Lutheran World Federation leaders to visit LCANZ
We are honoured to welcome to our church the General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF), Estonian theologian and pastor Rev Dr Anne Burghardt, and the LWF Regional Secretary for Asia, Rev Dr Rospita Siahaan.
In early September, Dr Burghardt and Dr Siahaan will be in Jakarta, Indonesia, for the Asia Pacific Lutheran Leaders gathering of the LWF. I will also be attending, along with Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) Executive Director Michael Stolz.
From Wednesday 16 September, Dr Burghardt and Dr Siahaan will be in Australia.
On Wednesday 16 September, they will visit Yirara College in Alice Springs, Northern Territory. The next day, they will travel west to Areyonga and then Hermannsburg. On Friday 18 September, they will visit Living Waters Primary School in Alice Springs before travelling to Adelaide for a series of meetings, including an engagement with the General Church Board.
On Sunday 20 September, they will attend St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa in the Barossa Valley. That afternoon, they will be at Church House on Frome Street in Adelaide for an open forum at which people can meet them and learn more about the Lutheran world. In the evening, they will attend an official welcome dinner provided by the community of Zion Lutheran Church Glynde in suburban Adelaide.
Finally, on Monday 21 September, our guests will take part in various meetings with representatives of our church, such as ALWS and the College of Bishops. They depart Australia on Tuesday 22 September.
In October 2024, our church at the Convention of General Synod voted not to apply for full membership with the Lutheran World Federation, but rather to maintain associate membership.
We commend these visitors to our Lord as they travel to our region. May they be encouraged by their meetings with people of our church, and may we be an encouragement to them as, with one voice, we glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
In Christ,
Paul
Pastor Paul Smith
Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand
You are invited
The LWF is a global communion of 154 churches in the Lutheran tradition, representing more than 78 million Christians in 99 countries.
You are invited to join an open forum with Rev Dr Anne Burghardt and Rev Dr Rospita Siahaan of the LWF, who are visiting our church in September.
Date
Sunday 20 September 2026
Where
LCANZ Church House, Level 3, 139 Frome Street, Adelaide SA
When
2.00pm–4.00pm
RSVP
If you would like to attend the open forum, please contact the Personal Assistant to the Bishop, Chelsea Bellamy, at chelsea.bellamy@lca.org.au
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