Ecclesiastical Discipline Adjudication and Appeals Review
Progress update
In accordance with the Terms of Reference (see opposite), submissions were invited from all sectors and interested parties in the LCA/NZ. After the closing date of 31 January 2020, the submissions were analysed by the Review Team, which also conducted interviews and investigated how other organisations manage issues of an ecclesiastical discipline nature. The Review Team is now developing a report for the General Church Board. More information about the review process and its progress follows.
Background
At its Convention in October 2018 the LCA General Synod adopted the following resolution:
The General Synod requests the General Church Board to undertake a review of the LCA’s overall Ecclesiastical Discipline Adjudication and Appeals provisions, policies and processes including a review of the PSD and related policies, procedures and practices, in response to concerns raised in congregational and district pastors conference proposals submitted to this Synod on matters related to the discipline and judicial system of the Church.
That the review be conducted by people with no involvement in allegations against the PSD nor with any responsibility for PSD. Those undertaking the review to be members of the LCA and include high level theological expertise and knowledge of police and judicial matters as well as the Royal Commission into the Institutional Abuse of Children. That submissions to the review be sought from interested parties.
As highlighted in the Synod resolution, the resolution was responding to a range of concerns expressed by a number of LCA bodies in respect to the judicial system of the church and the work of the Professional Standards Department.
The resolution aims to undertake the review in a comprehensive and integrated way, rather than address specific issues in a piecemeal manner.
The Synod also resolved that the review be conducted as independently as possible, but the ‘review team’ membership is drawn from the church and consist of people with the requisite skills, qualifications and experience.
