Regional Discussion – New Co-operation

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
¹¹ Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.

This verse from Ecclesiastes is something of a ‘classic’ verse for weddings and certainly gives a glimpse of God’s vision for a healthy marriage. A man and a woman coming together to enrich and complement and help and nourish each other.

In recent times I’ve come to appreciate this text more as it might apply to congregations coming together to seek how they might complement each other in God’s mission.

In recent times an ongoing theme of my work as Pastor for Congregational support has been assisting with ‘exploratory dialogues’ between neighbouring parishes, congregations and schools in many of the regions of our district (with assistance from Erin Grainger and members of our Council for Ministry Support).

These have included:

• A comprehensive review of the Eastern Metropolitan region, which has resulted in a regular leader’s forum meeting regularly to share what’s happening in each of the Lutheran communities in the region and to prayerfully consider how they might work together to meet challenges and harvest opportunities for the sake of God’s kingdom.
• In Geelong a similar leader’s forum has been in operation for many years. Recently these leaders facilitated a comprehensive “Shared Future Directions’ workshop which saw 65 people (representing approximately 50% of worshipping Lutherans in the city) attend to consider future directions for the Greater Geelong Lutheran Community.
• Two dialogues for those in the Western Metro region have also been held.
• More dialogues are planned for the remainder of this year in the Western and Northern regions of Victoria.

In each setting the form of the discussion has taken a slightly different shape, however the overall themes have seen representatives from the congregations and school communities share joys as well as challenges, all the while asking: how can we share our resources and work together more effectively for the sake of the gospel mission that God has drawn us into?

I give thanks to God for a new openness that I’m noticing to these kinds of discussions, and for the creative and adaptive ideas that are being considered.

One of the key challenges we’re facing of course, is a shortage of pastors, with nearly 25% of the congregations of the LCA NZ in vacancy. That figure is likely to grow. But a congregation cannot truly be ‘vacant’ – Jesus is very much still present at the centre of every congregation as it continues to gather. He is present in the hearts and life of every faith filled believer. Luther famously defined the church as follows: “Thank God, a seven- year-old child knows what the Church is, namely, the holy believers and lambs who hear the voice of their Shepherd.” Jesus is present in the midst of a congregation as it continues to gather around his word and fellowship together, and as it lovingly serves its community, even without an ordained pastor in residence.

In every place God has given us awesome lay people, and what a joy it is to receive the gifts of these folks as they step forward and steward congregational life in pastoral vacancy.

The LCA NZ’s council of Bishops have authorised a project called the ‘Ministry Future project’ to provide guiding advice to the church in regard to its supply of church workers. Pastor Greg Pietsch is leading this, and I strongly urge you to read Greg’s most recent overview report to the church which was printed in the June-July 2023 edition of the Lutheran: HERE.

You can find Greg’s more detailed report, with comprehensive statistics HERE.

Here in our district, Bishop Lester has encouraged congregations with a pastor to share their pastor four times per year with neighbour congregations who are in vacancy. This has meant a new awareness of the challenge and is opening up some wonderful new opportunities for relationships to be strengthened and the gifts of lay people to be received.

These developments are a great encouragement to me – and I hope they can be for you too.

Coupled with the new desire to reach out, get to know each other, and co-operate, that I’m observing amongst our local congregations, I give thanks for the emerging way forward that I see in Greg’s report.

There is much work still to do, and the project is continuing. We’re building the plane as we’re flying it. But it’s the Holy Spirit who keeps us aloft!

So please keep these matters in your prayers, and especially keep our Bishops and other leaders in your prayers – myself included!

I am praying that we as the LCA NZ can create new ways to support ordained and lay-ministry workers at the coal face – in our congregations and schools and other agencies. I’m praying for a new ‘regionality’ in our ministry and mission, which can help us be fruitful as we join in with God in his mission to those who do not know Jesus yet.

Look out for regular updates via District Voices / eNews in the future, as God leads us forward in his mission.

Remember that text I opened with from Ecclesiastes? It concludes with: A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. That third strand is the presence of our missionary God, binding us together in love, and sending us out with the good news of his Son. If anything can keep us unified, it is surely his presence with us, and the privilege he has given us to share the good news of the gospel with a hurting and lost world – to the glory of Jesus.