Above: Introduction to new ALC students in 2018. From left: Principal Pastor James Winderlich, the then LWA president Tuula Contarino, the three new students, Joan Zilm, ALC lecturer Dr Stephen Pietsch.

It has been my privilege to act as coordinator between the Lutheran Women of Australia (LWA) and the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) Pastoral Ministry Students Assistance Fund over the last two years. This role resulted from enquiries as to where the fund monies were being gifted during the time, I was president of the LWSA-NT. Following discussions with Tuula Contarino, President of LWA at the time, and her Executive committee I offered to contact the ALC business manager to determine where our gifted funding was being used. The role snow-balled from there.

I began a series of meetings with management of ALC and, after feedback to the LWA, an agreement was reached that the LWA would manage the fund money. This was in line with the proposal passed at the LWA Rochedale convention. I offered to be the local coordinator between the LWA and the ALC pastoral students.

The year I commenced this role I had the privilege of speaking to all the pastoral students where I explained the purpose of the fund. I explained to the students that through the generous support of our women this fund was set up to encourage students and support them in unexpected emergencies. It also was a great opportunity for me to explain LWA, our role in the church, and all the projects we support. There was a good question time at the end of my presentation, and I was pleased when they asked what they could do to support us. My answer was to pray for us and our projects, and to encourage the women of any congregations they have contact with to join and support the women’s groups throughout Australia and New Zealand.

I was able to present to the first-year students a cheque for $200 each as encouragement and support. Since then each new student of the pastoral studies course has been presented with this encouragement gift from the Lutheran women. They receive a letter from our President and an application form for assistance from our gift fund, should an emergency arise.

When a student applies for a gift, a panel from the LWA Executive review the application, and if it is successful, I am contacted, and it is arranged for me to obtain a cheque in the applicant’s name from the Lutheran Laypeople’s League. I arrange to meet the student and present the cheque on your behalf. Usually the students have a chat with me about how their studies are going and tell me a little about themselves, their families and, occasionally, a few personal issues. This helps us to identify the stresses and needs that sometimes come up in the life of a student. Strict confidentiality is kept throughout the process.

My role does not stop there. I also have meetings with the wives of the pastoral students. Usually, I take a nice fruit platter and make a fresh batch of scones in the morning and, armed with jam and cream and a smiley face, (I hope) we meet together. These are very informal meetings, but it is an opportunity for me to discuss how the gift fund works; in some cases, the husbands have forgotten to tell their wives it even exists! I can talk about the LWA and our projects; our focus always being on God, with each meeting consisting of devotion, Bible study and prayer. I explain the opportunities they may have to contribute to LWA by joining their local fellowship and contributing to our projects in any way they are able. LWA have also paid subscriptions for all the pastoral students’ wives to receive the Lutheran Women magazine. I deliver them to their president, so it gives me another opportunity to be advised of any special needs and/or prayer needs.

My husband, John, and I, also offer them a break away for a few days, where the family can come to our hometown of beautiful Port Hughes, where they can do their own thing but don’t have to worry about meals and the cost of accommodation. We look after those needs. We have been privileged to host of a couple of students and their families and host a family for a meal when they have stayed at “Ron's Place” just down the road from us.

I feel very privileged to be able to carry out the role of coordinator between the LWA and the ALC Students Assistance Fund and thank you for the opportunity to continue in this, to build this rapport between the students, their wives and the LWA.

Thank you for contributing to this fund.

To God be the Glory.