Equipping LCA for ‘the harvest’: priority for new LCA local mission leader

Mrs Tania Nelson will be the LCA’s new Executive Officer – Local Mission. LCA Bishop John Henderson announced last month that the General Church Council had called Tania to the new position and that she had accepted the call.

Since 2012, Tania has served as the Head of School of Theological Studies and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Australian Lutheran College (ALC). She has worked previously in the Lutheran education system, including as deputy principal at Golden Grove Lutheran Primary School, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, between 2009 and 2012. She is completing a Doctor of Education at Australian Catholic University. Her thesis researches the respective contributions of principals and pastors to the mission of Lutheran primary schools.

The Executive Officer – Local Mission will play an important role in leading the development of integrated approaches and strategies for local mission, including coordinating the LCA’s local mission-focused ministries as we engage with Christ’s mission for the world.

Tania, who will start work with the LCA after completing existing commitments at ALC, said she was very excited to be called to the position. ‘It will be such a blessing to work with various departments, agencies and leaders as, together, we assist communities to “Go” as God’s people’, she said.

‘The development of a missional culture across the LCA – where individuals, families, congregations and communities are active in bringing love to life – is fundamental to local mission. I pray that, through the integration and coordination of approaches to local mission, all are equipped to be labourers in his harvest. As Jesus says in Matthew 9:37-38 (NRSV), “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest”.’