Christian guide commended to schools

In response to a call from the Lutheran education community for teaching and pastoral care advice on identity and gender, the LCANZ has approved a cover letter to be read in conjunction with the ’Created and Loved’ Christian guide.

While the College of Bishops (CoB) and the General Church Board (GCB) will work towards providing a guide specific for the LCANZ in response to the request, ‘Created and Loved’ – the Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference Statement for schools – has been commended as ‘a suitable starting point to guide Lutheran schools and early childhood services in matters of identity and gender’.

The letter says that although the document uses some terms and concepts that reflect Catholic social teaching and which are not commonly used by Lutherans in Australia and New Zealand, ‘the overall tenor of the document is in keeping with the teachings of the LCANZ’. ‘The comprehensive research that underpins the guide and the thoughtful and deeply caring tone in which the guide is written reflects the generosity of the Christian vision and is consistent with the mission of the LCANZ – to grow communities where God’s love comes to life’, the letter says.

The LCANZ’s Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions and Lutheran Education Australia undertook an extensive consultation process to prepare the letter and thank participants from the Lutheran education community and the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations.

Apart from addressing the schools’ context specifically around identity and gender, the LCANZ also has committed to developing a statement on these issues for its congregations and other agencies.

The letter, which contains a link to ‘Created and Loved’, can be accessed here.