Delegate forms
If you are not able or willing to attend the General Synod in October, your parish will need to appoint an alternate. Note that an alternate may only be appointed if we already hold your delegate details in LAMP2. In other words, your parish must elect a delegate (even if they are not attending the Synod) before it may appoint an alternate. Please also note that a lay person (not a pastor) must be elected as an alternate for a lay delegate.
Accommodation, transport and dining options
Parish General Synod fees due 31 March
Lay delegate assistance
It is important that all eligible LCANZ entities send delegates to General Synod so that the whole church is represented. However, the General Church Board (GCB) recognises that some parishes struggle to provide financial support to their appointed delegate, and that delegate costs can be a significant barrier to attendance of lay delegates. Therefore, GCB has earmarked limited funding to assist lay delegates where there is a demonstrated financial inability of the parish to cover their expenses. Assessment of applications for financial assistance is on a case-by-case basis. Applications for financial assistance must be made on the Lay Delegate Assistance application form (link) and must be received via synod@lca.org.au no later than 31 October 2024. All inquiries can be directed to synod@lca.org.au
Responsibilities of delegates
for the 2024–27 synodical term
Essential
- You must be a voting member of an LCA congregation.
- You must be over 18 years of age.
- You must be prepared to serve as your parish’s elected delegate for the full synodical term (up to the 2027 Convention). You will be your parish’s point of contact for pre- and post-Synod communications. As such you will receive and pass on to parish members information relating to General Convention business and opportunities for them to engage with the topics. As a General Synod delegate, you are a servant of the wider church, not only of your parish.
- You are required to have and maintain at least Level 1 Safe Church Training or equivalent, and a Working with Children type check both when you are elected and at the commencement of Convention of General Synod in October 2024. (The body electing or approving your appointment must attest to compliance with these requirements and ensure that you are aware of your obligations in this respect.)
- Your details are recorded in LAMP2.
- Voting at Convention will be done electronically. If you must have a smartphone or similar device and are comfortable using it, we recommend you bring it with you. If you do not have a device or are uncomfortable using one, don’t worry, we will be working with delegates to provide the needed support in the lead-up to Convention.
Highly recommended
- You are able to attend the 2024 General Convention of Synod, 4-7 October. If you are unable to do this, your parish should appoint an alternate delegate to attend in your stead, but you retain your role as delegate for the remainder of the synodical term.
- Delegate feedback after the 2021-23 General Convention noted that some delegates unnecessarily interrupted the flow of business (eg by confusing clarification questions with points of order). It is important that delegates are well-versed in the rules of transacting business at a convention. Regardless of your experience as a delegate, you are urged to attend pre-Convention training. We anticipate there will be a comprehensive training webinar for new delegates and refresher training for experienced delegates.
- It is anticipated that the Way Forward team will bring to Convention a proposal for a framework that the LCANZ can operate as ‘one church with two different practices of ordination’. Delegates should take every opportunity to learn about the project’s progress and be well-prepared to engage in this critical conversation at the Convention.
For your consideration
- Feedback from 2021-23 delegates indicated some displeasure when a parish’s pastor is a pastor delegate and his wife attended as the lay delegate. Also, when a parish is entitled to two lay delegates, the parish elects a husband-and-wife combination. While there may be efficiency considerations and while By-Laws do not preclude these practices, you are encouraged to consider the perceptions of your fellow delegates and to do everything possible to ensure your parish is properly represented.
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