a volunteer’s covenant agreement
  • have been publicly installed into their position
  • have completed lay worker accreditation requirements, or have committed to undertake those requirements
  • be a practising member of the LCA (unless an exception has been granted by the district president).

Education and Training

Training of Lay Workers

The LCA is rightly concerned that those who would serve as lay workers in the LCA are fully equipped to carry out the service for which they are engaged. The training of lay workers based on a blend of theoretical and practical competency-based learning, covering the following four knowledge and skills areas:

  • theological/spiritual development
  • leadership development
  • character development
  • generic and Ministry specific skills.

Theological understanding / spiritual development

The ministry of the lay worker must be underpinned by key theological foundations. Importantly, the learning process is not simply an academic exercise but rather a spiritual journey. Learners need to be encouraged in this journey by suitable mentors.

Leadership development

This area includes the ability to develop and mentor others, manage conflict, direct or influence others, facilitate ministry teams, engage, inspire and gain others’ commitment. For more specific senior lay work positions it may also include strategic thinking and planning, and advanced people and resource management skills.

Character development

To be effective in ministry, lay workers need to develop such attributes as interpersonal sensitivity, a concern for personal impact, relationship-building skills, ability to show initiative, self-confidence, a team orientation, tenacity and resilience. They also need to be trained in self-awareness and be able to recognise and seek help in dealing with their own issues.

Generic and ministry-specific skills development

Generic ministry skills include ministry planning, goal setting, administration, time management and other organisational skills. Other skills will need to be developed that are specific to the ministry role being performed, for example, those related to being a youth worker, a contemporary worship leader, a spiritual life coordinator, a counsellor or a school chaplain.

It is the responsibility of the employing body to ensure that lay workers are properly equipped for the area in which they serve and, where appropriate, the employer may be required to allow time off so that the lay worker may engage in studies.

The board supports the training of lay workers through Australian Lutheran College (ALC), Grassroots Training and other approved institutions. The Director for Lay Ministry liaises with ALC and Grassroots Training in regard to curricula. The board reviews annually the appropriateness for education and training requirements for lay workers.

Resources

Support Us

The LCA Lay Ministry Fund financially supports lay ministry initiatives that will be directed ultimately towards the transformation of people’s lives in Christ.

Your contributions will:

  • encourage God's people to take up specialist vocations for which he has uniquely gifted them
  • help create opportunities for the gospel to be proclaimed
  • aid in the development and equipping of strong Christian lay leaders.

You will also become a partner in this growing and exciting ministry of our church, accepting the commission to 'go and make disciples' wherever they may be found.

Contact Us

Board for Lay Ministry
Email: layministry@lca.org.au

Director for Lay Ministry
James Doecke
Phone: 08 8267 7300
Email: layministry.director@lca.org.au