Sep2018
Synod to reflect on National Apology
Next week’s LCA General Synod in Sydney will reflect on Australia’s National Apology to Victims and Survivors of Institutional Child Sexual Abuse during the triennial churchwide meeting.
Sep2018
GCC reviews child protection policy
With National Child Protection Week held in Australia early this month, Professional Standards Department Manager Tim Ross said it was timely that the LCA/NZ’s General Church Council had recently reviewed the church’s Child Protection Policy.
Jun2018
LCA joins National Redress Scheme
The LCA will join the Australian National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced child sexual abuse in institutional settings. The decision was made on 15 June by General Church Council.
Mar2017
Professional Standards training starts up
After successful pilots in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, the LCA’s Professional Standards Department launched its new training program last month.
Feb2017
Professional Standards training starts up
After successful pilots in the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia, the LCA’s Professional Standards Department launched its new training program last month. The format of the program includes a workshop model of blended face-to-face and online delivery. A key feature of this program has been the creation of a short video… Read more
Nov2016
Aboriginal workers set standards
More than 25 Aboriginal pastors, evangelists and church workers from Central Australia have attended the 2016 Docker River ‘Big Course’ to learn about the LCA’s Standards of Ethical Behaviour policy, with some travelling more than 600 kilometres to take part. Held over three days in October, the course was part of the Finke River Mission’s… Read more
Oct2016
Ethical behaviour – living as ‘chosen people’
In 2015 General Church Council approved the LCA Standards of Ethical Behaviour for use across the Lutheran Church of Australia and Lutheran Church of New Zealand. The concise pamphlet outlines behaviours expected of ‘God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved’. Inspired by Colossians 3:12–14, the Standards cover personal and pastoral life, communication, and financial/administrative matters…. Read more
May2016
Professional Standards manager appointed
Mr Tim Ross will be the LCA’s new manager of the Professional Standards Department (PSD). A qualified lawyer who most recently has worked at the Financial Ombudsman Service Australia, Tim succeeds Ms Liz Crawford, who is retiring in early July after more than five years in the role. As a senior case manager with the… Read more
Jan2016
Is our church really a safe place?
Most publicity surrounding the ongoing Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse has focused on the larger churches in Australia, but the LCA ‘is not immune’ from this scourge. That’s the view of LCA Professional Standards Director Liz Crawford, who attended the Safe Church Network of the National Council of Churches biennial conference… Read more
May2014
Royal Commission: sigh of relief and sigh of sadness
The LCA’s working group on issues relating to the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse is relieved to report that so far no subpoenas for church records have been received.
