Consultations

Overview

For all of its history, our church has ordained men to the office of the public ministry. At our General Synod in 2015 a proposal to ordain both women and men was defeated. According to the constitution such a decision would need a two-thirds majority of those registered at Convention. The Synod, however, did not let the matter rest there. In a subsequent resolution your delegates voted, by a large majority, that the theologians of the church be requested to develop a draft doctrinal statement that presents a theological basis for the ordination of both women and men, and why this need not be church divisive.

Draft Doctrinal Statement

The draft doctrinal statement on ordination, together with a statement why the ordination of women should not be a church-divisive issue, is being considered in church-wide consultations from March to September 2017.

Download the Consultations booklet PDF

The booklet may also be ordered from the LCA National Office – email admin@lca.org.au, phone (08) 8267 7300.

You are invited, along with all members of the LCA and the LCNZ, to join this conversation in person. Members of the CTICR and bishops will be travelling to a number of centres across Australia and New Zealand for these consultation meetings. All members of the LCA and LCNZ are encouraged to come along to listen and contribute, particularly those who are Synod delegates. This is an important conversation for our church, as we continue to grow in serving our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Please pray for those doing this work, the consultations and the church as we continue what has proven to be a very long and difficult conversation for us.

You will be invited to make comments on this website after the consultations have concluded.

Consultation Schedule