• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

COVID-19: Updates and Resources

  • LCA Portal
  • Staff Login
  • Login to (old) LAMP
  • LCA Online Donations
  • Contact

Lutheran Church of Australia

where love comes to life

MENUMENU
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • A BIT ABOUT US

      The Lutheran Church is the largest Protestant church in the world, with over 70 million members. This website tells the story of Australian and New Zealand Lutherans, following Jesus Christ – where love comes to life. Whoever you are, whatever your story, you're welcome here with us.
    • MORE ABOUT US

      • OUR PEOPLE
      • OUR LOGO, OUR MISSION
      • OUR BELIEFS AND TEACHINGS
        • WHAT LUTHERANS BELIEVE – VIDEO SERIES
      • HOW WE WORSHIP
      • OUR STRUCTURE (GOVERNANCE)
        • NOMINATIONS
      • OUR HISTORY
      • LUTHERANS WORLDWIDE
        • WHAT LUTHERANS BELIEVE
          • WHAT LUTHERANS BELIEVE – VIDEO SERIES
        • HISTORY OF THE LUTHERAN CHURCH
  • THE LATEST
    • THE LATEST

      • COVID-19 RETURNING TO WORSHIP
      • CHURCH@HOME RESOURCES
      • CHURCH@HOME WORSHIP
      • DAILY DEVOTION
      • STORY OF THE WEEK
      • SPREAD THE WORD bulletins and announcements
      • NEWS
      • FEATURE STORIES
      • COLUMNS
      • THE LUTHERAN
      • LCA FACEBOOK
    • THE LATEST

      • BULLETIN INSERTS
      • CALLS – EMPLOYMENT – VOLUNTEERING
      • eNEWS LISTS
      • BOOK: SPIRIT FILLED
  • DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES
    • DEPARTMENTS

      • DEPARTMENTS – OVERVIEW & SEARCH
      • DISTRICTS
      • OFFICE OF THE BISHOP
        • LCA INTERNATIONAL MISSION
        • RECONCILIATION MINISTRY
      • LOCAL MISSION
        • CHILD YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY (GROW MINISTRIES)
        • CROSS-CULTURAL MINISTRY
          • Cross Cultural Ministry Conference
        • LUTHERAN MEDIA
        • MINISTRY WITH THE AGEING
        • NEW & RENEWING CHURCHES
    • DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES

      • MINISTRY SUPPORT
        • CHURCH WORKER SUPPORT
        • COMMUNICATIONS
          • THE LUTHERAN
        • FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION
          • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
        • LUTHERAN ARCHIVES
        • PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS
      • EDUCATION & TRAINING
        • AUSTRALIAN LUTHERAN COLLEGE
        • LUTHERAN EDUCATION AUSTRALIA
      • AUSTRALIAN LUTHERAN WORLD SERVICE
      • FINKE RIVER MISSION
      • LLL
        • LUTHERAN TRACT MISSION
    • COMMISSIONS & MINISTRY GROUPS

      • COMMISSIONS
        • SOCIAL AND BIOETHICAL QUESTIONS
          • LUTHERANS FOR LIFE
          • CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC & FAMILY VIOLENCE
        • THEOLOGY AND INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS
        • WORSHIP
          • VISUAL ARTS
      • MINISTRY GROUPS
        • DEAF MINISTRY
        • LUTHERAN NURSES
        • LUTHERAN MEN
        • LUTHERAN SINGLES
        • LUTHERAN WOMEN
        • YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY
  • SERVICES & RESOURCES
    • SERVICES & RESOURCES

      • OVERVIEW & SUMMARY
      • BIBLE READING PLAN
      • BULLETIN NOTICES
      • BUSINESS PARTNERS
      • CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOMESTIC AND FAMILY VIOLENCE
      • CHILD YOUTH & FAMILY MINISTRY (GROW MINISTRIES)
      • COMMUNICATIONS
      • CONGREGATION WEBSITES
      • DAILY DEVOTIONS
      • DOCTRINAL STATEMENTS & THEOLOGICAL OPINIONS
      • EMPLOYMENT & VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITIES
      • ENEWS
      • FORMS
      • HUMAN RESOURCE SYSTEM
      • INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
      • LAMP2
      • LCA FACEBOOK
      • LCA NOTICE BOARD
    • SERVICES & RESOURCES

      • OVERVIEW & SUMMARY
      • LCA LOGO
      • LCA POLICIES & STANDARDS OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOUR
      • LCA SONG
      • LUTHERAN ARCHIVES
      • MINISTRY WITH THE AGEING
      • NEW & RENEWING CHURCHES
      • REGULAR ELECTRONIC GIVING (REG)
      • STORY OF THE WEEK
      • STUDY ASSISTANCE
      • STUDY GUIDES
      • TELECOMMUNICATIONS
      • THE LUTHERAN
      • TRACTS
      • WORSHIP
      • WORSHIP LIVE STREAMING AND DVDs
      • VOLUNTEERING & EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES
    • CONFERENCES & TRAINING

      • CONFERENCE – SENT
      • CONFERENCE – New Horizons
      • TRAINING – Continuing Education for Pastors
      • TRAINING – Professional Standards
      • TRAINING – Congregational Leadership Training
      • TRAINING – Reconciliation Ministry
      • TRAINING – SENT Evangelism Training
      • TRAINING – New Life New Love – Videos
      • TRAINING – Campaign against Family & Domestic Violence Resources and Training
  • PROJECTS & EVENTS
    • PROJECTS, CONSULTATONS & EVENTS

      • OVERVIEW: PROJECTS, EVENTS, CONSULTATIONS & DIALOGUES
      • CONSTITUTION REVIEW
      • ECCLESIASTICAL DISCIPLINE ADJUDICATION AND APPEALS REVIEW
      • CALL PROCESS REVIEW
      • LUTHERAN AGED CARE & COMMUNITY SERVICES – GOVERNANCE IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
        • WELCOME TO LUTHERAN AGED CARE AND COMMUNITY SERVICES
      • WORKING GROUP – COMMISSIONS & INQUIRIES
    • PROJECTS, CONSULTATIONS & EVENTS

      • OVERVIEW: PROJECTS, EVENTS, CONSULTATIONS & DIALOGUES
      • CONVENTION OF GENERAL SYNOD 2021
      • LONGEST LUTHERAN LUNCH
      • LUTHERAN WINEMAKERS ANNUAL RELEASE
      • RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
  • FIND A …

A tribute to Dr Joe Strelan

28 April 2020

by Dr Vic Pfitzner
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

With the death of Dr John (Joe) Strelan, the church militant has lost a saint to the church triumphant. That is a source of immediate sorrow and of long-term joy: sorrow as his family and many friends grieve his loss, joy at the knowledge that a faithful servant now hears ‘Well done!’ from the Saviour whom he proclaimed throughout his long ministry.

In Dr Joe, God gave the church a special gift, a pastor, missionary, theologian, teacher, and writer who could communicate the gospel with rare clarity and teach the profound truths of the faith with rare simplicity. He had no time for theological pretension, for flashy words with little substance.

His sharp, incisive mind gave him the ability to articulate complex theological matters in clear, accessible language. Thus, he was the formulator and subsequent reviser of many statements of the LCA’s Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.

He was at heart (and by training) a biblical scholar. His lectures in Christology, too, were anchored in scripture, not high-flying leaps into academic speculation. Whether teaching or preaching, his message was practical and down to earth, with a pastoral focus and delivered with conviction and the authority born of experience. His sermons more often than not were likewise simple, straightforward expositions of the text, but aimed to challenge and to make people think; they were never trite or boring.

Evidence of Dr Joe’s skills as a writer and interpreter of the scriptures abound in the pages the Lutheran Theological Journal. But his greatest and abiding legacy in this field will possibly be his commentary on the New Testament book of Revelation, ‘Where Earth Meets Heaven’. This is a rare piece of work: a textual commentary that one can read continuously and not merely consult for clarity on a particular passage.

Dr Joe had a pastoral heart but at the same time was not afraid to speak the truth, even when that meant going against popular opinion. Indeed, he had an acute sense of justice and fairness. That came out many times at faculty meetings. Dr Jeff Silcock recalls me saying when Dr Joe retired, something like, ‘Who now is going to take on the role of watchdog to see that we act in ways that are just and fair?’ If I may be permitted a personal comment, Dr Joe was the most valued support during my years as principal: he affirmed me and he criticised me, but without guile.

Leadership qualities came to the fore in his years as LCA Vice-President under Dr Lance Steicke. Those two triennia when Drs Lance and Joe led the church were memorable in that they saw the restoration of an old church practice, that a bishop always had a theologian at his side. Memorable is also Dr Joe’s leadership at general pastors conferences will be remembered by many; he presided with a firm yet gentle hand, always the colleague, not the boss.

Many will remember well an instance that illustrates the consummate skill with which Dr Joe discharged his role as a doctor (teacher) of the church. At a general convention in Melbourne, he presented three powerful Bible studies that left a deep impression on delegates. Dr Joe’s presentation was engaging yet profound. He worked the text like a good exegete but also, as a true pastor, allowed the gospel to shine forth in all its power. And in the final analysis, the greatest thing that can be said of any pastor, and the only thing that counts before God and the world, is that he was truly a servant of the gospel.

Rev Dr Vic Pfitzner served with Dr Strelan on the faculty of Luther Seminary and on the Commission of Theology and Inter-Church Relations.

READ MORE STORIES ABOUT ALC, CTICR, obituaries, pastors, PNG, presidents/bishops

« Message from LCA Bishop John Henderson, 18 March 2020
Questions of true courage »

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Church Worker Support
  • Church@Home
  • Columns
    • #youngsavedfree
    • bring Jesus
    • Dwelling in God's Word
    • Going GREYt!
    • Little Church
    • Movie Reviews
    • Rhythms of Grace
    • Stepping Stones
  • COVID-19 response
  • Daily Devotion
  • Feature Stories
  • Features Homepage
  • LCA Bishop
    • Heartland (The Lutheran)
    • Messages
    • Sermons & Presentations
  • News
  • Our Lutheran Family
    • New Zealand
      • Palmerston North, St Lukes
    • Victoria-Tasmania
      • Hobart St Peter's
  • Presentations & Papers
  • Reconciliation Ministry
  • Story of the Week
  • Uncategorized

Tags

50.500 Aboriginal/Indigenous aid ALC ALWS appointments awards bishops children church workers COVID-19 easter ecumenism forms Grow Ministries HRS international International Mission LCA bishop local mission Lutheran Education LWF music new and renewing churches NSW NZ ordination pastors PNG policy prayer professional standards Qld Reformation refugees Royal Commission SA-NT schools social issues technology Vic-Tas WA women in leadership worship youth and young adults

Archives for all Posts

  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • 2021
  • 2020
  • 2019
  • 2018
  • 2017
  • 2016
  • 2015
  • 2014
  • 2013
  • 2011
  • Don't be the last to find out!

    Join over 4000 people receiving LCA eNews in their inbox every fortnight. It brings you the latest of everything, including updates from this page. It's free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

    Sign up here

    Footer

    Quicklinks

    • HOME
    • DEPARTMENTS & AGENCIES

     

    • SERVICES, RESOURCES & TRAINING
    • PROJECTS & EVENTS
    • FIND A …

    Contact us

    197 Archer Street
    North Adelaide SA 5006

    08 8267 7300
    email us

    © 2021 Lutheran Church of Australia

    Privacy Policy • Disclaimer

    Designed by LCA Communications