Women’s ministry advocate appointed

As part of the implementation program of the ordination proposals from the 2024 Convention of General Synod, Dr Pauline Simonsen has been appointed as the LCANZ’s Advocate for Women in Pastoral Ministry.

This is a voluntary role to provide a primary contact for women of our church who are considering training for the office of the public ministry, and women serving as pastors among us. Pauline is serving in this work in 2025, after which time the General Church Board (GCB) and the College of Bishops (CoB) will review the role.

This is a key role, providing advice and support to LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith and the wider church, including GCB and CoB, as we journey together as the people of God with pastors who are women.

In this role, Pauline will attend to matters such as developing support networks for women who are candidates and pastors, helping to ensure that concerns of women who are candidates or pastors are identified and addressed in a timely way, and ensuring that there is a repository maintained of matters relevant to the support of and guidance for women.

A spiritual director and an experienced Christian retreat leader, Pauline serves as the dean of Emmaus, a Christian training provider in Palmerston North, New Zealand. She has served on various committees of the church in New Zealand and Australia, including more than 20 years on the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations. Pauline and her husband Roger belong to the Manawatu Lutheran Parish.

Women who are considering ordination to pastoral ministry in the LCANZ are invited to connect with Pauline at advocateWPM@lca.org.au