Victoria Tasmania District of the Lutheran Church of Australia

1201 Riversdale Road
Box Hill South VIC 3128
Phone 03 9236 1200

Search Results for: committees

District Councils and Committees

District Councils and Committees

The District Church Council (DCC) acts as the synod between conventions. The district’s ministry is conducted through two coordinating councils, the Council for Ministry Support (CMS) and the Council for Lutheran Education, Vic, NSW and Tas (CLEVNT).

District committees and sub committees

The district’s administration and education are supported by the following councils and committees:

  • DCC Constitutions Sub Committee
  • DCC Finance and Audit Sub Committee
  • DCC Risk and Compliance Sub Committee
  • DCC People and Strategy Sub Committee
  • District Call Committee (reporting to the bishop)
  • Ecumenical Advisory Committee (reporting to the bishop)
  • CMS African and Migrant Ministry Reference Group (AMMRG)
  • CMS Committee for Youth and Young Adult Ministry (CYYAM)
  • CMS Pakenham Lakeside Mission Committee (PLMC)
  • CMS South East Finance Committee (SEFC)
  • CLEVNT Schools Assembly

Click HERE for LCA Policies and Procedures.
To find out more about Governance in the Lutheran Church of Australia click HERE.

Information includes the LCA Governance Framework, a must read for congregation and parish office bearers as well as District Council members.

For information regarding membership to these councils and committees, please contact the District Office. If you have an LCA email address, you may access the LCA Portal to view membership and contact details for district council and committee members.

Download organisation chart for councils and committees

Nominations to Standing District Committees

Nominations to Standing District Committees

The Business of Convention includes the election of Committee Members to Standing Councils, being District Church Council, Council for Lutheran Education, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania, and Council for Ministry Support.

Nominations Form

Skills Matrix

District Church Council (DCC)

Terms of Reference for District Church Council

Council for Lutheran Education, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania (CLEVNT)

Terms of Reference for Council for Lutheran Education, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania

Council for Ministry Support (CMS)

Terms of Reference for Council for Ministry Support

Grants and Trusts

Grants and Trusts

There are several Grants and Trusts available to congregations of the Lutheran Church of Australia to establish or enhance the mission and ministry programs.

Mission Stimulus Grant

What would you change in your community? The grant aims to enable Congregations to set aside financial worries and focus on exploring new and innovative ways of connecting with their local communities through mission and outreach.
Dare to dream!

  • How? Create an initiative, expand on an idea or concept that has been dreamed about, but not thought possible because of the lack of resources or cost.
    Celebrate being changemakers!
  • Who? The grant is open for applications from all Vic/Tas congregations/parishes as well as to collaborative projects between congregations/parishes.
  • Do it! A plan is essential. This needs to take the form of a practical proposal for real action in local mission using a budget of $25,000 (or more, if additional funds could be raised locally).

Congregation and Migrant Ministry Support Facilitator
Erin Grainger
03 9236 1241
erin.grainger@lca.org.au

The 2019 Mission Stimulus Grant process will open in the second quarter of 2019. Standby for more information and an application form or email Erin now.

Lutheran Welfare Trust

The Lutheran Welfare Trust was created to contribute towards the support or establishment of welfare projects primarily within the Lutheran Church. This Trust is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient, and as an Income Exempt Charitable Entity.

The Trust was established to provide relief to those who are in necessitous circumstances, which according to the Commissioner of Taxation definition, involves some degree of poverty. To the extent possible, the Trustees take a broad approach to this definition, although the Trustees must still be bound by the description. Careful consideration should be given to this definition in the application for funds.

In 2017, the Trust distributed $15,200 to organizations within the Victorian District, for aged care and refugee support projects.

The Trustees are seeking applications for the funding of welfare related projects that are tax deductible, not for specific individual welfare cases. Application forms are available on request.

Pastor for  Service and Witness
Gordon Wegener
0412 200 946
gordon.wegener@lca.org.au

Applications for the 2020 Lutheran Welfare Trust will open mid 2020 and will be advertised on this website, District News and District eNews.

 

 

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

Employment and Volunteer Opportunities

Positions available in Lutheran congregations and agencies can be publicised here. Please email the district office with brief details on the role including the title, time fraction, and location, plus contact details and applications close date. A short advertisement can also be included.

District Church Council

District Church Council

District Church Council (DCC) is the governance body for the Victoria – Tasmania District. Additionally, two sub-committees report to the Council, to provide additional advice to the Council for decision-making purposes. The two sub-committees are:

  • Finance, Audit and Risk
  • People and Strategy

DCC discusses and approves the major financial and policy decisions that impact the Victoria – Tasmania District.

Click HERE for DCC Terms of Reference.

Click HERE for the DCC Strategic Directions 2020 - 2024

Click HERE for the DCC Strategic Directions 2016 -2020

 

DCC Members

Current membership:

  • Tony Vong (Chair)
  • Pastor Lester Priebbenow (Bishop)
  • Pastor Matthias Prenzler (Assistant Bishop)
  • Katie Lang (Vice-Chair)
  • Michael Presser
  • Sonia Weidenbach
  • Adam Zibell
  • Pastor Matthew Huckel
  • Sabine Haeusler (Chair MMC)

Consultants to DCC:

  • Stephen Mildred (District Administrator)
  • Pastor Brett Kennett (Pastor for Congregational Support)
  • Colin Minke (Executive Director LEVNT)

Each year, DCC members meet with other leaders and representatives in our District at the annual Strategy Day. In some years, DCC also meet with congregational leadership (on a rolling geographical basis) as part of their scheduled meetings.

DCC meeting schedule* for 2025:

  • 6 February (videoconference)
  • 28 March (F2F)
  • 9 May (F2F)
  • 10 May - Strategy Day
  • 26 June (videoconference)
  • 16 August (tbc)
  • 23 October (videoconference)
  • 28 November (F2F)

*Meeting dates may be subject to change.

Congregational Support

Congregational Support

The district supports the mission and ministry of its congregations in a number of ways and provides services directly where these are beyond the ability of individual congregations.

Pastor Brett Kennett, District Pastor for Congregational Support, together with lay worker Erin Grainger, acts as a consultant to congregations, encourages and challenges them in their mission and ministry, and assists the district bishop in his oversight of congregations. Management of these and other ministries is given to the Council for Ministry Support and its committees.

Pastor Brett assists congregations in clarifying their mission and in remaining healthy and hospitable. Three key questions for congregations in clarifying their mission are:

  • Who are we? (identity)
  • What are we here for? (purpose)
  • Who is our neighbour? (context)

Pastor Brett is available to meet with pastors and congregations to reflect on their mission and ministry, and to clarify ways to implement their mission in their context into the future.

Useful tools in this area include:

A current project supported by the District Pastor for Congregational Support is the Eastern Region Review (ERR). The full report and a summary can be found below
ERR October 2021 Full Report
ERR October 2021 Summary Report

Congregational Support

Pastor Brett Kennett
(03) 9236 1230

Erin Grainger
(03) 9236 1241

Vic-Tas District Church Council News

Members of District Church Council meet about eight times each year, to discuss and approve the major policy and financial decisions that impact the Victoria – Tasmania District. Meetings are either held in person or online. Throughout the year, DCC also receive reports from LEVNT, the Ministry & Mission Council, our two Campsites, and two sub-committees: People & Strategy SC and Finance, Audit & Risk SC.

At the last, end-March meeting, DCC:

  • recommended that several identified SMP candidates be approved for the SMP programme;
  • heard & discussed an update on the New Approved Provider Project for Aged Care (a regular item);
  • heard & discussed a periodic report from LEVNT (a semi-regular item);
  • discussed three new LEA policy & procedure items requiring feedback;
  • shared the importance of unity and respect within the church;
  • highlighted the value of reading/reviewing LCA Policies periodically.

DCC meetings often also include a devotion, and prayers for our District. Current prayer points include:

  • That God may guide our church leaders and Pastors and help them to effectively communicate with church members & friends.
  • That members may learn greater acceptance of differences within the church, being quick to listen, open to dialogue, and responding with consideration and respect.

The May DCC meeting (Friday 9th) will be followed by a Strategy Day on the morning of Saturday 10 May.  This is a chance for DCC members to hear from various leaders in the Vic-Tas District community, which helps to formulate Strategy that supports and promotes our District in general.

More information on DCC is available on the LCA Vic-Tas District website: HERE.

Lutheran Youth of Victoria (LYV) Update

The Lutheran Youth of Victoria committees and leaders spent a weekend in November at Araluen Lutheran Camp in Anglesea. The weekend was mostly fun and relaxation, however some time was spent reviewing the ministry of the past year and planning for the future. It gave the LYV committee great feedback and has encouraged us for the future of youth ministry.

So, what’s been happening this year? Empower, Easter Camp, CLW Purple, CLW Orange, two church crash events, and a Leaders retreat. Some major movements in LYV this year have been the name change from CYYAM back to LYV, and making stronger connections with Lutheran Education. The name change was decided as CYYAM was not very well known, and people didn’t understand our purpose. With this rebranding, we have also released some great merchandise – maybe you’ve seen our beanies, hoodies or drink bottles. Connecting with Lutheran Education is an exciting initiative. We have already found this valuable and are endeavouring to make better connections with students in our schools.

After many years of service, Kerry Linke finished as our facilitator during the year. A decision was recently made, together with the District, to leave this position vacant as we restructure. We sincerely thank Kerry for all of her work and time supporting and assisting LYV.

Some of the issues identified preventing youth from attending events are the lack of youth groups and cost of living. Many congregations no longer have youth groups, and we are looking at ways to overcome this, as previously youth groups fed into our camps. We are also aware that the cost of living is making it hard for many parents to send their children on camp – we are blessed that some congregations and wonderful individuals have reached out to help us support youth with the costs of attending camp. For example, in the last year we were able to support some of our youth in Tasmania to come to camp by paying for their flights, so it only cost them the same as our Victorian youth to get to camp. If you are finding camps costs a struggle, please reach out to us for support.

We are excited about upcoming events in 2024! Our next event is Summer Camp at Araluen, on 19th to 22nd January at Araluen in Anglesea, for high school aged youth. Get your registration in now! Follow the link: HERE

Events for 2024
Summer Camp:   19th – 22nd January
Empower:             17th February
Church Crash:      18th February
Easter Camp:       28th March – 1st April
CLW Purple:        (Jul School Holidays)
CLW Orange:       (Sept School Holidays)
Leaders Retreat:  (November)

If you would like any more information, please contact LYV Chairperson, Michael ‘Mog’ Benbow, on 0417533162, or email admin.lyv@lca.org.au