No images? Click here Friday 26 April 2024 Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, On behalf of the College of Bishops and the General Church Board, I commend this work to you, as together we seek our Lord’s good and gracious will for his Church. During this past year I have seen your sisters and brothers working together to find a common way forward in the matter of who is to be ordained as pastors among us. Those who believe that the Scriptures teach that only men may be ordained as pastors have been working with those who believe that the Scriptures teach that both women and men may be ordained as pastors. Their common purpose is to present to the Church at the Convention of General Synod in October a way forward that would enable communities of the LCANZ to call a pastor without being required to call a man or being required to call a woman. Your sisters and brothers who have done this work believe that such a church is possible, so that we can continue the witness we have received. In preparing this Framework, the General Church Board and College of Bishops acknowledge that the Framework may not be welcomed by everyone in the Church but they expect that it will provide a clear and helpful way forward for the majority of people. The framework is now released to the church for information, engagement, and discussion in your communities. It will be refined and finalised by mid-June. A webinar will be held on 14 May, where church members may learn more about the framework and ask clarifying questions. Clarifying questions need to be submitted by 10 May via email to wayforward2024@lca.org.au. Feedback will be closed by 21 May to allow the proposal to be matured and then published in the Book of Reports. May the work of this Way Forward project bring glory to God and serve the work of God’s Church in New Zealand and Australia. God bless your personal reading and reflection on the Framework material. Bishop Paul Smith ‘May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 15) You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive it, you have engaged with the Way Forward project in some way, or the project relates to the responsible office you hold in the LCANZ. To unsubscribe from this list, click here. To change your email address, click here. ![]() 197 Archer Street North Adelaide SA 5006 |