Pastoral Care Nursing, also known as Parish Nursing, is a holistic, caring ministry that combines the education and experience of a Registered Nurse (RN) or Enrolled Nurse (EN) with some theological education.
God's Love – Our Care is an easy-to-read booklet outlining the theology underpinning the practice of Lutheran care. It includes discussion questions suitable for small groups.
Download complete booklet (single pages, photo/ink heavy)
Download 'text only' booklet (light on ink)
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Ministry with the Ageing eNews
Meet the committee
Ministry with the Ageing is one of five departments in the Local Mission office. Partnering with us in mission are:
Ministry with the Ageing
As the safety and wellbeing of the people we serve is paramount at this time, a decision has been made to postpone the May 1st and 2nd Gathering in Melbourne.
Our hearts are with you all as you address the challenges in responding to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.
If you are interested in reading the information coming from the Churchwide office about the coronavirus please visit: www.lca.org.au/coronavirus-update-for-lca-nz-members/.
About us
In Australia, nearly one in every six people are aged 65 years and older (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016). Ministry with the Ageing seeks to support you as you minister in our communities to this growing group.
We aim to see the care of the ageing as a significant and flourishing ministry of the church.
We care for the ageing because God is a fundamentally merciful, loving and caring God. We are motivated by God’s goodness and mercy. And we know that every person, no matter how age has wearied them, has dignity and value because we are all created in the image of God.
How we serve
The Committee for Ministry with the Ageing (CMA) – formerly Board for Lutheran Aged Care Australia – is a committee of the LCA Board for Local Mission. It acts as an advisory body whose main aims are to:
- provide advice, act as a point of reference, monitor, and report to the LCA Board for Local Mission on ministry with the ageing issues
- facilitate communication with all Lutheran agencies to generate awareness and active engagement in ministry with the ageing
- represent the views of the LCA, including Lutheran aged-care organisations, to government on ageing related issues, and communicate with government on their behalf.
The Committee for Ministry with the Ageing is producing discussion papers on a range of issues and is ensuring that resources on ministering with the ageing are readily available.
We’ve also teamed up with Lutheran Media to produce a video series on dementia. We provide scholarships which are available to anyone ministering to and with the ageing. We also advocate nationally on ageing issues on behalf of the LCA and represent the LCA on a national aged-care network.
We also provide funds that assist individuals to develop in their ministry with the ageing.
Lutheran Aged Care and Community Services

In 2018 the General Church Council approved a Governance Enhancement Implementation Plan to enact the recommendations of the final ‘Way Forward’ report and the agreements reached during the dialogue process.
Scholarships in Ministry with the Ageing

Established in 2012, the scholarship scheme is for anyone ministering to and with the ageing. The Committee for Ministry with the Ageing invites you to apply. Have a read of the Scholarships FAQs for more details.
Aged Care and Community Services Gathering 2019
Reports and Speaker Presentations now available
Ministry Stream Report – Tania Nelson
Ministry of Care Session LCAQD – Bishop Paul Smith
God’s love – Our Care Rev Ian Lutze
Lutheran Aged Care and Community Services Gathering
Chaplaincy Today – Angela Uhrhane
Human Ageing and Theology Spirituality Research – Prof Wendy Mayer
Lutheran Aged Care Chaplains – Laurence McNamara
Resources
- God’s love – our care: theology underpinning the practice of Lutheran care
- Called to Transformative Action – A4 booklet; trifold booklet; 'text only' booklet
- Ministry with the Ageing – a beginner’s guide (including an overview of LCA services)
- Worship and the Ageing - a list of ideas
- Serving after the service: toward a Lutheran understanding of Christian social service by Dr Dean Zweck
- Dementia resources, produced in conjunction with Lutheran Media
- Respecting our Elders – devotional litany resource
- Ministry with Seniors – a valuable resource for anyone caring for seniors
- LCA submission – The Committee for Ministry with the Ageing, on behalf of the LCA, responded to the Australian Government’s Elder Abuse discussion paper
- Chaplain's position description template for Aged Care Community Services
Discussion Papers
- Same Sex Relationships in Aged Care and Community Services
- End-of-life issues, a discussion paper on end-of-life issues
- People whose Worldview is other than Christian within Australian Lutheran Aged and Community Care Services – a discussion paper on multi-faiths within Lutheran aged and community care
Ministry with the Ageing
Executive Officer – Local Mission
Dr Tania Nelson
tania.nelson@lca.org.au