2017 DISTRICT CONVENTIONBy Karen Crouch

Held at St Steven’s Katanning on the longweekend in March.Highlights included:Υ District business conductedΥ Reports from schoolsΥ Presentation by Pastor Matthew Bishop

about 500 years since LutherΥ A chance to meet Pastor Peter and Lois

Hage who will be starting at St Johns inJune

Υ Listening to the national Bishop, PastorJohn Henderson

Υ Electing a new WA Bishop—Pastor MikeFulwood who will be installed in June

Υ Bidding a emotional farewell to BishopGreg and Janet Pfeiffer

Grab the popular report from:http://www.esbconsult.com/lcawanews/Convention_Popular_Report2017.pdf

Grab the photo slideshow from:http://www.esbconsult.com/lcawanews/Convention_2017_Photos.pptx or as a PDF:http://www.esbconsult.com/lcawanews/Convention_2017_Photos.pdf

WALUTHERANNEWSApril 2017

Just prior to the District Convention thePastors from around the state gathered inAlbany. Hosted by the St. Pauls congregationand meeting in their lovely church. Thank youto all those who keep us so well feed.A marvellous turnout of pastors and 5 wivesenjoyed 3 days of discussion, encouragementand worship together. Some of the pastorsmanaged to squeeze in a quick spot of fishingand the wives fit in a shopping and coffeeouting.We all got a chance to get to know PastorPeter and Lois Hage before they move to StJohns in June and a big thank you goes to StJohns for making that possible.It was great to have so many of the Pastorsand wives there as we bid our own sadfarewell to Bishop Greg and Janet.

PASTORS CONFERENCEBy Karen Crouch

Farewell gift crafted by Pastor Mike Fulwood.A mediation stool with the inscription “Be still and know that I amGod—In appreciation to Greg Pfeiffer for 8 years of service as

Bishop to the WA District. 2009-2017”

Volker Hopfmueller presents Bishop Greg with a clockas he makes his exit

L - R Pastors Tony Traeger, Andre Meyer, Matt Bishop, Greg Pfeiffer, MiloVeliber, Richard Schulze, Dieter Dell‘Antonio, Mike Fullwood, Rodney

Witmitz, John Henderson (LCA Bishop), Peter Hage, Steve Liersch andHenry Han-Ming Fang.

(Photo by Graeme Lienert).

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Evangelism is aboutlearning the art ofdiscipleship for the ‘lost’; spiritualdirec on for the orphans of God.Sent Seeking the Orphans of God and theaccompanying Love Life Communitystudies are quite possibly the spark that couldbring your church alive. They will buildcommunity and revitalise your life, faith,church and community. Dean Eaton is a pastorand evangelist who skilfully teaches andencourages the church to share the good newsof Jesus Christ effectively and with meaning.

DEANEATONbyJanetLesterChurch Planting Mentor and MissionFacilitator of the LCA, who has planted 21churches.A man of grace and humility who tells inspiringstories...What a precious opportunity to listen and learnfrom him once again last week at St John's,when he launched his book: 'SENT. SEEKINGTHE ORPHANS OF GOD', a practical resourcein learning how to participate with God insowing the Gospel and reaping the harvest.Dean spoke about relational evangelism, as in 2Cor. 5:18-20'All this is from God, who reconciled us toHimself through Christ and gave us theministry of reconciliation: that God wasreconciling the world to himself in Christ, notcounting people's sins against them. And Hehas committed to us the message ofreconciliation. We are therefore Christ'sambassadors, as though God were making Hisappeal through us. We implore you on Christ'sbehalf. Be reconciled to God.'Relational evangelism, he said, is being a'sojourner' with someone as a 'spiritualcompanion on a co-learning journey.'We learnt or were reminded that...Those who have not repented are already underjudgement, but as the Bible says, all people arebeing drawn by God. 'The home fires areburning for all who would come.'Many people are afraid of rejection orembarrassment or simply don't know what tosay to an unbeliever.

We need to speak using common language andnot 'Christianese', so it helps to be familiar withthe words of 'The Message'.We sometimes sow the seed, but baulk atreaping the harvest.People tend to progress from being apathetic orantagonistic, to being interested, then curious,through investigation to conversion andsalvation, followed by growing in Christ. Thiscan take perhaps 3 -7 years, with significant lifeexperiences and influence from a number ofpeople along the way. We need to be patient...Finally, Dean said we must be 'marinated' (Ilove that word!) in the Gospel, then go out andshare it, not only in our home and workplacebut also in places such as cafés, clubs or a dog-walking park.Dean's book and 10 videos can be obtained freeof charge from WWW.LCA.ORG.AU/SENT

SENT AUTHOR VISITS WABy Pastor Steve Liersch

We had 17 attend the book launch of‘SENT – Seeking the orphans of God’ atwhich the author, Dean Eaton, spoke. Held atHalls Head, Mandurah on Tuesday 14th Marchthe launch was preceded by a bring andshare tea.I am enjoying his style and local perspectivewhich speaks into our Australian andLutheran Church’s context.

SENT training Conferences are coming up inOctober.Brisbane—6 & 7 OctoberAdelaide—13 & 14 OctoberSydney—8 OctoberMelbourne—15 OctoberTo get more info or register visit:http://www.lca.org.au/departments/local-mission/new-and-renewing-churches/new-churches/sent/

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FAREWELL PASTOR GREG & JANET PFEIFFER

By Sharon Reid

On 26 February St Johns farewelled PastorGreg & Janet at a combined worship serviceat 9.30am, which was followed by acommunity lunch.A wonderful cake was made by BrigitteQuiskamp. Afterwards we watched the youthperform a skit about Pastor Greg & theconfirmation class, as well as enjoyed somemusic. Jon Offszanka wrote a couple ofsongs which he, Ben & André then performed.Megan Rohde produced a wonderfulPowerPoint presentation from photosprovided by various people of Greg’s timewith us over the last 9½ years.

We wish Greg & Janet well in their newlife in Keyneton, South Australia.

All are invited to the installation of

PastorPeterHageOn Pentecost Sunday4 June 2017, 3.00pm

Followed by a late afternoon tea/early supper.Please all wear a splash of red in honour of PentecostSunday & please bring a plate of finger food to share

ORDINATIONCONSULTATION

Lead by assistant BishopRichard Schulze andRev. Fraser Pearce fromCTICR.Saturday 29th April9:30 am start

Hosted by Bethlehem Morely congregation withmorning tea provided.Below is some explanation from the website.OverviewFor all of its history, our church has ordained men tothe office of the public ministry. At our General Synodin 2015 a proposal to ordain both women and menwas defeated. According to the constitution such adecision would need a two-thirds majority of thoseregistered at Convention. The Synod, however, did notlet the matter rest there. In a subsequent resolutionyour delegates voted, by a large majority, that thetheologians of the church be requested to develop adraft doctrinal statement that presents a theologicalbasis for the ordination of both women and men, andwhy this need not be church divisive.

Draft Doctrinal StatementThe draft doctrinal statement on ordination, togetherwith a statement why the ordination of women shouldnot be a church-divisive issue, is being considered inchurch-wide consultations from March to September2017.You are invited, along with all members of the LCAand the LCNZ, to join this conversation in person.Members of the CTICR and bishops will be travellingto a number of centres across Australia and NewZealand for these consultation meetings. All membersof the LCA and LCNZ are encouraged to come alongto listen and contribute, particularly those who areSynod delegates. This is an important conversation forour church, as we continue to grow in serving ourSaviour, Jesus Christ.Please pray for those doing this work, theconsultations and the church as we continue what hasproven to be a very long and difficult conversation forus.To download the Consultation booklet visit:http://owl.lca.org.au/?page_id=895

Afternoon ofSunday June 11

Installation of PastorMike Fulwood asBishop of the WA

DistrictMore details to come

TotheCongregationsoftheLCAWADistrictGrace and peace to you all through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.With these key words “grace” and “peace” Paul begins many of his New Testament letters.They are like the chorus in his song of the gospel, repeated over and over again to God’s peopleand reminding them of Christ’s precious gift – grace leading to peace.Receive this gift today by faith – GRACE and PEACE to YOU!As has probably been reported to you by your Synod delegates I was elected to the role of WADistrict Bishop (half-time) at the meeting in Katanning on March 4-5. This is a position of greattrust and I am humbled by the fact that our District pastors and delegates at Synod have been ledin this way. As I expressed at Synod it is a position which I can only accept and undertake “withthe help of God” and I hope you will pray for me and my wife Narelle as we serve you in thecoming two year term.This is a letter of introduction. Having served in WA from January 2007- February 2014 at the Rockingham Mandurah LutheranChurch and also for the past twelve months at St Luke’s in Parkwood, I realise that I am known to some of you. However I amalso aware that many of you will know little about the person you will now be working alongside. I thought it would therefore bevaluable to send this greeting and include in it some information about myself.Firstly some background. I am originally a South Australian, growing up in the country areas of the State before heading to Ade-laide in 1978 to study law at Adelaide University. In 1981 I entered pastoral ministry studies at Luther Seminary (now ALC) andwas ordained as a pastor of the LCA in 1987. I have served as a parish pastor in Croydon (Victoria – Open Door Lutheran Fellow-ship 1988-1993), Tuggeranong (ACT – Church of the Good Shepherd 1993-2006) and Rockingham/Mandurah (WA – Rocking-ham Mandurah Lutheran Church 2007-2014) before spending the past three years in the role of an Interim Pastor for the LCA.This last role has involved spending a year at a time with congregations serving them as they work through transition. This workhas also included a specialisation in Reconciliation Ministry and I have undertaken extensive training in how to apply biblicalpeacemaking principles to the conflicts that we face in our lives.Through this journey I have gathered some insight into the role of a Bishop having served both the NSW District and the WADistrict of the church as a Vice-President and Assistant Bishop. I was also part of the Presidential Team (along with Pastors Adri-an Kitson and Julian Bayha) which served WA in the interim period between the retirement of Geoff Burger and the beginning ofPastor Greg Pfeiffer’s time as our District President/Bishop. I trust that this experience will be of value as I take up the office ofbishop but I also am very aware of my limitations in the face of what is a daunting role.I have been encouraged in recent days by the following verse from Corinthians –

God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in eve-ry good work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

These are powerful words not just for a bishop-elect but for the whole church as we struggle with the challenges of being God’speople in a secular age. He IS able to bless us abundantly with what we truly NEED.In addition to the above I can share that when time and opportunity allow I am a keen fisherman, an amateur photographer, awoodworker and, very excitingly, a soon-to-be “Grandpa”. Narelle is a ceramic artist (she says she just “loves playing with clay”),a teacher, is learning to paint with water colours and can’t wait for the experience of being “Grandma”. Our grandchildren will beborn in WA in April and June.Whatnext?The DCC has the responsibility of managing the process of my transition into the role of bishop and I will meet with them in com-ing days to begin this work. Currently I have responsibilities to complete in my current call at St. Luke’s Parkwood and some hol-idays owing which will affect the timing of a start date.It is also the responsibility of the DCC to identify a suitable host congregation/parish for the other 50% of my work role. Synodhas voted to create a “locum” role for the bishop who will serve one of the congregations of the District as its half time pastor.Whilst the name “locum” suggests to some that this will be a roving commission it is anticipated that the role will be sited at oneplace for the full two year term. More information on the process will be forthcoming as the DCC makes progress on its planning.ConcludingWordsAlong with many other churches we are currently navigating our way through tricky waters. Our society is moving away from itsChristian heritage, we have lost some community trust in the wake of the recent Royal Commission and many of our church fami-lies are shrinking.In the face of these challenges we can seek Christ TOGETHER, we can face the future TOGETHER, and we can be the body ofChrist TOGETHER.This is a rich partnership in the gospel which I look forward to sharing with you in coming months.Yours in Christ and his service,

Pastor Mike FulwoodBishop-Elect WA District.

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Page 5 April 2017

Travel Brochures Available

Information about the Reformation 500 tours:www.esbconsult.com/lcawanews/Reformation500May_June2017.pdfwww.esbconsult.com/lcawanews/Reformation500Oct_Nov2017.pdf

When: Friday 5th—Sunday 7th MayWhere: Manjedal Activities CentreFor more info and the registrationform email to:lywa@wa.lca.org.au

Please email your items to: wanews@wa.lca.org.auCurrent and old WA Lutheran News are available fordownload from the new website and also from:http://www.esbconsult.com/lcawanews/On the website you can also sign up to get an emailinforming you of when there is a new newsletter readyfor download.Karen Crouch. Editor, WA Lutheran News

Thank you for your patience when there are delays.

2017 PUBLICATION SCHEDULE

Article Deadline Publication Date

20 June 24 June27 September 30 September

5 December 9 December