Cross-Cultural eNews
Cross-Cultural Conferences
New Horizon Conferences
New Horizon conferences are happening around Australia. Visit our conferences page for more information!
Cross-Cultural Ministry Grants
Cross-Cultural Ministry grants are for congregations who require financial support for the growth and development of cross-cultural mission and ministry. The Cross-Cultural Ministry Grant Booklet is essential reading prior to submitting an application and provides details of grant assessment criteria as well as reporting requirements. We currently offer major and minor grants. Major grant applications close on 30 September each year and minor grant applications are open year-round
Cross-Cultural Ministry is one of five departments in the Local Mission office. Partnering with us in mission are:
Cross-Cultural Ministry
About us
Cross-Cultural Ministry exists to nurture an inclusive missional culture throughout the LCANZ and boost the confidence of members to reach out to those of other cultural backgrounds. Our aim is to see new and existing cross-cultural communities developed, strengthened, and integrated into the life of the church.
We support Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA) districts in ministering to and with new arrivals in Australia and New Zealand, and we encourage the celebration of cultural expressions of the one faith and the development of culturally intelligent mission-oriented leadership.
What we do
We assist churches to minister across cultures. We work with church leaders and pastors to build cross-cultural understanding. We provide training and mentoring for multicultural communities. In doing so, we aim to further the growth and development of cross-cultural mission and ministry. We also provide cross-cultural grants to congregations that require financial support to begin local cross-cultural ministry.
Why we do it
We are motivated by Deuteronomy 10:17–19 (MSG): ‘God, your God, is the God of all gods … He makes sure orphans and widows are treated fairly, takes loving care of foreigners by seeing that they get food and clothing. You must treat foreigners with the same loving care – remember, you were once foreigners in Egypt’.
Jesus’ command that we go into the world shapes our priorities, and so we ‘go as God’s people’. It is simply about mission, building relationships and seeing all people come to faith in Jesus. We do this because we have been called by the church to ‘support the development and growth of new mission fields which God has already opened to us’ (LCA Strategic Priority 2.5).
We also aim to develop culturally intelligent mission-oriented leadership.
How we do it
We provide encouragement and funding to assist congregations to develop self-sustaining cross-cultural ministries. We walk with cross-cultural communities and church leaders to develop their ministry in our multicultural society.
Resources
- Orientation to Cross-Cultural Ministry Booklet
- Multicultural vision for the Lutheran church of Australia and New Zealand
- 'God's gift of the stranger amongst us' Bible study and leader guide; 'God's gifts amongst us' Bible study
- For Luther’s small catechism and other publications in a variety of languages, go to the Lutheran Heritage Foundation
Executive Officer – Local Mission
Dr Tania Nelson
tania.nelson@lca.org.au
