Church feedback helps refine Way Forward framework

Feedback from church members has been critical in helping to refine the LCANZ’s Way Forward framework to go to General Pastors Conference (GPC) and General Synod for deliberation and vote later this year.

Consistent with Synod’s request last year to find a way for the LCANZ to operate as one church with two practices of ordination, the framework was released for feedback on 26 April and addressed two primary components:

• removal of the clause in the church’s Theses of Agreement (VI:11), which prohibits the ordination of women; and
• provision of a theological-pastoral place (‘the Conference’) in the church for congregations and individuals who uphold the practice of male-only ordination.

It is anticipated that a revised framework, which reflects the feedback received from across the church, as well as the input of the Way Forward project’s Theological, Constitutional and Governance working groups, will be considered by the General Church Board and the College of Bishops at their joint July meeting. Once approved, this will be published in the Book of Reports for the Convention of Synod.

A Way Forward webinar for Synod delegates will be held on 14 August and face-to-face gatherings to consider the framework and its possible implications for the church are being organised by the Districts.

‘Throughout the project, the Way Forward team has sought feedback from the church, which has been taken into account in developing a final framework‘, LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith said. ‘The team is grateful to everyone who submitted questions and comments, as they have guided the revision of the framework in a way that would allow as many people as possible to support it. We trust the Lord of the church is faithfully leading his people in this work.’

The framework, including the Conference concept, was developed in response to feedback from the church on three framework options released in September last year. An overwhelming theme of the feedback was that people wanted to continue as one church. At the same time, responses called for a way for the church to pastorally care for those who uphold male-only ordination. The Conference concept aimed to provide this place with minimal change to the organisation of the church. Feedback from across the church, however, has raised concerns that the Conference might not achieve the outcome for which it was created. The project team listened to these concerns and on that basis may consider amending the current iteration of the framework with an alternative mechanism to the Conference concept.

Bishop Smith said that, ultimately, the final framework to go to GPC and General Synod would be the result of combined work of the people of the church and the Way Forward project team. ‘Most importantly, this collaboration will develop a framework that gives us the best possible chance of moving forward in unity, as one church, under Christ’, he said.