Way Forward Detailed Framework
Reference Documents
These documents are referenced in the Detailed Framework (Section 3.4):
1. 1991, The Ordination of Women, Special Committee to the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations, Lutheran Church of Australia
2. 2000, The Final Report of the Commission on Theology and Inter-Church Relations on the Ordination of Women, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia
3. 2004, Controverted matters in the LCA Debate on the Ordination of Women, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia
4. 2005, 1 Corinthians 14:33b–38 and 1 Timothy 2:11–14 permit the ordination of women, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia
5. 2018, A Theological Basis for the Ordination of Women and Men, CTICR, Lutheran Church of Australia
29 July 2024
A message from Bishop Paul Smith on behalf of General Church Board and College of Bishops
Dear sisters and brothers in Christ of the LCANZ,
Grace and peace in Christ to you.
The Way Forward Detailed Framework is now available for download directly from the link below. The document itself explains the background of this project:
At the 2023 in-person sessions of the 2021-23 Convention of General Synod, delegates voted by a strong majority to direct General Church Board and College of Bishops (GCB-CoB) to find a way for us to operate as 'one church with two different practices of ordination' and to report back with a detailed framework to the 2024 General Pastors Conference and General Synod. The Way Forward Project appointed by GCB-CoB has diligently worked through the theological, constitutional and governance requirements to allow this directive to be accomplished.
The Framework will come before our General Pastors Conference and Convention of General Synod in September and October this year. Delegates and members are encouraged to attend one of the face-to-face or livestreamed/zoomed information and discussion events being organised by the Districts. Click here for dates and venues. Delegates will learn more about the Framework at a special delegates webinar on 14 August.
Many people have contributed prayerfully and faithfully to this work, with the hope that we will together glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 15).
May the hand of God bless our labours undertaken in the name of our Lord.
In Christ,
Pastor Paul Smith
LCANZ Bishop
on behalf of General Church Board and College of Bishops
Resources
News feed
Thousands engage with Way Forward gatherings
Thousands of people have engaged with the Way Forward project’s face-to-face and online district information gatherings around the LCANZ, the final three of which are being held in New Zealand over the next week.
Read more ..Members flock to Way Forward local gatherings
In the wake of the release of the Way Forward Detailed Framework, LCANZ members have attended local information sessions in encouraging numbers. More than 500 people have attended the seven face-to-face gatherings held so far.
Read more ..Spirit of respect marks first framework gathering
Almost 70 people met in a spirit of mutual respect at Cummins in South Australia on Sunday, for the first face-to-face gathering of the Preparation and Prayer phase of the LCANZ’s Way Forward project.
Read more ..Way Forward framework to be further refined; Conference dropped
In June, the General Church Board and the College of Bishops resolved to remove the Conference component from the Way Forward proposed framework.
Read more ..How did we do?
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