News archive: Lutheran wines support indigenous education

Whistler Wines launched their annual Lutheran Winemakers Selection fundraiser at Synod this year, with funds raised to go towards study grants for upper secondary school students from Central Australia to access leadership training, and to encourage these gifted students to become religious leaders in their communities in the future.

‘‘Pastors are vital, but we should also highly value the dedicated lay workers and volunteers, who are desperately needed in local communities,’ said Australian Lutheran College Principal, Rev John Henderson.

‘Supporting Aboriginal communities in their worship and spiritual life is important to us at ALC. Indigenous communities, as with all of us, need well equipped leaders to assist them in building up their faithful witness to Jesus Christ’.

The study grants will be administered through ALC, and will break down barriers of distance that make it difficult for young adults in the Centre to participate in the large team-building workshops offered in Australia’s capital cities.

ALC, in collaboration with Delta Ministries, is developing a study grant for young indigenous Australians to access the Delta Vetamorphus program, which is part of Vocational Education Training and counts towards the secondary school certificate.

As part of this program, young Aboriginal leaders will learn personal skills and develop their spiritual understanding in a number of areas, including: exploring what it means to be a disciple of Christ in a remote community; networking with other young leaders from around Australia at camps and retreat weekends; exploring the unique challenges associated with leadership in a Christian congregation; and learning how to manage and lead volunteers.

This study grant lays a foundation for the future of Christian communities in remote areas, through giving students the opportunity to not just learn about theology but put it into practice in their day to day lives.

The Finke River Mission Board also encourages the establishment of local, independent, self-supporting congregations. The first two Aboriginal pastors were ordained in 1964. There are now more than 20 pastors serving local communities. The theological training of pastors is an ongoing task carried out in conjunction with ALC.

Download Lutheran winemakers selection brochure [PDF 2.96MB]

Updated: 25/11/2009 [1.00]