Synod backs church complaints and discipline process changes

General Synod has endorsed changes to the LCANZ’s complaints handling, appeals and ecclesiastical discipline system during a special online convention on Saturday 18 October.

The proposal presented to Synod by General Church Board (GCB) member Kim Baumeler, on behalf of GCB, was the fruit of a seven-year process, which began with a resolution by the 2018 Synod to review the church’s overall ecclesiastical discipline adjudication and appeals provisions, policies and processes.

As enacting the proposal necessitates constitutional changes, it required a two-thirds majority to pass, and was endorsed by delegates, with 238 votes in favour to 53.

Kim said the proposed changes were the result of ‘extensive consultation over a significant period of time’ and took into account the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse. She said they would ‘significantly change how we handle complaints’ in the church and were intended to address needs not covered by the current system.

‘This is a matter not taken lightly,’ she said. ‘It’s hoped that the amendments will better support both the complainants and those being complained against.’

The new system provides for a triage committee to be created to ensure that complaints are dealt with at the lowest level possible. Only matters that require escalation will be advanced. The creation of this committee has also meant that matters can no longer go straight to the Tribunal Administrator.

Also under the changes, a bishop will have oversight of complaints, to provide the system legitimacy and recognise that it exists within the structure of a church. Bishop oversight also provides for binding and enforceable determinations.

GCB’s advice to delegates also stated that ‘the proposed complaints framework strikes an effective balance between accessibility and accountability’ and would ensure ‘a high level of clarity and certainty, for all involved in a disciplinary process’.

The advice also stated that the new model would ‘facilitate the lodging of complaints, ensure thorough and fair investigation, and adopt a pastoral approach grounded in scriptural principles’.

‘The framework also meets legal requirements, is designed to be robust and sustainable for the future and includes enforceable mechanisms to uphold its integrity,’ it said.

Approximately 300 lay and pastor delegates from across the districts of the LCANZ gathered for the special one-day convention via a video conferencing platform. That gathering was convened to address business carried over from last October’s Regular Convention of General Synod in Adelaide, including the ecclesiastical discipline system proposal.

Read more on the Special Convention of General Synod 2025 webpage here.