President’s News

• We remember all those who are grieving their loved ones who have joined the saints of all time
• The work of Finke River Mission and its staff
• Those affected by the recent flooding in Pakistan and volcanic eruptions in Indonesia
• That young men and women will be challenged to consider a call to serve in specialized ministries in the Church

DR ADRIENNE JERICHO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LUTHERAN EDUCATION AUST.

We thank God for the gifts that Dr Adrienne Jericho, Lutheran Education Australia Executive Director, brought to the Lutheran Church of Australia, its schools and overseas partner churches particularly in Indonesia and PNG where he gladly gave his expertise to help them establish their schools. God has blessed so many through Adrienne’s almost 16 years of service as Executive Director of Lutheran Education Australia and, prior to this, 25 years in Australian Lutheran schools in QLD, including serving as founding principal at Immanuel Lutheran College Maroochydore. The staff of the Lutheran Church of Australia National Office extend their sincere sympathy to his wife Liz, to his children and grandchildren. We rest in the promises and certain hope of what Christ has given us through his cross and resurrection. The funeral will be held on Tuesday 7 September at 10.00am at Concordia College Chapel, Highgate SA.

COLLEGE OF PRESIDENTS RETREAT

The College of Presidents are currently attending their annual retreat, this year held at New Norcia Monastery WA. During the next year each of the District Presidents will have an opportunity to connect with some of our mission partners. Earlier this year WA President Greg Pfeiffer visited Cambodia, Malaysia and Singapore. NSW District President Mark Lieschke is currently overseas on leave and will be visiting the Lutheran Church Canada as part of his travels to further our relationship with that church, particularly in the area of various exchanges for Lay Workers, Pastors, and teachers.

COMMISSION ON THEOLOGY AND INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS

The Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations met at the end of last week. Among the matters under discussion are Infant Communion, Human Sexuality, the Order of Creation/Natural Law, Ecology, Deliverance Ministry, Prophecy in the Church, Spirit – Word connection and the Rebuke of unclean spirit in the Rite of Baptism. Of note from overseas where I attended the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod Convention is their report The Creator’s Tapestry by the Commission on Theology and Church Relations on ‘the Scriptural Perspective on Man Woman Relationship in Marriage and the Church’, a readable 45pg production covering man/woman relationships based on the three articles of the apostles creed. It can be downloaded at www.lcms.org/ctcr.

VOCANIC ERUPTION IN INDONESIA

The LCA has long established partnerships with the Batak Lutheran Churches in Indonesia and many of these Batak Christians live on the island of North Sumatra. On 29 August 2010, Mount Sinabung, a volcano on the island of Sumatra erupted for the first time in 400 years. A total of approximately 30,000 people living in a radius of 6 kms have been evacuated to government-established emergency centres, or left for other areas to stay with family and friends. To those in the temporary camps (at least 12,000 at this stage) the government has provided shelter, food, medicines and other basic household needs. The Red Cross has distributed 8,500 masks to protect residents from the volcano’s fumes. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) in Indonesia considers the situation to be under control and the government hasn’t requested any international assistance at this time. Meanwhile, the LCA/ALWS-supported Centre for Disaster Risk Management & Community Development Studies in Medan is monitoring the situation and will liaise with the Lutheran churches to establish what, if any, action needs to be taken. Please keep the people of North Sumatra and our partner Churches in your prayers at this time as they face the consequences of another natural disaster.

FLOODS IN PAKISTAN

Following the passage included in the last President’s Page, ALWS has transferred $20,000 to the aid effort for those affected by flooding in Pakistan. ALWS has channelled these donations through our emergency response partner actalliance, with aid delivered by partners already working in Pakistan including Christian World Service, Norwegian Church Aid and Diakonie Katastrophenhilfe. Aid delivered includes food supplies, tents and tarps for temporary shelter, and essential health and hygiene services. For a full summary of the actalliance Pakistan action, click here. ALWS understands how generous people have been in response to the Haiti earthquake disaster, and the many other calls on them for help. Therefore, rather than launch a full appeal, people can make donations to help as they feel moved at www.alws.org.au or phone 1300 763 407.

LAMP YEARBOOK DETAILS

Information for the 2011 LCA yearbook is starting to be collated within the LAMP database, including congregation locations, service times, pastors, lay workers and board members. Could you please make sure your details are correct in LAMP by Friday 24 September to ensure that they will be correct in the 2011 yearbook. Please contact your District or National Office if you require any help in making corrections.

EXTENDED

• Robert Edwards Burrumbuttock NSW to Maryborough Childers QLD
• Robert Edwards Burrumbuttock NSW to Biloela QLD
• Andrew Schulz Campbelltown NSW to Redlands QLD
• Stephen Schultz St Michaels Hahndorf SA to Woden Valley ACT
• Adam Eime Henty NSW to Dimboola Jeparit VIC
• Mark Demmer Goombungee Maclagan QLD to Minyip/Warracknabeal VIC
• Mark Demmer Goombungee Maclagan QLD to Lameroo SA
• Mark Doecke Leave of Absence to Bundaberg QLD
• Stephen Jaensch Southern Yorke Peninsula SA to Emerald QLD
• Tim Koch Murray Bridge SA to Grovedale VIC
• Wayne Boehm Salisbury SA to Maitland SA
• Michael Steicke Good Shepherd Toowoomba QLD to Mannum-Palmer SA

ACCEPTED

DECLINED

• Tim Stringer Melbourne Outer Eastern VIC to Grovedale VIC
• Robert Edwards Burrumbuttock NSW to Freeling SA
• Tim Klein Berri SA to Glenelg SA
• Geoff Havelberg Gawler Zion SA to Cairns QLD

PARISHES IN THE CALL PROCESS

• New South Wales: Port Macquarie; Sydney St Pauls; Woden Valley
• New Zealand: Auckland Botany Chinese; Hamilton/Tauranga; Upper Moutere
• Queensland: Beau-Logan; Beenleigh; Biloela; Bundaberg; Cairns; Chinchilla; Emerald; Maryborough Childers; Mount Gravatt; Nundah; South West Queensland (Wandoan Ministry area);
• South Australia/Northern Territory: Coonalpyn; Freeling; Glenelg; St Pauls Hahndorf; Lameroo; Maitland; Mannum-Palmer; Port Lincoln; Robertstown
• Victoria: Bendigo; Dimboola Jeparit; Grovedale; Hamilton; Minyip/Warracknabeal;
• Western Australia:

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN LAY MINISTRY

• Community Evangelist – Aberfoyle Park SA - 0.6Fte
• Tertiary Ministry Coordinator - Victorian/Tasmanian District – 0.5Fte
• Promotions & Bookings Manager – Warrambui, NSW – Full Time
• Child, Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator - St Petri Lutheran Church – Full Time
• Children, Youth and Family Ministry Coordinator – Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Wagga Wagga – 0.6 Fte

For more information please visit the LCA web site: http://www.lca.org.au/lca/employment.cfm