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Lutheran Church of Australia

where love comes to life

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      The Lutheran Church is the largest Protestant church in the world, with over 70 million members. This website tells the story of Australian and New Zealand Lutherans, following Jesus Christ – where love comes to life. Whoever you are, whatever your story, you're welcome here with us.
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Social and Bioethical Questions

NEW! Guides to Christian Ethical Decision-Making

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About us

You might feel, as many people do, that society is changing faster than ethics can keep up. This is particularly so in respect of scientific discoveries and technological achievements. Often, our members of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand (LCA/NZ), and other people, too, look for guidance from our church’s leaders on contemporary social and bioethical questions. These questions may relate to First Nation voices, refugees, family and domestic violence, euthanasia, abortion, gender identity, poverty, terrorism, and caring for God’s creation.

With direction from the College of Bishops, the Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions (CSBQ) oversees this important area of our church's work.

CSBQ considers the questions carefully from a Lutheran ethical perspective and prepares responses for the College of Bishops to consider. These responses may inform LCA/NZ policy (eg Synod Resolutions), training programs, study materials, congregational guidelines, and submissions to appropriate bodies, such as parliamentary select committees.

CSBQ works closely with the Assistant to the Bishop (Public Theology) and the Australian Lutheran College (ALC). CSBQ currently has the following working groups reporting to it:

Lutherans for Life brings together people with a common desire to promote the sanctity of God’s gift of human life; promotes respect for and defends human life from conception to natural death, since God is its Creator;  and leads educational and other appropriate activities to achieve this end, both in the Church and the world.

Lutheran Earth Care Australia and New Zealand (LECANZ) (new in 2020) advises, assists, encourages and supports individuals, congregations, agencies, and institutions within the LCANZ in their support of God’s mission to care for creation.

Working Group for Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence  seeks to continue to build the  LCANZ as a community where respectful behaviour is exhibited within families and close relationships.

Lutheran Refugee Action Group (new in 2021) promotes awareness and improved advocacy and support for refugees and people from refugee backgrounds.

 

Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts

DAFV-Logo-Mid

The Campaign for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence, called Hidden Hurts Healing Hearts, is a project of the Lutheran Church of Australia. It is overseen by a working group of people who have knowledge and expertise in the areas of support to victims and perpetrators of domestic and family violence.

CSBQ Library

The CSBQ also has an educational role in the LCA by way of assisting church members to understand and respond appropriately to social and bioethical issues themselves. It does this by preparing resources, discussion papers and statements. Previously prepared material can be viewed or downloaded at our library. Click on the accordion tabs below.

Current issues Expand

COVID-19

  • Clarification about the transmissibility of COVID-19
  • Domestic and family violence
  • Medical aspects
  • Mental health
  • Refugees
  • Vaccinations
  • Vaccines on offer in Australia and New Zealand
Papers adopted by General Convention of Synod Expand
  • Abortion (1970) edited 2001
  • Birth control (1968) edited 2001
  • Domestic violence (1993)
  • Euthanasia or mercy killing (1981)
  • HIV and AIDS (1990) edited 2001
  • Human reproductive technology (1987)
  • Marriage, divorce, and re-marriage (1978) edited 2001
  • War, peace and conscientious objection to service in war (1987)
  • X-rated videos (1990)
Papers adopted by CSBQ Expand
  • Abortion: the Hard Choices (2002)
  • Gambling (1987)
  • Human Rights (1985)
  • Humanity's Teatment of Animals (1979)
  • Multiculturalism and the Lutheran Church (1993)
  • Poverty (1993)
  • The Involvement of the Church in Social and Political Problems (1972)
  • The Rural Crisis: an Assault on the Dignity of Agricultural Work (1991)
  • The 'Two Kingdoms' (2001)
  • The Use of Drugs (1979)
  • Work and Unemployment (1992)
    – Introduction

    – What are the Issues Regarding Work for Christians Today?
    – What is the Context of Work Today?
    – Biblical and Theological Views of Work
    – Work and Unemployment: Responses
Discussion papers Expand
  • Pastoral Statement on ‘Boat People' (2002)
  • Population and Development: a Christian Perspective on a Global Question (1994)
  • Poverty: a Blight of Many, the Plight of All (2002)
  • Food and Hunger (2009)
  • HIV/AIDS: A Global Tragedy
  • Human Cloning (2005)

Commission on Social and Bioethical Questions

csbq@lca.org.au

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