General Pastors Conference 2018 was held from Tuesday 10^th July to Thursday 12^th July 2018 at Hahndorf St Michaels Lutheran Church and School, South Australia.

The GPC’s duties are to:
(a) give guidance in matters of doctrine and confession;
(b) foster theological studies by all members of the Ministry;
(c) stimulate and give guidance to the members of the Ministry in the work of their calling;
(d) foster fellowship between the members of the Ministry;  and
(e) consider matters relating to the wellbeing of the Church.

In particular the GPC must serve as a theological adviser to the General Synod and in fulfilment of such function:
(a) shall consider those questions, issues and statements of a theological and confessional nature which appear on the agenda of the Convention of the General Synod and are referred to it by the General Church Council;
(b) may voice its opinion with regard to the advisability or non-advisability of dealing with any such question or issue or of adopting a particular statement;  and
(c) may recommend amendments, corrections, additions or explanations concerning proposed statements.

GPC needs to send nominations for Bishop and Assistant Bishop to the General Convention. More details will follow about the nomination and election process.

GPC also elects the next GPC Planning/Program Committee.

(LCA By-laws)

All LCA pastors are entitled to and encouraged to attend GPC.

In particular (from the constitution and policies of the Church):

• All pastors holding a current call should make every effort to attend to enable the GPC to fulfil its duties.

• Specific Ministry Pastors (SMPs) should make every effort to attend but may not vote.

• Emeriti may attend and vote.

• Pastors on Seconded Service, Leave of Absence, or Temporarily Without Call may attend and vote.

• A pastor who has resigned, been dismissed or suspended from the LCA Ministry may not attend.

• Guest pastors holding a call in the LCA may attend but may not vote.

• Those training to be pastors (ALC pastoral students and SMPs-in-training) are not entitled to attend.

Pastors who have been elected as Synod delegates and who will therefore be attending the October 2018 General Convention in Rosehill Gardens, Sydney, should attend GPC without question in order to:
– better fulfil their duties at Convention;
– and to elect nominations for the position of Assistant Bishop to pass through to General Convention (other pastors may not vote in this election).

A Nominations Committee has been appointed and will attend to electoral functions in due course.

The Nominations Committee will be headed by Pastor Matthew Wilksch, assisted by Pastors Mark Blackwell and John Weier.

The LCA will give some travel and accommodation assistance to called pastors living more than 75km from Hahndorf. The usual reimbursement levels according to car-pooling and cheapest flights will apply.
Pastors not under call (eg emeriti) will need to fund this themselves.

Click on the links to view or download GPC eNews.

15 May: GPC Regos 2018

14th June: GPC eNews 3

29th June: GPC Papers & Event Information

Documents:

·         Proposals referred to General Pastors Conference from General Church Council

·         A theological Basis for the ordination of Women and Men: Draft Doctrinal Statement

·         A Theological basis for why the ordination of Women and Men need not be Church divisive

·         A theological basis for the ordination of Women and Men: background to the Draft Doctrinal Statement

·         Engaging with the Draft Doctrinal Statement: reflection arising from the current teaching of the Lutheran Church of Australia

·         Infant Communion  DSTO 1.E (GCC 1986)

·         Infant Communion DSTO 3.l (CTICR 2012)

·         Report from Pastor John Henderson, Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia, General Pastors Conference 2018

·         Program for General Pastors Conference 2018

·         Minutes from General Pastors Conference 2015 for adoption at General Pastors Conference 2018

.         GPC Presentation - Pastor Nathan Hedt

.          GPC Presentation - Pastor Brett Kennett

·         Exegetical Paper, Pastor James Haak. General Pastors Conference Tuesday session