Church Engagement: honouring our heritage, growing our future

Church Engagement: honouring our heritage, growing our future

Lutheran Services has introduced a new Church Engagement Lead role to strengthen relationships across our Lutheran community.

Established through the New Horizons Strategic Plan, the role will build authentic, collaborative connections with congregations, pastors, the Lutheran Church of Australia Queensland District and wider faith-based networks.

At its heart, Church Engagement is about honouring our Lutheran foundations while strengthening the relationships that will support the future growth and mission of Lutheran Services.

Our ministry of care began in local congregations. Faithful women and men saw a need and responded through prayer, vision, generosity, service and a commitment to care for others. Many of the services we provide today grew from that local vision.

That legacy continues.

Jo Corney commenced as Church Engagement Lead in May 2026, building on almost a decade of chaplaincy and ministry development work connected with Lutheran Services.

Prior to stepping into this new ministry, Jo was consecrated by Word and Prayer through a blessing at her home congregation, St Mark’s Lutheran Church, Mt Gravatt.

Since starting in the role, Jo has been visiting congregations to listen, share stories about Lutheran Services and thank church communities for their ongoing prayer, service and giving. This includes support through the Lenten Appeal, which has helped fund important chaplaincy ministries, including Lutheran hospital chaplaincy and wellbeing chaplaincy for staff supporting women and families in domestic violence refuge, Mary & Martha’s.

The role also connects closely with our Origin Story projects, which are capturing the stories of the congregations and people who established our services.

Together, these relationships help ensure our history remains a living foundation for the future, as we continue serving through One Church, One Purpose, Many Ministries.

If your congregation would like to invite Jo to share a brief ministry update during worship, please contact joanne.corney@lutheranservices.org.au.

Image 1: Jo’s recent visit with Redeemer Congregation at Laidley. From Left: Shirley Klinge ( congregant of Redeemer congregation) , Anastasia Kim ( Lutheran Services chaplain – Tabeel Aged Care), Jo Corney (Lutheran Services Church Engagement Lead) and Pastor Jing Luan ( Pastor of Redeemer Congregation).

Image 2: Photo taken May 2026 after consecration by word and prayer of Jo Corney in CEL role by her home pastor and congregation – in photo – Jo Corney (CEL LS) and Pastor Matthew Thomas ( Pastor of St Marks LCA  Mount Gravatt).