Lutheran Church in Queensland - LCANZ

08/06/2026

The Synod Sunday morning worship with Holy Communion was graciously hosted by St Andrews Lutheran Church Tallebudgera. In his sermon, LCAQD Bishop Mark Vainikka reminded us that, despite uncertainty about its future and changing cultural circumstances, the church’s hope does not rest in human plans, strategies, or achievements, but in God’s mercy and action. Drawing on Titus 3:4–7, Bishop Mark emphasised that God saves, renews, and sustains his people through the Holy Spirit, not because of anything they have done, but through grace. Synod is therefore not merely a place for decision-making, but a gathering where God’s people seek to discern and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, just as the early Church did at the Council of Jerusalem.

What a joy it has been to join with St Andrews Lutheran College and St Andrews Lutheran Church as we listen to the Spirit and discern what God is calling us to do as His church. We thank you St Andrews for the generous spirit of hospitality you have displayed towards staff, delegates and visitors, and we are in awe of your amazingly gifted cohort of students who provided the musical backdrop to our worship and mealtimes. They are a credit to you!

Synod delegates, we look forward to seeing you again next year in the Greater Brisbane area, 4-6 June 2027.

Please enjoy these photos from Synod Sunday.
📷Images shared with permission.

06/06/2026

Good morning, this morning's Synod Sunday morning worship will be livestreamed from St Andrews Lutheran Church Tallebudgera from 9am: https://qld.lca.org.au/events/2026-synod-livestream/

If you miss it, Bishop Mark has pre-recorded the sermon here:
https://vimeo.com/1197905330

And you can find a transcript here: https://lca.box.com/v/2026-Synod-Sunday-Sermon

The 58th Annual LCAQD Convention of the Synod will be held Fri 5th June - Sun 7th June 2026, at St Andrew’s Lutheran College, Tallebudgera.

06/06/2026

Synod Saturday was a busy but productive one. On Saturday morning, Bishop Mark Vainikka reflected on his written report. He said the Convention’s theme of Open Door to Spiritual Renewal reflected on baptism and was an important and right theme.

'Luther reminds us that baptism is a daily occurrence,' Bishop Mark said. 'Renewal begins with Christ, it begins with repentance, it begins at the font, it begins with the Holy Spirit.'

There were reports from the District Church Board, the Commission for Mission, Lutheran Women of Qld and LLL Australia, who also recognised three congregations this year for the 2026 Mission Outreach Grant:

✅ St Marks Lutheran Church, Caloundra: for an intergenerational outreach project;
✅ St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Caboolture: for a community coffee ministry; and
✅ Immanuel Lutheran Church, Buderim: for a community playgroup.

LLL CEO Karen Pienaar also announced the winners of the LLL Synod Art Competition.

The day ended with a number of submitted proposals, elections and finance reports. Thanks were offered to everyone who helped make the 2026 Convention of Synod a success, including our wonderful volunteers, and to those who have concluded their service to DCB and its councils. Blessings were offered to newly appointed council members.

Finally, St Andrews Lutheran College Principal Luke Schoff, along with College staff and volunteers, were thanked for the College’s significant contribution to the successful preparation and running of Convention!

We meet on Sunday for worship at St Andrews Lutheran Church Tallebudgera before heading home!

06/06/2026

Friday afternoon at Synod saw First Assistant Bishop Ben Hentschke and District Transformation Committee Chair John Hoffman updating delegates on the Governance Change Program (GCP), which was endorsed at Convention of the Synod in 2022. This was followed by reports from LCAQD Departments and Churchwide entities. Two new pastors were welcomed into the District: Rev James Leach (St Paul’s Lutheran Church, Caboolture), and Rev Stephen Hibbard (Cleveland Lutheran Parish).

And we said goodbye to LEQ Executive Director Tanya Crooks who is retiring this year, and LYQ Executive Director Darren Pope, who has accepted a position with LLL Australia.

The day ended with dinner in the ballroom at the Surfers Paradise Golf Club, where delegates heard insights into the St Andrews journey from Principal of St Andrews Lutheran College Mr Luke Schoff, joined by St Andrews’ founding Principal, Mr Wolf Stuetzel (1992–1999). The conversation was facilitated by Lutheran Education Australia Executive Director, Ms Jodie Hoff.

A painting donated by last year's LLL Synod Art Competition Open Category winner Aretha Christie was auctioned, raising over $2,000 for the United in Hope Appeal.

Please enjoy these images from Friday afternoon and evening at the Synod.

05/06/2026

The Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District (LCAQD) Convention of the Synod opened at St Andrews Lutheran College Tallebudgera on Friday 5 June 2026.

It began with a time of worship enhanced by music and songs courtesy of amazingly talented students from the College.

LCAQD Bishop Mark Vainikka and St Andrews Principal Luke Schoff welcomed delegates. Opening worship was led by First Assistant Bishop Ben Hentschke. His poetic address touched on the many open doors the church has, from ministry, schools and mission and from Coast to Country, which come to us through God’s grace.

Bishop Mark constituted the Convention of Synod and visiting dignitaries greeted the convention. And to the delight of many attendees, premium, barista-crafted coffee is available throughout the event, thanks to Mowbray Coffee Co and proudly sponsored by LLL Australia.

A new church plant, the Gold Coast Cantonese (Lutheran) Community Church was received as a member of the LCA and LCAQD. Bishop Mark officially launched the 2026-31 Strategic Charter for LCAQD, a shared missional compass for the communities of grace that make up the LCAQD, including congregations, schools, ministries and members of the entire church.

Please enjoy these photos from Friday morning!

04/06/2026

The 58th Annual Convention of the Synod, graciously hosted by St Andrews Lutheran College, is set to begin! Sessions are being livestreamed over the coming days and can be viewed here: https://qld.lca.org.au/events/2026-synod-livestream/

Please pray for:
✅Good health for those attending
✅Traveling mercies
✅Clarity of mind and the leading of the Holy Spirit so that wise decisions are made
✅Listening ears, that we may truly hear each other, and hear from God
✅Refreshment and inspiration
✅And for a special time of fellowship.
🙏Thank you! We covet your prayers!

03/06/2026

Sharing a letter of thanks from the winner of Category 2 (6-9yrs) in our LLL Australia Synod Art Competition. Thank you, Anneke, for such a fantastic entry! 🎨🏆🤩

02/06/2026

17-24 May was the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and Queensland Churches Together has released a short video: One Body, Many Voices.

QCT General Secretary Kate Power stated, 'I hope you'll agree that it's a beautiful expression of the unity among Queensland churches...please feel free to share it far and wide, spreading the message that Queensland's churches are - indeed - together.' Click below to view the video - you may see a face you recognise!

Introducing Queensland Churches TogetherRecognising we don't need to be the same to stand together. and the importance of learning from each other.

01/06/2026

At the 2025 LCAQD Convention of the Synod we made a resolution to raise off-budget financial support of $60,000 per annum for three years (2026–2028) to enable and strengthen a Regional Ministry in Far North Queensland, serving the Hope Vale, Wujal Wujal and Cairns Parishes.

So far we have accumulated $39,913.50 which includes a generous $10,000 contribution from LLL Australia.

We have received 59 donations 💜

7 of the 59 have come from ladies' groups (12% by number), contributing a total of 22% of the fund raising to date (thank you ladies! 💜)

Can you help us raise the rest? Every dollar counts!

Scan the QR code below or go to https://qld.lca.org.au/news-events/united-in-hope/

Together, we are United in Hope 🙏