New bishop for LCANZ’s South Australia – Northern Territory District

Pastor Andrew Brook has been elected as the next bishop of the LCANZ’s South Australia – Northern Territory District. The lead pastor of St Johns Lutheran Church Unley in suburban Adelaide and the District’s First Assistant Bishop, he was elected unopposed for an initial four-year term during this month’s District Convention of Synod at Victor Harbor on the state’s Fleurieu Peninsula.

Pastor Adrian Kitson, who serves the congregation of St Petri Nuriootpa in South Australia’s Barossa Valley, will replace Pastor Andrew as First Assistant Bishop, while Pastor Joel Cramer, of The Ark at Salisbury in Adelaide’s north, will continue in his role as SA–NT Second Assistant Bishop.

SA–NT Bishop-elect Andrew will succeed Bishop David Altus, who did not seek re-election after 13 years in the role and will serve as ‘caretaker bishop’ before retiring mid-year. Bishop-elect Andrew previously served in the Victoria-Tasmania District, at Burnie-Davenport, Ringwood and Box Hill since he began parish ministry in 1993. He also served the Vic-Tas District from 2004 to 2006 in Child, Youth and Family Ministry, including Tertiary Ministry.

The SA–NT District Convention also endorsed the establishment of the new full-time executive officer role of Assistant Bishop for the Northern Territory. The desire for this position has come from NT communities, in consultation with the District and LCANZ leaders. The SA-NT District Church Council and Finke River Mission Board have agreed to jointly fund the position for an initial period of four years. More than 5000 Indigenous and non-Indigenous NT residents identify as Lutheran, the majority of whom – more than 4000 – live in Indigenous communities in Central Australia, across a region larger than Victoria. Northern Territory Lutheran organisations minister to communities wrestling with enormous social challenges, poverty and isolation. On-the-ground LCANZ leadership presence in the region will strengthen pastoral care and ministry and support the connection of these ministries and worshipping communities to the wider church vision.

The District leadership team is very grateful for the prayers of our SA–NT members. Pictured here at Synod is Pastor Greg Vangsness, praying for the group as we welcome new members and come together as a team. L-R: Pastor Greg Vangsness (Mid North Lutheran Ministries), Angela Rogers (District Administrator), Pastor Andrew Brook (SA-NT Bishop Elect), Pastor Joel Cramer (Second Assistant Bishop), Pastor Adrian Kitson (First Assistant Bishop), Pastor Stephen Schultz (Assistant Bishop for Mission). Photo courtesy of the SA–NT District.