Date: 16 January 2023
Dear Bishop Paul Smith, Assistant Bishop Neville Otto, Bishop David Altus, Bishop Lester Priebbenow, Bishop Mark Vainikka, Bishop Mark Whitfield, Bishop Mike Fulwood, Bishop Robert Bartholomaeus, and members of the General Church Board: Pastor Tim Stringer, Kim Baumeler, Paul Argyle, Charmaine Harch, Tim Wiebusch, Mel Zerner and Peter Zweck,
Christ’s grace and peace be with you.
Our LCANZ General Convention of Synod is fast approaching. With that comes a sense of hope and optimism for much needed healing to occur in our Church. The majority of the LCANZ continue to be hopeful for the implementation of the ordination of both women and men. This will enable us as a whole Church to move forward into rejuvenation and regrowth as the whole body of Christ. At the same time there is no doubt that fear of change, mistrust, anxiety and uncertainty are also present in the leadup to Synod. We pray for faith, hope and love amidst the challenges and messiness as we come together with our imperfections on the floor of Synod.
The purpose of this letter is to identify three areas in relation to women’s ordination for your consideration, discussion, and response.
- There has been much discussion in relation to hearing from women who are called to the ordained ministry and giving them a time slot designated for sharing their voice from the floor of Synod. The signatories of this letter implore the GCB and CoB to allocate intentional time for two or three women who are called to the ordained ministry to share their story of call with the Church.
From our knowledge and experience, throughout this debate over many decades, no woman has ever been asked or allowed to share her story in relation to being called to the ordained ministry. It is time for delegates voting on the ordination of women to hear the voices of these women in an especially allocated time slot.
- While public discussion is always fraught with risk, collectively we can work on intentionally providing an environment of mutual respect, non-judgementalism, encouragement and Christian love; while at the same time discouraging conduct and behaviour that deliberately derails, undermines and deflects attention away from the focus of discussion. While we can all model healthy and safe behaviour personally, GCB and CoB have an even more crucial role in both modelling and holding people accountable for their behaviour on the floor of Synod. Thank you for leading strongly in this area during the recent town hall sessions and in the communication to delegates. We encourage you to actively continue to foster healthy, respectful engagement on the Synod floor in February 2023.
- There seems to be a lack of clarity as to how the absentee votes and abstentions are counted on the floor of Synod. Are these votes automatically counted as ‘no’ votes on any voting matter? And if so, on what basis does this occur? Understanding this process is crucial for all delegates and for respectful and good order during the Synod. Furthermore, if the voting result is close, please clarify the procedure for when and how a decision for a recount would be made.
In thinking about responding to these three points, perhaps the GCB and CoB could:
- Provide a designated timeslot for women in the Synod agenda to present their call to ordained ministry for consideration by the delegates;
- actively nurture Christian unity as a way of reducing divisive behaviour during Synod, and working more closely together, in an environment of shared learning and shared responsibility, where differences of opinion are accepted and even encouraged; and
- be transparent in explaining the details of the voting system, thus reducing ambiguity and fostering clarity.
In conclusion, we long for the ordination of both women and men in the LCANZ to be implemented at Synod in February so that continued debate that leaves us divided can finally cease. Our already divided and dwindling Church can receive healing as we all step out together with the Gospel of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit in the manifold ways each woman and man has been called, gifted, and equipped to serve God through our Church. Instead of holding our women back, we look forward to welcoming many more labourers in the harvest field to share the faith, hope and love of Jesus with the world.
Thank you for taking the time to hear and consider our voices. It would be very helpful if you could address our questions either in a direct response or publicly. We will publish this open letter on Streams in the Desert (https://www.streamsinthedesert.com.au) and Women at the Well (https://www.watw.com.au) and would like to publish your response on these platforms with your permission.
Lastly, we would like to advise that excerpts from our previous open letters to you have been published as part of the recent book ‘Unless they are sent – affirming the ordination of women and men in the LCANZ’ (edited by Tanya Wittwer). Most Synod delegates have already received a copy in the mail and the book will be available on the Australian Christian Resources (ACR) table during Synod. It is also available on https://mediacomeducation.org.au/shop/unless-they-are-sent/
In God’s grace and peace
Signatories
- Maria Rudolph
- Libby Jewson
- Cathryn Hamilton
- Liz Winderlich
- Margaret Modra
- John Zeppel
- Helen Lockwood
- Tanya Wittwer
- Kathy Matuschka
- Sue Westhorp
- Joy Christian
- David Christian
- Geoff Burger
- Steen Olsen
- Robert Voigt
- Jeff Silcock
- Dean Zweck
- Bob Kempe
- Vic Pfitzner
- Shelley Koch
- Stephen Haar
- Maurice Schild
- Peter Lockwood
- Louis A Moss
- Jordan Moore
- Dania Ahern
- Brian Ahern
- Marg Simpfendorfer
- Jo Freckelton
- David Freckelton
- Monica Christian
- Ivan Christian
- Deborah Myers
- Peter Pfitzner
- Ian Graue
- Greg Bensted
- Peter Bean
- Anna Watson
- Jennie Jones
- James Jones
- Margaret Mickan
- Susan Wood
- Tim Castle-Schmidt
- Iris Gladigau
- Gary Jewson
- Paul Meyer
- Betty Meyer
- Denise Grieshaber
- Mark Lieschke
- Peter Hage
- Helen Burger
- Kenneth Stringer
- Yvonne Claus
- Helene Schulz
- Sharryn Cook
- John Schubert
- Cathy Brown
- Ruth Olsen
- Joyce Graue
- Ruth Rathjen
- Alan Collyer
- Coral Collyer
- Bruce Lockwood
- Michelle Eastwood
- Wendy Begg
- Allen Kloeden
- Martin Albrecht
- Tick Zweck
- Chris Mann
- Lynette Williams
- Jim Strelan
- Joy Strelan
- Alison Jarick
- Emily Hunt
- Alison Short
- Anita Short
- Roger Hunter
- Marie Miegel
- Rick Strelan
- Inari Thiel
- Sue Kloeden
- Karen Dymke
- Nathan Hedt
- Julie Hahn
- Lynne Schmidt
- Steven Cramer
- Shiron Dixon
- Jan Baker
- Lester Dreckow
- Debbie Dreckow
- Merrilyn Beaumont
- Mark Christian
- Patricia Walker
- Gus Schutz
- Steve Liersch
- Ben Hentschke
- Dylan Miegel
- Robin Mann
- Dorothy Mann
- Juanita Kleinig
- Ian Rentsch
- Lyn Marshall
- Ray Schulz
- Nerida Schulz
- Heidi Joy
- Ronda Rohrlach
- Rob Rohrlach
- Brian Wandel
- Diane Wandel
- David Schuller
- Geoff Crooks
- Peter Hudson
- Susanne Hudson
- John Juers
- Miriam Juers
- Jeff Wood
- Chris Bartholomaeus
- Pamela Richardson
- Clive Richardson
- Ray Meharg
- Karel Tepper
- Vibeke Hopley
- Paul Schulz
- David Filsell
- Dawn Ehrke
- Ron Ehrke
- Narelle Shallard
- Monica Hueppauff
- Kaye Pfeiffer
- Amanda Garrett
- Irene Faith Joppich
- Karen Peters
- Gary Peters
- Geraldine Avent
- Gladys Koch
- Edwin Koch
- Joy van der Hoek
- Kay Buckland
- Peter Buckland
- Rod Schubert
- Melinda Zavalis
- Mike Vitale
- Val Vitale
- Nicky Bricknell
- Gloria Harch
- Michael Rudolph
- Mark Butler
- Judy Bartels
- Armin
- Hannah Pietsch
- Anna Nürnberger
- Helen Middelmann
- Tony von Brandenstein
- Peter Westhorp
- Marion Schubert
- Mark Schubert
- Junette Schoell
- Edwin Schoell
- Shirley Schubert
- Tania Nelson
- Graeme Lienert
- Christine Cunningham
- Elaine Schultz
- Kate Beaumont
- Jordana Wilson
- John Pumpa
- Lucy Pumpa
- Mark Simpfendorfer
- Elsbeth Ampt
- Owen Dixon
- Bryce Walker
- Klaus Schulz
- Heather Mithen
- Anna Kroehn
- Lee Kroehn
- Karyn Cullen
- Irma Dymke
- Teresa Goldsbrough
- Leena Vuorinen
- Trudi Doblin
- Maryanne Molenaar
- Stephen Nuske
- Julie Nuske
- Kathy Thompson
- Sarah Thompson
- Carmen Ost
- John Beaumont
- David Miles
- Isabel Mason
- John Hoffmann
- Erika Hoffmann
- Margaret Hammerer
- Rainer Hammerer
- Anna Zweck
- Gordon Wegener
- Marie Wilson
- Lara Messom
- Christopher Messom
- Lily Messom
- Graham Greenberger
- Rosalie Greenberger
- Grace Tink
- Kay Robinson
- Doris Groth
- Klaus Groth
- Jürgen Kahlfeld
- Niels Kroyer
- Teresa Kroyer
- Marlene Crone
- Alyssa Leach
- Brad Leach
- Adam Kramer
- Karlea Kramer
- Barbara Mattiske
- Grant Mattiske
- Jan Haar
- Marcia Lohe
- Peter Hoffmann
- Jan Hoffmann
- Mariany Crone
- Michael Crone
- Jason Sander
- Jennifer Sander
- Arianah Sander
- Valerie Volk
- Ingrid Synwoldt
- Margaret Hunt
- John Hunt
- Gerhard Rüdiger
- Liz Mibus
- Lois Hage
- Jennie Edwards
- Bill Edwards
- Wayne Zweck
- Wendy Zweck
- Sherry Fairbairn
- Stuart Fairbairn
- Shirley Linke
- Ronda Held
- Elva Mutton
- Geoff Mutton
- Timothy Pietsch
- Ann Pietsch
- Lisa Miles
- Max Kanowski
- Freda Kanowski
- Rachel Crooks
- Timothy Muller
- Mary Muller
- Cheryl Wilson
- Graham Wilson
- Hermann Scriba
- Frauke Scriba
- Gudrun MacDonald
- Hans Hornscheidt
- Helga van Rooyen
- Volney Klintworth
- Rosemarie Klintworth
- Sigrid Kramp
- Monika Reif
- Stefanie Strunk
- Joy Wundersitz
- Geoff Wundersitz
- Robin Braunack
- Heiko Plange
- Kirsten Zweck
- Darren Trentepohl
- Kate Traeger
- Jacob Traeger
- Stephen Miegel
- Colleen Fitzpatrick
- Heather Schuller
- Colleen Ball
- Janny Thomas
- James Wilson
- Beverley Wilson
- Norma Sellner
- Grace Schache
- Jill Ottens
- Graham Ottens
- John Held
- Jacqui Liu
- Stephen Wang
- Sue Schubert
- Gemma Girke
- Skye Newton
- Chris Guntner
- Kym Ritchie
- Bronwyn Ritchie
- Elizabeth Miller
- Nathan Wessling
- Erik Tikoft
- Susanne Tikoft
- Graeme Tepper
- Tommi Vuorinen
- Fred Veerhuis
- Mark Vainikka
- Minna Vainikka
- Samuel Vainikka
- Miriam Vainikka
- Sam Vainikka
- Eva Pailas
- Harry Mithen
- Maureen Walkemeyer
- Stuart Heinrich
- Andrew Graebner
- Mike Graebner
- Diane Graebner
- John Peffer
- Fiona Peffer
- Roslyn Schulz
- Peter Schulz
- Liz Wieland
- Lois Whittal
- Roger Whittal
- Linda Leibbrandt
- Christine Sindt
- John Gerlach
- Peter Maley
- Jenny Maley
- Ashlee Jewson
- David Walkenhorst
- Janet Evans
- Murray Evans
- Yvonne Claus
- Karen Crouch
- Glenn Crouch
- Robin Hueppauff
- Andre Jewson
- Hilde Grey
- Ruth Brisbane
- Dean Solmundson
- Colin Hentschke
- Carolyn Carson
- Tiffany Turner
- Andrew Pietsch
- Chey Mattner
- Libby Mattner
- Kathy Wilson
- David Wilson
- Lauren Grieger
