Nominations FAQ

You can self-nominate to serve on an LCANZ governing body.

All Terms of Reference (ToR) for governing bodies are available on this site. Check competencies and skills required.

If possible, your pastor will be a referee, talk to your pastor about your intention and seek support (note: if you are a pastor, your bishop will be a referee). You will need to include your pastor’s details on the nomination form.

Complete all sections of the nomination form and submit it to the Nominations Committee. The email address is on the form.

Any person who is a confirmed and communing member of the Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand aged over 18 years is eligible to be on a governing body, except for some committees which allow for members of other Christian denominations.

A current Working With Children check or equivalent must be provided. There are also other requirements, including mandatory Professional Standards Training. For some roles, governance training is necessary. Please refer to the Terms of Reference for specific details.

Your information is made available to the Standing Committee on Nominations (SCoN), the office-holders of the relevant governing body as set out in the Terms of Reference, and the appointing body. If your nomination is not successful, with your permission, it can be retained in a database so that your name is available for consideration for other governing bodies for two synodical terms. There is a box on the form that you can tick to give this permission.

Third-party nominations cannot be made except by a congregation, LCANZ board, district bishop or the churchwide bishop. An individual is not able to submit a third-party nomination.

Once a nomination has been received, it will be considered by SCoN. This process may include an interview and contact with your referees. SCoN will then submit its recommendations to the appointing body for decision. Appointments will be made post-Synod, and you will be notified of the outcome. This may take some time. Service will commence at the start of the following calendar year. The appointment is for the duration of the synodical term.

The General Church Board (GCB) is elected by the Convention of General Synod. All other appointments are made in accordance with the Terms of Reference, ie either by GCB, the churchwide bishop, the College of Bishops, the relevant board, commission or council or the Executive Officer of the Church.

Should it become necessary to fill a casual vacancy, the appropriate body will make an appointment for the remainder of the synodical term, using the process described above.

Nominees are notified in writing after their appointment or to advise them if they have not been successful.

You can complete the form online.

You will be notified once the selection process is complete. This may take some time.

The Terms of Reference for each body generally include the minimum number of meetings, but the actual number may be more. It is important that you have time available to prepare for and attend meetings and to undertake any tasks that may be required between meetings. Meetings are generally held during working hours. Meetings are held both online and face-to-face.

All appointments are for the synodical term, which is three years, commencing three months after the conclusion of the Convention of General Synod, ie at the beginning of the following year. The General Church Board (GCB) is an exception as its term commences at the conclusion of the Synod with members of the incoming GCB being installed at the closing service. If your appointment is as a result of a casual vacancy, it will finish at the end of the synodical term.

We strongly encourage that when you consider nominating for a position, you carefully consider your ability to commit to it for the full synodical term. It is important for the effectiveness of governing groups that there is stability in membership. However, we acknowledge that circumstances can change unexpectedly. If this is the case, the appropriate process is to discuss your decision with the chair as soon as is practicable, followed by a formal letter of resignation addressed to the chair.

All roles on LCANZ governing bodies are voluntary. All reasonable expenses connected with serving on the governing body will be reimbursed.

At your induction and orientation, you will be advised how to lodge a reimbursement claim using the appropriate claim form. Reimbursements will be transferred into your nominated bank account.

https://www.lca.org.au/services-resources-training/forms/

Vacancies are advertised through LCA eNews and on the LCA website.

Details of the cut-off date for nominations will be announced in the lead-up to Convention of General Synod.

The cut-off date for casual nominations is included in the advertisement.

Individuals can serve on up to two governing bodies simultaneously. Complete a separate form for each nomination and address the requirements for each governing body.

The Terms of Reference indicate who will make the decision.

The maximum term is 10 years (effectively three synodical terms).

The maximum term is 10 years (effectively three Synodical terms).

There is an expectation that people serving on governing bodies have a good understanding of the Lutheran Church, and regular attendance at church helps to ensure this is the case. However, it is acknowledged there are legitimate reasons why individuals can’t attend regularly but have a heart and capacity to serve.

The minimum age is 18 years. There is no specific maximum age to be on a governing body.

A current Working With Children Check (or equivalent) is mandatory.

Your Professional Standards Training needs to remain current throughout your term of service.

Any conflict of interest must be declared. Please refer to the Conflict of Interest Policy at www.lca.org.au/services-resources-training/policies/

A Conflict of Duty must also be declared.

It is not possible for an undischarged bankrupt to serve on an LCA governing body.

Access to a computer and the internet is necessary in order to access meeting documents or when online meetings are held.

The chair will provide each new member with an induction and orientation to the work of the group.

You can email nominations@lca.org.au