Mission and Ministry in Australia and New Zealand
Indigenous Ministry
The work of missionaries and coworkers among Indigenous Australians from the mid-1880s to the present day has borne much fruit, and today, we are proud to include in our Lutheran family around 7000 Indigenous Australian people.
There are four main areas of Aboriginal ministry in the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA):
- Central Australia – Finke River Mission, a ministry of the churchwide LCA
- South Australia (Far West Coast and urban Adelaide)
Contact the South Australia – Northern Territory District on 08 8267 5211 - Far North Queensland
Contact the Queensland District on 07 3511 4000 - The church’s ministry to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders encompasses all our ministry spaces, including within our own local congregations, schools, and other Lutheran communities.
Reconciliation Action Plan
The LCA has a long and deep relationship with Aboriginal ministry, spanning some 150 years. In 2018, the LCA partnered with Reconciliation Australia to develop its first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). Now endorsed by the General Church Board and Reconciliation Australia, our LCA RAP speaks to the commitment our church has made, and is a call to action, to further the church’s vision of reconciliation. It is to bring to life an expression of our ministry that all peoples recognise, understand, value and respect the histories, cultures, lands, and contributions of First Nations peoples as we honour our common humanity as children of God. Our LCA RAP invites every one of us to be involved – our congregations, schools, and communities.
Finke River Mission
Finke River Mission (FRM), together with Alice Springs Lutheran Church, Lutheran Community Care, Yirara College, and Living Waters Lutheran School, brings God’s saving gospel to Lutherans in Central Australia. The work is focused on ministry among over 6000 Aboriginal Christians who identify as Lutheran in the southern part of the Northern Territory, extending from the Queensland border to just over the Western Australia border. These Aboriginal Lutherans in more than 40 communities are served by 28 pastors (20 Aboriginal) and dozens of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal leaders and trainee pastors.
With support from Australian Lutheran College, FRM is responsible for training Aboriginal pastors and other leaders who proclaim the good news of salvation to their people in six languages. The FRM Board coordinates the work of supporting church leaders, providing Bibles, hymns, and other worship resources in language and promoting appropriate literacy programs. Through Yirara College, FRM provides Christian secondary education to up to 300 Aboriginal boarding students annually from remote Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland. Additionally, at the request of the local community, FRM operates a general store and the Old Mission Precinct at Hermannsburg.
How congregations can get involved
Finke River Mission would love to receive support from congregations through:
- giving – donations are always needed for the work of FRM.
- prayer – sign up for the FRM eNews for regular prayer points.
- volunteering and employment – please encourage your congregation members to consider working in Central Australia. The Lutheran agencies in Central Australia are regularly looking for committed Christian people to fill employment vacancies. These are advertised through LCA eNews (sign up at www.lca.org.au/enews), or resumes can be sent to admin@finkerivermission.org.au
Emergencies and natural disasters
Natural disasters and other emergencies have a profound effect on people in both Australia and New Zealand.
A number of resources are available to support congregations in their ministry to their community and around the church during times of crisis.
LCA Disaster and Welfare Fund
The purpose of the fund is to meet the needs of people affected by disasters, such as droughts, floods and fires. The funds are allocated based on applications received, are endorsed by the relevant District and are approved by the General Church Board. Donations to the fund are tax-deductible.
Emergency relief or other community services
Community services are provided by Lutheran Community Care in South Australia and Lutheran Services in Queensland. The services include emergency assistance, financial and personal counselling, foster care, help for homeless people and women fleeing domestic violence, and support for families, people with disabilities and new arrivals. You can find out more at Lutheran Community Care and Lutheran Services.
Caring for people in times of crisis
Communities struggling in the wake of an emergency or natural disaster may need extra care from their local church. Please visit the Pastoral Care page for resources to support people struggling with particular issues. The Commission on Worship has also prepared various rites and prayers for communities to include in their worship during challenging times.
Social and Bioethical Questions
Lutheran Media
Lutheran Media aims to multiply our reach and engagement through media with messages of hope in Jesus.
They offer many resources for people struggling and for use in reaching out to friends, family and people in our communities. They also produce radio spots shared across Australia on public radio stations.
Congregations may find their resources helpful in various ministry activities. Lutheran Media welcomes all support congregations can offer, including:
- Giving – There is a great need for financial assistance. Lutheran Media particularly encourages regular partnering in the mission and bequests.
- Raising awareness by sharing the details of their ministry in your community
- Volunteering – For those living near Lutheran Media's office, there are several volunteer tasks you can assist with.
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