Prayer call for ordination meeting

LCA Bishop John Henderson has asked church members to pray for churchwide leaders as they take part in a special meeting about ordination on Friday.

On Monday, in a Heartland eNews communication to General Synod delegates, pastors and other subscribers, Bishop Henderson said the General Church Board and the College of Bishops will meet in Adelaide to discuss ‘matters that continue to trouble members of the LCA’ following the decision of the 2018 General Synod to retain the church teaching of men-only ordination.

‘The leaders of the LCA at the district and churchwide levels have been becoming increasingly aware of the complex and seemingly irresolvable dilemmas facing our church, particularly in relation to the question of ordination and the pastorate’, he said.

‘Our traditional method of synodical votes has not settled the issue for many people and congregations. The General Church Board and the College of Bishops have no simple answers for a complex evolving situation. They continue to work with congregations, pastors and people and seek the way forward together under Christ in faithfulness.

He called on church members to pray for the leaders of the LCA/NZ ’that the Spirit may lead them and grant them wisdom and insight to follow our Saviour and lead the church in ways of truth, freedom and faithfulness’.