Ordination project officer appointed

Timothy Pietsch has been appointed to organise the church-wide consultation on a draft doctrinal statement regarding the ordination of women and men in the LCA.

The LCA’s Commission on Theology and Inter-church Relations (CTICR) has produced a preliminary draft doctrinal statement and commentary in response to synod’s resolution at last year’s General Convention. It was resolved: ‘That Synod requests that CTICR build on its earlier work regarding the ordination of women and men to develop a draft doctrinal statement for GPC [General Pastors Conference] and the 19th Convention of Synod that presents:

• A theological basis for the ordination of women and men
• A theological basis for why the ordination of women and men need not be church divisive

and that GCC [General Church Council] resource it.’

As at press time, face-to-face consultations for LCA/NZ members were planned to be held in about 25 locations around Australia and New Zealand between March and October 2017. The draft doctrinal statement and accompanying commentary will form the basis of the consultations.

Mr Pietsch, pictured above, said there were two main elements to the consultation process – presenting the draft document and obtaining feedback.

‘The aim of the consultation is to engage as many members of the LCA/NZ as possible in discussions about the draft doctrinal statement’, he said. ‘It’s about hearing the voice of the church.’

The OWL (Ordination We’re Listening) website is again open for comments and resources.

Mr Pietsch, who was formerly a manager of financial systems support staff and a software development specialist with the South Australian Government, is a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Adelaide.