LCA puts mission front and centre

The LCA’s Board for Local Mission was commissioned for service on 30 March 2017 – a move that will ensure mission is a focus for the church, says Executive Officer – Local Mission, Dr Tania Nelson.

The establishment of the board follows a general synod resolution from 2015, which called for the General Church Council to be ‘authorised to trial a restructure of the National Church functions in a phased approach to provide more effective leadership, governance and other resources that are church-wide, mission-focused, service oriented, efficiently delivered and effective in enacting the decision and direction of General Synod’.

In commissioning the board, Bishop John Henderson encouraged members to provide strategic leadership and support to nurture a growing missional culture in the church, and to promote, resource and coordinate church participation in the Triune God’s mission to Australia and New Zealand in bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to all people.

Tania said the new board’s members would bring an ‘exciting mix of skills, experience and passion to local mission’. They are Mrs Monika Tropiano (chair), Pastor Matthew Bishop, Mr Des Kalisch, Mrs Robyn Oatey, Mrs Danielle Robinson, Pastor Mark Schultz and Ms Sonia Weidenbach. The new body replaces an interim board, which was formed due to the direction of the 2013 LCA Convention of Synod.

‘I’m delighted to work with the new board, who will build upon the great work of the interim Board for Local Mission, to ensure that mission is at the centre of the LCA’, Tania said.

Under the restructure, five mission-focused departments – Lutheran Media, Grow Ministries, New and Renewing Churches, Cross-Cultural Ministry, and Ministry with the Ageing – have been brought together under the banner of Local Mission.

‘One board, providing oversight of the mission-focused departments, ensures that we can be focused on the development of a missional culture in which individuals, families and communities are inspired, passionate and active in sharing the gospel in word and action’, Tania said. ‘Going as God’s people and growing as God’s people is at the heart of our work.’ Each of the Local Mission departments is supported by a committee, which acts as an advisory and reference group.