Former LCA leader dies

Former Lutheran Church of Australia President Rev Dr Les Grope has died, aged 97.

Dr Grope, who served in the role now known as LCA Bishop from 1972 until his retirement in 1987, died on Sunday (28 January) in Adelaide.

Born on 19 December 1920 at Stockwell, about 80 kilometres north of Adelaide, Leslie Bernhard Grope was ordained on 6 February 1944. He married his wife Ruth (nee Rechner) on 13 October 1945. She died in 1988.

Dr Grope served as pastor at Nambour, Highfields and St Paul’s Toowoomba Queensland, as well as at St Stephen’s in Adelaide. He was president of the LCA’s South Australia District from 1970 to 1972.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday 6 February at St Stephen’s Adelaide. He is survived by his sons Andrew and Peter.