Greetings In Christ Jesus,
Please pray for the LCNZ Summit which will be this Saturday 24 July at Mountainside Lutheran in Auckland. There are 50 people registered many of whom are travelling from our congregations around New Zealand. Transport from the airport is being organised. We will be joined by two guests, Mr Trevor Ruthenberg, the Executive Officer of the Lutheran Church of Australia and Shannon hood from Australian Lutheran College and the training group called Delta Ministries. Shannon has been to New Zealand on two occasions to do in-service training for pastors and church workers. He also was one of the three facilitators at an LCA Leaders Summit in March of this year. I took a photo of him leading one of the sessions and ran it through a few filters on my iPhone to come up with the attached image. I asked Shannon what will be the agenda for the day and he has given us a basic outline:
1. Before morning tea – We will cover Change Management, where LCNZ is right now and LCNZ’s mission
2. Between morning tea and lunch – We will explore the information that has been gathered (Look to God, Look UP, Look around, Look in, Look back) to define values
3. After lunch and before afternoon tea – We’ll work toward a sense of future vision and further explore values.
4. After afternoon tea – we’ll steer toward tangible next steps so that this whole thing makes a difference an does not become just a talk fest.
Those in attendance are invited to the evening meal hosted by the congregation, and are invited to worship at Mountainside Sunday morning. Pray for safe travel for those you are coming and for God’s direction on this vision and planning event.
LCNZ Directory: Please note that the new Treasurer for St John’s Lutheran, Wanganui is Karen Bamber, St John’s Lutheran, P.O. Box 7135, Wanganui 4541 and her contact number is 021-1099-9166
Wellington: A relocation committee is being formed and terms of reference are yet to be approved by Council of Synod as we look toward the sale of the president’s manse and the purchase of a manse and offices in Wellington. Some interesting concepts are being put forward and CoS will keep you informed.
Administrators and Treasurers Seminar: In Wellington on Saturday August 28 at St Pauls Lutheran Church in King Street Wellington. It starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 3-30 p.m.
The Seminar covers a range of topics including Charities Registration, Congregation accounts, LLL, LCNZ Accounts and Funds , Pastoral Salaries, PAYE and tax issues and accounting Systems and Accounts for Congregations. This could cover the range from computer systems (e.g MYOB) that can be used by the computer skilled, down to the hand ledger systems still used in some places. Even for the latter a clear description of income and expenditure accounts, balance sheets, and the difference between cash and accrual systems would be useful. Also, a revised copy of our LCNZ Administrators and Treasurers Handbook will be distributed. This is important information for all in parish administration. The LLL has given a $4000 travel grant for this event and we thank them for subsidising the travel of our Treasurers and Administrators to this seminar. Treasurers and Administrators, if for some reason you did not get a registration form please contact Colleen at our office, lcnz@clear.net.nz, 06/357-3887
National Youth Camp: On 5-9 July 39 campers enjoyed Christian fellowship and fun at the Youth Camp. The theme was “Get Connected - all about relationships”. El Rancho Centre is in Waikanae on the Kapiti Coast. Pastor Lee Kroehn said, “the weather was good and so was the camp”.
Next The Olive Tree: The theme for the next The Olive Tree is from Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen!” That text should generate idea for stories and articles. Submission date for the next issue of the Olive Tree is 13 August 2010.
God Bless,
Robert
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Rev. Robert A. Erickson
president@lutheran.org.nz
