Because we bear your name October–November 2024

‘Concordia’ is the name of our Lutheran college in Highgate in suburban Adelaide, South Australia. It is where delegates from across our church, including those from across the Tasman Sea, gathered for the 21st Convention of our General Synod in early October.

Concordia is a Latin word which means ‘with one heart’.  It is a historic name of our Lutheran Church as ‘Concordia’ was also the simple title of the original collection of writings that we know today as The Book of Concord.

The name ‘Concordia’ reflects the common purpose of those who gather. In the church, the idea of being of ‘one heart’ goes right back to the very first Christians who gathered together after the day of Pentecost. We are told in the book of Acts chapter 4, about those who were ‘of one heart and soul’.

So, it was fitting for us to gather at ‘Concordia’ for the decisions of our Convention, including the Way Forward proposal. Our General Pastors Conference and General Synod expressed the desire to go forward together, to be of ‘one heart’ as people of the Lutheran Confession both in New Zealand and Australia.

When I think of this ‘one heart’, I am reminded of the symbol of Luther’s Rose, in which the heart is at the centre, and at the centre of the heart is the cross of our Lord. To be of one heart is to be committed to serving together as witnesses to all that the Lord has done for us, to the ends of the earth.

At every baptism, the pastor repeats this image when he makes the sign of the cross over the forehead and the breast of the person to be baptised. Speaking the person’s name, the pastor says, ‘Receive the mark of the holy cross † as a sign that Christ the crucified has redeemed you’. Our hearts are changed by the good news of Jesus Christ. When the disciples on the way to Emmaus heard the gospel from the risen Lord, they declared, ‘Were not our hearts burning within us?’

Some in our church are troubled by the outcomes of the Convention. They may not have voted in favour of some proposals. But we have gathered purposefully to be of one heart together, to serve one another and to listen to one another.

Following the Convention at Concordia, we have much to do. There are documents to prepare and support to give to one another. We received many reports, including some about the relocation of our Australian Lutheran College and Churchwide Office to our new building on Frome Street in the city centre of Adelaide, with the expectation that the move will be completed in 2025.

We have much to do but with a common purpose with ‘one heart’. Let us pray to the Lord, for one another and for the world, as we go into the world as people of the gospel. We remember that, at all times, we bear Christ’s name, as in the words below.

Lord Jesus, we belong to you,
you live in us, we live in you;
we live and work for you –
because we bear your name.

Help us receive each other, Lord,
for you receive the least of us
and come to us in them –
because we bear your name.

Bless those who give us any gift,
because they know that we are yours;
reward them with your grace –
because we bear your name.

Let us acknowledge those as friends
who use your name to right a wrong
but have not joined us yet –
because we bear your name.

Let nothing that we do or say
offend the weak so that they fall
and lose their faith in you –
because we bear your name.

Keep us from missing out on life;
give hands that help, and single sight,
and feet that walk your way –
because we bear your name.

You are the salt that cleanses us,
so clean us out, and make us fit
for common life with you –
because we bear your name.

292 All Together Everybody
One Licence
Words: Dr John Kleinig
Music: Dr Robin Mann

In Christ,

Paul 

‘Lord Jesus, we belong to you,
you live in us, we live in you;
we live and work for you –
because we bear your name’