Spring Quarter 2026

The news and notes below are relevant for the Spring quarter 2026. They will be updated throughout this quarter, and you will also be advised of updates via the Summer Edition of Congregation Leaders eNews. If you are a congregation or parish chairperson, secretary, treasurer, pastor or other elected office-holder and you did not receive the Spring Edition, you might not be on our mailing list. You can sign up for Congregation Leaders eNews here.

A note for New Zealand congregation leaders: Some Australian-mandated items do not apply to New Zealand congregations. If in doubt, please contact your NZ District Administrator.

2027 Convention of General Synod

The LCA's 22nd Regular Convention of General Synod will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre from 1 to 4 October 2027. Information on delegate fees, key deadlines and planning for delegates has been released to help congregations and parishes prepare for the gathering. Read the update. Parishes are strongly encouraged to elect their delegates as soon as possible, so they can arrange travel, but especially accommodation. This is due to Convention falling on a long weekend, during school holidays and coinciding with two Rugby Union World Cup games in Brisbane. The Secretary of the Church will be sending another letter to parishes in October, with delegate forms and proposal forms.

ACTION STEPS (1) Elect your General Synod delegate as quickly as possible so that he/she can arrange accommodation in Brisbane. (2) Remind your treasurer to consider General Pastors Conference and Convention of General Synod costs when preparing the 2027 budget.

MORE INFORMATION Visit the 2027 Convention of General Synod page.

QUESTIONS Email the Secretary of the Church soc@lca.org.au or call us on 08 8267 7300.

Help visitors find your church

The LCANZ has launched an enhanced ‘Find a Church’ search tool on the LCA website, making it easier than ever for people to connect with Lutheran congregations across Australia and New Zealand. As part of the upgrade, we’ve also introduced a new ‘Find a Worship Service’ feature that enables people to search for worship opportunities in their area. Because these tools are used regularly by people looking for a local church, it is important that your congregation’s details are accurate and up to date. Please take some time to check them now.

ACTION STEP Visit the Find a Church page and check that it is working for your congregation/s and that the details are correct. If they are not, they will need to be updated in LAMP2.

MORE INFORMATION Visit the LAMP2 page for information about logging in and updating your congregation's details. NEED HELP? Email lamp2@lca.org.au or call 08 8267 7300.

NEED HELP? Email lamp2@lca.org.au or call 08 8267 7300.

LCA Levy – a thankyou and a reminder

Thank you to the many parish leaders who have paid the LCA Funds Levy invoice for this year – and a reminder to those who still need to do so. This annual levy, which is charged per communicant member aged 18 and older, supports the work of the LCANZ, including active and retired pastors and their families, and the ministries of the church. The total amount payable by parishes, which are responsible for collecting the appropriate amounts from their individual member congregations, is calculated from the previous year’s statistics as loaded in LAMP2, at $40 per member.

ACTION STEP Thank you for the payment of your levy by 31 October 2026.

MORE INFORMATION Visit the LCA Levy webpage.

QUESTIONS Email accounts@lca.org.au or call us on 08 8267 7300.

Springtime is manse inspection time

Regular inspections of your manse are an important part of responsible property stewardship and help ensure that the home remains safe, functional and well-maintained for your pastor and their family. You are encouraged to arrange periodic inspections, in consultation with the pastor and their family, to identify any maintenance issues early, address potential safety concerns, and plan for future repairs or improvements. These inspections should be conducted respectfully and collaboratively, recognising that the manse is both a church-owned asset and your pastor’s home. Maintaining a regular inspection schedule supports the wellbeing of all those living in the manse while protecting the long-term value and condition of your property.

Insurance: valuation and renewal programs

The LCA valuation program for churches for 2026 is about to commence. The exercise will be undertaken by our appointed valuer, Aon Commercial Risk Solutions. If your church was not valued in 2024 or 2025, your church may be revalued later in 2026 or in early 2027. Accurate disclosure of building values is essential to ensure appropriate insurance coverage and to mitigate the risk of under-insurance. Failure to provide correct valuations may result in a substantial reduction in claim payments or, in some circumstances, the denial of coverage altogether.

The LCA Insurance Program for 2026–27 was successfully renewed on 25 June 2026. The LCA Insurance team has completed the renewal invoices for individual clients, with all invoices expected to be issued by early September 2026. Please be assured that your insurance coverage remains in place during this time, and there is no impact on your existing cover while invoices are being finalised.

Code of Conduct update

A churchwide update on the progress of the Code of Conduct was issued by Assistant Bishop Stephen Schultz on 18 August. The next step for the General Church Board and College of Bishops is to review and revise the Code of Conduct and implementation plan based on the feedback received. The revised document and plan will then be circulated to pastors and members of the LCANZ for further consultation and feedback. Regardless of whether you have signed the Code of Conduct or not, there is no further action required of you at this time. Read the update from the Assistant Bishop.