Changing face of Church work
Being a lay worker in the LCA was very different more than three decades ago. In those days they were few in number, but many were full-time. Their roles often were wide-ranging, covering youth, small groups, evangelism, pastoral care, Bible study and leading worship.
Today there are many more lay workers, most of whom are part-time. Their roles are often focused on specialised areas of ministry, especially child, youth and family; young adults; small groups, mission and outreach; chaplaincy; pastoral care and camping or cross-cultural ministries.
Lay workers, as well as pastors and other staff, need our support and prayers.
Importantly now there is a far greater support, from national and district level, to the local congregation. Nationally, this support is transitioning from LCA Lay Ministry into the new Church Worker Support Department, which will provide a comprehensive approach to the care for, and management of, pastors, lay workers and other church workers, paid and unpaid.
Lay workers, as well as pastors and other staff, need our support and prayers as they give of themselves beyond what their job description requires. Whatever their individual journey, they bring a love of Jesus, and a passion to see others grow in faith.
For the past four-and-a-half years I have been privileged to be a supporter and encourager to lay workers across the LCA, including New Zealand, as a lay worker formation officer with LCA Lay Ministry.
For more than 30 years prior to that I was out in the field and, across that time, I came to understand the challenges and joys which confront those at the coalface.
My own journey began about 10 years before I graduated from Lutheran Teachers College/Lay Training Centre (LTC) in North Adelaide in 1979 with a Certificate of Lay Ministry. The call of God came with discovering Jesus in a personal way through the Christian coffee lounge outreach Jacob’s Ladder. After serving as a volunteer lay worker in Hobart for two years, God led me to study.
My first placement was at Salisbury, in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, in 1980, where I had the privilege of being part of many innovative ministry and mission activities. These included the early days of small group ministry for Bible study, care and a way to integrate new believers into a congregation, as well as ecumenical outreach projects. Later, I worked as outreach director at Glynde SA, as chaplaincy coordinator at the LCA SA/NT District, and as spiritual life director at St Michael’s Hahndorf SA.
I thank God for the opportunity to serve his church as a lay worker and I pray for those considering committing their lives to him in this special way, as well as those who already have.
The Church Worker Support Department has been formed to assist congregations and agencies of the LCA to support and encourage people who undertake mission and ministry activities for the church. This builds on the work currently undertaken by the Lay Ministry Department, the Board of Support for Pastoral Ministry and aspects of the Professional Standards Department.
Contact: Church Worker Support Department Manager Chris Materne on (08) 8267 7300 or at christine.materne@staging.lca.org.au
This feature story comes from The Lutheran July 2016. Visit the website to find out more about The Lutheran or to subscribe.
