News archive: Honorary Doctorate for Pastor Rolph Mayer

Australian Lutheran College has awarded a Doctor of Divinity [Honoris Causa] to Rev Rolph Mayer in recognition of his distinguished service as a teacher of the church to the Lutheran Church of Australia and wider Christian community in Australia. The award is to be conferred at the College’s Graduation Ceremony at Concordia College, Highgate, SA, on 28 November 2009.

Rev Mayer has had a profound influence as a loved and respected teacher of the church on many people, both within the LCA and its former synods and also in the wider ecumenical scene.

Rev Dr Malcolm Bartsch, a colleague of Dr Mayer, said ‘Working with Rolph as a colleague was a great privilege. Not only did he excite and inspire us with his lively presentation of the gospel in preaching, teaching and storytelling, but he also embodied the gospel in interacting with his co-workers and students. On our fishing trips he enjoyed each fish caught as a parable of the grace of God—totally undeserved and in no way the result of any good work, unlike golf which he regarded as totally law based and relying only on good works!’

After a period of 4 years of parish ministry as pastor of the Lower Murray Home Mission Parish, he became chaplain, teacher and house master at Immanuel College for 13 years from 1955 to 1967. In this ministry he inspired many of his students with a love for the gospel as well as a thirst for learning.

He actively participated in committees responsible for Church Workers, Sunday School, Lutheran Youth, Lutheran Day Schools, Religious Instruction [in government schools], Lutheran Student Fellowship, and Lutheran Education [primary, secondary and tertiary]. In 1966 he was given two terms leave-of-absence to visit schools in USA, Canada, England and Germany.

In 1968 Pastor Mayer was called as one of the two founding lecturers of Lutheran Teachers College/Lay Training Centre [LTC]. In 1970 he became the Principal of LTC, a position which he held for 18 years. He continued after this as a lecturer until he retired at the end of 1995 having completed 25 years of exceptional service at LTC. As Principal, Pastor Mayer formed an exemplary supportive and closely-knit educational and formational community in which the participation of each member of that community, students, support staff and lecturers, was valued and fostered.

During this time Pastor Mayer made a remarkable and original contribution to theological education, especially for teachers, lay workers and people preparing for service amongst Indigenous Christians and also for overseas mission work. Through these students which he influenced so strongly at LTC, many people have been touched by Pastor Mayer in the congregations and schools of the church in Australia and also overseas.

His lively and engaging classroom teaching and his passion for ‘the surprise of the gospel’ had a profound influence on generations of students.

Pastor Mayer was also a member of, and active contributor to, important theological committees of the Church. He served on the Intersynodical Committee which dealt with the theological matters which led to the union of the two former synods of the Church. He also served on the Commission on Theology and Interchurch Relationships and on the Uniting Church – Lutheran Church Dialogue committee.

Through the preparation of people for overseas service especially in Papua New Guinea and Indonesia and the regular presence of students from these countries in the LTC program, Pastor Mayer’s influence has extended outside of Australia. He spent three months in 1997 teaching at Martin Luther Seminary in Lae, Papua New Guinea.

Since retiring from active teaching at the end of 1995, Pastor Mayer has been very active in interim ministry providing pastoral support in numerous vacant parishes in Australia, New Zealand and in Cardiff, Wales. He has also helped congregations cope with tragedy such as the floods in Katherine, NT and the fires in Port Lincoln, SA. His pastoral care and guidance has been most appreciated in these difficult circumstances. Wherever he has been, he has continued to be a ‘teacher of the church’ and his strongly gospel-centred sermons and children’s addresses have been greatly appreciated.

Updated: 29/09/2009 [1.00]