Trial restructure put to test

An evaluation is underway of the trial restructure of the LCA’s governing bodies and national operations. General Synod called for the restructures to be trialled in 2015.

Originally proposed by the LCA’s General Church Council (GCC), the trial restructure is aimed at providing more effective leadership and more mission-centric activity, and delivering resources more efficiently in the church.

GCC has approved the framework and methods of the evaluation. All church ministries affected by the changes, as well as synod delegates who voted on the two resolutions in 2015, will take part in the appraisal. Their views will be sought on outcomes achieved to date.

A formal report on the feedback and resulting recommendations will be provided to the 2018 General Convention of Synod.

GCC has appointed a consultant to assist with the evaluation. Wendy Taylor, a consultant in organisational development, governance and change, will conduct a wide-ranging consultation as part of the evaluation. This will include interviews, focus groups and an online survey, giving participants a chance to offer feedback on the changes, and how these have achieved the objectives of the changes.

Consultation will be supplemented by analysis where possible, for example, with measures of efficiency being compared before and after the changes made since 2015.

GCC will act as the review panel for the evaluation project and report. After review by GCC, the report will be included in General Convention of Synod papers for 2018.

The GCC will consider the report’s recommendations, and proposals arising from the recommendations will be presented to Synod in October.

If you have questions relating to wider issues with the evaluation of the trial, please contact the LCA’s Executive Officer of the Church, Peter Schirmer at peter.schirmer@lca.org.au