LCNZ Update 29 February 2012

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua.
Grace and peace to you from God.

Council of Synod Meeting
The Council of Synod (CoS) met on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February. What follows is a brief summary of that meeting and I want to register my thanks to Dennis Mollet for preparing this summary (As soon as CoS was finished, I packed my bags and headed off to Adelaide for College of Presidents and General Church Council meetings; that is why it has taken until now to get around to sending this update)

CoS members installed

• Pastor John Davison (Vice President)
• Pastor Chris Janetzki (Pastor Representative)
• Katharina Borszik (Lay Representative)
• Simon Lieschke (Lutheran Support Ministries Representative)

Service of Installation of Pastor Mark Whitfield as President of LCNZ

• Reflections on the special event held on 12 February

Twenty20 Workshop

• Workshop on Administration to be held on 17th and 18th March at the LCNZ Offices. This is an opportunity for those who are either currently or considering serving on congregation or parish leadership teams to gain valuable insight into the requirements.

Celebration 21 Statement

• Review of the statement was undertaken. Ways in which this can be better utilized to support and encourage mission were considered. Exposure in the Olive Tree as a regular article, and as the theme for each publication, and regional or a national event are to be considered by LSM.

Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM)

• The requirement of an administrator to provide the necessary support for the ministry to function appropriately
• Upgrading of the LCNZ website, including the updating by congregations/parishes of their pages
• Kogudus Retreats planned for April and September
• Child Safe compliance requirements

Church Workers Conference

• The most recent was held in Palmerston North in February. The 3 gatherings per year will continue as these provide vital pastoral support.

Professional Standards Unit (PSU)

• The requirements of the LCA will continue to be progressed by a task group. Pastor Mark will be seeking suitably skilled people for this.

Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Training

• Opportunities provided by Australian Lutheran College (ALC) are to be pursued.

Mission within congregations

• To assist CoS with its leadership additional information is to be sought from congregations and parishes, including a copy of the Annual Reports and a separate report on the benefits gained from all grant funding provided, these are to be provided annually.

LCNZ Administrator

• Reconsideration given to the duties. A revised job description is to be prepared and the position is to be re-advertised.

LCNZ Offices

• The current lease expires in October. A task force was established to gather options and submit proposals.

Christchurch Earthquake Fund

• Donations have been received from congregations/individuals of LCNZ, LCA and Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Peter Hentschel continues to administer the fund on behalf of CoS. Significant funds are still available and it is expected that requests will be made over the next 12 to 18 months.

Financials

• LCNZ for the year ended 31 Dec 2011 – deficit of $20,000, excluding the capital loss on sale of the Hawtrey Tce manse.
• Mission & Development for the year ended 31 Dec 2011 – deficit of $20,000 (grants in excess of income received during the year funded from prior year surpluses). With use of significant amounts of the capital funds for purchase of the President’s manse there will be considerably less income available for grants in the coming year.

Gateway Gift

• New trustees appointed; Pastor John Davison, Pastor Chris Janetzki and Gerhard Hoppe – now a full complement of trustees.
• Review to be undertaken in conjunction with congregations where the ongoing support grants are not directly mission focused.
• The annual grant to the PNG mission has been reviewed. Advice has been received from LCA Board for Mission of the ongoing need for support and the board has determined that this will continue.
• Reports are to be requested from all congregations which have received a grant in 2011 outlining the benefits from the funding.
• Financials for 2011 – surplus of $77,000. Grants for 2012 exceed projected income and there is considerable uncertainty of the interest that will be received from investments that mature during this year.

Installation
It’s now over two weeks since I was installed as President of the LCNZ. What a wonderful occasion it was too! About 150 people packed into St Pauls on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon and the karanga (call) to the Holy Spirit was made – Haere mai e te Wairua Tapu whakakīia ngā ngākau o āo tāngata whakapono whakaūria ki roto i a rātou te kāpura o tōu aroha – Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

The installation was as much about the call of God to you, the people of the LCNZ as it was a call to me as your President … a call for us to journey together, partners in God’s love and in the ministry of that love to our nation. Thank you to you all for your presence, your greetings and prayers, and your love.

You might also like to check the story Anna Kroehn wrote on my installation at the LCA website.

Lay-out Editor Needed for the Olive Tree
If you have the skills needed for this job, or if you know of someone who might be able to help, please let us know – in the National Office or Olive Tree Editor Dan Carswell.

T20 Workshop: Administration
The National Office computer system is currently out of action.  If you have indicated via the lcnz@clear.net.nz email address that you intend coming to the workshop, that message might not have got through to us yet.  So could you please re-send your enrolment email to Wayne Drogemuller so that we can make sure we have all the names and registrations?  Thanks.

Statistics
And this is just a gentle reminder that all congregational statistics for 2011 are due to be entered into the LAMP database by the end of this month (29th February). Thank you to the many congregations who have already completed, or are in the process of finishing entering the information. A downloadable workbook is available on LAMP to assist you collecting the appropriate data. If you need any assistance entering your statistics into LAMP please contact your District LAMP help person or email help@lca.org.au.

Bach Cantata Vespers
You are invited to the first Bach Cantata Vespers for 2012:

• Widerstehe doch der Sūnde (Stand firm against sin), BWV 54
• Saturday 10th March at 5.00pm
• St Pauls Lutheran Church, 12 King Street, Mt Cook, Wellington
• Music provided by Ensemble Abendmusik directed by Richard Apperley
• Cantor, Organist, and Preacher: Mark Whitfield

Let Us Pray
I encourage you to include in your prayers:

• Pastor Allan Heppner, Debra and their family, as we offer them to God for his protection during Allan’s illness
• Pastor Matthew Wilksch, Sandra and their family, as they continue to consider the call to Mountainside
• Preparation for the T20 Administration workshop in March
• That God would provide in his good time:
  • A lay-out editor for the Olive Tree
  • An administrator for the National Office
  • A new pastor for St Pauls Wellington / St Francis Wairarapa
• A deep desire in the hearts of the faithful to return to the Lord during this Lenten season to receive his grace and mercy and compassion

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 28 February 2012

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua.
Grace and peace to you from God.

For Unto Us Them a Child is Born
Today I got the text message that I’ve been waiting to receive for over a week now … announcing the birth of Jonah Tobias Mark Kroehn … a son for Pastor Lee and Anna … a brother for Owen and Imogen … a gift from God. We rejoice with you, Lee, Anna, Owen and Imogen and join you in thanking God for Jonah. Along with the psalmist we can say – we praise God because Jonah is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Council of Synod Meeting
The Council of Synod (CoS) met on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February. What follows is a brief summary of that meeting and I want to register my thanks to Dennis Mollet for preparing this summary (As soon as CoS was finished, I packed my bags and headed off to Adelaide for College of Presidents and General Church Council meetings; that is why it has taken until now to get around to sending this update)

CoS members installed

• Pastor John Davison (Vice President)
• Pastor Chris Janetzki (Pastor Representative)
• Katharina Borszik (Lay Representative)
• Simon Lieschke (Lutheran Support Ministries Representative)

Service of Installation of Pastor Mark Whitfield as President of LCNZ

• Reflections on the special event held on 12 February

Twenty20 Workshop

• Workshop on Governance to be held on 17th and 18th March at the LCNZ Offices. This is an opportunity for those who are either currently or considering serving on congregation or parish leadership teams to gain valuable insight into the requirements.

Celebration 21 Statement

• Review of the statement was undertaken. Ways in which this can be better utilized to support and encourage mission were considered. Exposure in the Olive Tree as a regular article, and as the theme for each publication, and regional or a national event are to be considered by LSM.

Lutheran Support Ministries (LSM)

• The requirement of an administrator to provide the necessary support for the ministry to function appropriately
• Upgrading of the LCNZ website, including the updating by congregations/parishes of their pages
• Kogudus Retreats planned for April and September
• Child Safe compliance requirements

Church Workers Conference

• The most recent was held in Palmerston North in February. The 3 gatherings per year will continue as these provide vital pastoral support.

Professional Standards Unit (PSU)

• The requirements of the LCA will continue to be progressed by a task group. Pastor Mark will be seeking suitably skilled people for this.

Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) Training

• Opportunities provided by Australian Lutheran College (ALC) are to be pursued.

Mission within congregations

• To assist CoS with its leadership additional information is to be sought from congregations and parishes, including a copy of the Annual Reports and a separate report on the benefits gained from all grant funding provided, these are to be provided annually.

LCNZ Administrator

• Reconsideration given to the duties. A revised job description is to be prepared and the position is to be re-advertised.

LCNZ Offices

• The current lease expires in October. A task force was established to gather options and submit proposals.

Christchurch Earthquake Fund

• Donations have been received from congregations/individuals of LCNZ, LCA and Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Peter Hentschel continues to administer the fund on behalf of COS. Significant funds are still available and it is expected that requests will be made over the next 12 to 18 months.

Financials

• LCNZ for the year ended 31 Dec 2011 – deficit of $20,000, excluding the capital loss on sale of the Hawtrey Tce manse.
• M&D for the year ended 31 Dec 2011 – deficit of $20,000 (grants in excess of income received during the year funded from prior year surpluses). With use of significant amounts of the capital funds for purchase of the President’s manse there will be considerably less income available for grants in the coming year.

Gateway Gift

• New trustees appointed; Pastor John Davison, Pastor Chris Janetzki and Gerhard Hoppe – now a full complement of trustees.
• Review to be undertaken in conjunction with congregations where the ongoing support grants are not directly mission focused.
• The annual grant to the PNG mission has been reviewed. Advice has been received from LCA Board for Mission of the ongoing need for support and the board has determined that this will continue.
• Reports are to be requested from all congregations which have received a grant in 2011 outlining the benefits from the funding.
• Financials for 2011 – surplus of $77,000. Grants for 2012 exceed projected income and there is considerable uncertainty of the interest that will be received from investments that mature during this year.

Installation
It’s now over two weeks since I was installed as President of the LCNZ. What a wonderful occasion it was too! About 150 people packed into St Pauls on a beautiful sunny Sunday afternoon and the karanga (call) to the Holy Spirit was made – Haere mai e te Wairua Tapu whakakīia ngā ngākau o āo tāngata whakapono whakaūria ki roto i a rātou te kāpura o tōu aroha – Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love.

The installation was as much about the call of God to you, the people of the LCNZ as it was a call to me as your President … a call for us to journey together, partners in God’s love and in the ministry of that love to our nation. Thank you to you all for your presence, your greetings and prayers, and your love.

Lay-out Editor Needed For Olive Tree
If you have the skills needed for this job, or if you know of someone who might be able to help, please let us know – in the National Office or Dan Carswell.

Statistics
And this is just a gentle reminder that all congregational statistics for 2011 are due to be entered into the LAMP database by the end of this month (29th February). Thank you to the many congregations who have already completed, or are in the process of finishing entering the information. A downloadable workbook is available on LAMP to assist you collecting the appropriate data. If you need any assistance entering your statistics into LAMP please contact your District LAMP help person or email help@lca.org.au.

Bach Cantata Vespers
You are invited to the first Bach Cantata Vespers for 2012:

• Widerstehe doch der Sūnde (Stand firm against sin), BWV 54
• Saturday 10th March at 5.00pm
• St Pauls Lutheran Church, 12 King Street, Mt Cook Wellington
• Music provided by Ensemble Abendmusik directed by Richard Apperley
• Cantor, Organist, and Preacher: Mark Whitfield

Let Us Pray
I encourage you to include in your prayers:

• Pastor Allan Heppner, Debra and their family, as we offer them to God for his protection during Allan’s illness
• Pastor Matthew Wilksch, Sandra and their family, as they continue to consider the call to Mountainside
• Preparation for the T20 Governance workshop in March
• That God would provide in his good time:
• A lay-out editor for the Olive Tree
• An administrator for the National Office
• A new pastor for St Pauls Wellington / St Francis Wairarapa
• A deep desire in the hearts of the faithful to return to the Lord during this Lenten season to receive his grace and mercy and compassion

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 22 February 2012: Ash Wednesday

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua.
Grace and peace to you from God.

Let Me Hear Joy And Gladness
A year ago today Christchurch and the Canterbury province were hit by a devastating earthquake that killed 185 people, destroying much of the central city and causing widespread damage and devastation. Quakes have continued since that day.

Once again this Ash Wednesday we were inscribed with an ashen cross and, as these words were spoken over us – remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return – we were reminded of our mortality … in much the same way as when a loved one dies, or when our body slows down and wears out, or when we experience brokenness in relationships and community … or when the earthquake strikes again.

Isn’t it a little strange that we would want to receive this further reminder of our mortality and human brokenness … a black ashen cross?

Or maybe not.

Maybe the fact that we want to hear this dust to dust word and receive this ashen cross indicates that we have also heard and trust the Word of God’s beautiful promise, in the first reading for Ash Wednesday –

Return to the Lord your God, for the Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. (Joel 2:13)

Or –

Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. (Matthew 11:28)

Or in the psalm for Ash Wednesday –

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have crushed rejoice. (Psalm 51:8)

As Christchurch and New Zealand kept silence this afternoon to call to mind brokenness and loss, once again we entered the Lenten season – a journey that while it acknowledges human brokenness and loss, also looks forward in hope to restoration, repair and forgiveness gained for us through the broken Christ of the cross.

Christchurch, we pray with and for you –

Eternal God, who loves us with an everlasting love, and can turn the shadow of death into the morning; help us now as we wait upon you. In the silence of this moment speak to us of eternal things, that we may have hope, and be lifted above our darkness and distress into the light and peace of your presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth; blessed be the name of the Lord, now and forever. Amen.

(Prayed at the Service of Prayer for Christchurch at St Pauls Lutheran Church Wellington on 1st March 2011)

Friends, once I return from meetings here in Adelaide to the Land of the Long White Cloud, I’ll prepare and send out a more regular update. Please accept my apology for not having this ready for the beginning of Ash Wednesday.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President – Lutheran Church of New Zealand

LCNZ Update 3-6 February 2012

Kia tau ki a koutou, te atawhai me te rangimarie o te Atua.
Grace and peace to you from God.

In the Bonds of Love We Meet
So we sing in our National Anthem as we gather at the feet of the God of Nations. The coming weekend is a long weekend as our nation celebrates its national day, Waitangi Day on Monday. It’s a day that means a variety of things to Kiwis and so it’s observed in various ways … a day off, a sleep in, a picnic at the beach, catching up with friends.

The day commemorates the Treaty of Waitangi which is the founding document of New Zealand. It is an agreement entered into by representatives of the Crown and of Māori iwi (tribes) and hapū (sub-tribes). It is named after the place in the Bay of Islands where the Treaty was first signed on the 6th February 1840. The Treaty was a broad statement of principles upon which the British officials and Māori chiefs made a political compact or covenant to found a nation state and build a government in New Zealand to deal with pressing new circumstances. Like many treaties, it is an exchange of promises between the parties to it. (Taken from The Treaty in brief from New Zealand History online, Nga korero a ipurangi o Aotearoa, History Group, Ministry for Culture and Heritage)

Different understandings of the Treaty have long been the subject of debate and have sadly given rise from time to time to protest and tension which have boiled over especially on Waitangi Day during official celebrations.

The Treaty and Waitangi Day are ideally a celebration of the coming together of people – where Maori and Pakeha (non-Maori New Zealanders) became one. However, ideal desired unity sadly at times has given way to disunity.

We Christians live by a Treaty of unity too; one that was signed in blood some 2000 years ago. St Paul writes:

Colossians 1:19-22
Because all the fullness of God was pleased to live in him, and he reconciled all things to himself through him – whether things on earth or in the heavens. He brought peace through the blood of his cross. Once you were alienated from God and you were enemies with him in your minds, which was shown by your evil actions. But now he has reconciled you by his physical body through death, to present you before God as a people who are holy, faultless, and without blame. (CEV)

As our nation continues to seek to understand and live by the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi in order that we may more genuinely meet and live in bonds of love, I believe we Christians who have been reconciled – brought back into unity with God the Father, back into unity with each other – are invited – no, charged – to be agents for love and unity:

Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

And so we may well sing for the sake of our nation and the Lord’s church:

God of Nations at Thy feet … in the bonds of your Christ-enabled love we meet. Hear our voices we entreat. Amen.

I encourage Pastors and Worship Leaders to pray for our nation during worship this Sunday.

Twenty20 Administration Workshop: 17th/18th March, Wellington
Our Church is offering support to your congregation by providing training in in the areas of Finance, Governance and Administration. The first two workshops were held in 2011. The Administration workshop will be held in March.

The information and skills you learn from this workshop will help you and the ministry of your congregation.

Please see the details below and note that the workshop will be held on a Saturday and a Sunday, in order (hopefully) to make it easier for you and some others from your church to attend:

What: Twenty20 Administration Workshop
Where: Wellington, National Office of the LCNZ
When: 17th and 18th March 2012 (Sat + Sun)

Why Participate?
Here is a comment from one of the participants from the last workshop in Wellington:

"While not directly involved with governance in the church I attended the 2 day Governance Workshop in Wellington. Governance sounded like it could be a rather dry topic but I went with an open mind and it was actually really interesting to learn about principles of governance which were applicable to not only church but the workplace. Should I be involved with any governance in the future I've now got a solid foundation to help me along!" (Simon, Auckland)

And words from John Henderson, who presented the governance workshop, can be found here.

Prayer Points
Continue to pray for:

• Pastor Matthew Wilksch, Sandra and their family as they consider the call to Auckland Lutheran Parish.
• Pastor Allan Heppner, Debra and their family. Allan has been diagnosed with an extensive aggressive non-curable cancer and has begun treatment.
• LCA Executive Officer of the Church Trevor Ruthenberg who is standing as the Liberal National Party candidate for an electorate in the Queensland parliamentary election on 24th March. Trevor is well-known to many of us in the LCNZ; he has visited and encouraged us, met with and spoken to many groups, attended summits and visioning events, and has addressed our synod. He’s been an inspirational sort of a bloke! Thanks.
• Pastor Milton Fritsch and Pastor Wayne George as they are installed into their new parishes this coming Sunday.

Installation Of LCNZ President
Sunday 12th February at 2.00pm at St Pauls Lutheran Church Wellington (afternoon tea to follow)
 
Meetings
The first round of LCNZ meetings for 2012 are about to begin – Finance Advisory Committee (4th February), Lutheran Support Ministries (11th February), Gateway Gift Trust Board and Council of Synod (17th & 18th February). Please pray for these meetings and the elected leaders of our committees, councils and boards. These meetings take place for one main reason: to support the ministry of our church and its congregations as it seeks to make Jesus and his love know to New Zealanders.

Church Workers Conference: Palmerston North
Next week (Tuesday 7th – Thursday 9th) the Church Workers of the LCNZ meet for their first conference for 2012 at St Lukes in Palmerston North. These conferences offer the opportunity for:

• Sharing the joys and challenges of ministry
• Worshipping together
• Praying for each other
• Studying scripture together
• Relaxing together
• Discussing matters of LCNZ ministry

We invite your prayer covering for this meeting.

Olive Tree: Next Issue
A message from our new editor of the Olive Tree, Dan Carswell – Hi everyone. Don't forget the 15th of February is the deadline for articles for the next issue of the Olive Tree. The theme is 'new things Christ is doing in our church' and is based on the text from 2 Corinthians 5:17-18. In the love of Jesus, Dan Carswell. Dan’s email is dcars1976@gmail.com.

Mā te Atua koe e tiaki
God be with you.

+MARK
President Elect – Lutheran Church of New Zealand