What does the confessional Lutheran church look like in Australia? We were honored to meet and share stories of global Lutheran church leaders at the International Church Relations Conference (ICRC), held during the LCMS Synod Convention. In this conversation, the Rev. Matt Anker (President, Lutheran Mission – Australia) joins Sarah Gulseth (co-host of The Coffee Hour) and Rachel Bomberger (managing editor of The Lutheran Witness, LCMS Communications) to talk about the general landscape of religion and Lutheranism in Australia, the current state of the Lutheran Mission – Australia and exciting things coming up, the seminary currently in development for LMA students, the first Synodical Assembly happening in August 2026, challenges LMA has faced as they seek to be faithful to Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions, and the joy Rev. Anker has found in being in fellowship with other Lutherans at ICRC.
Find Lutheran Mission – Australia at lutheranmissionaustralia.org.au.
To learn more about Global Lutheranism:
Read more about the 2026 International Church Relations Conference at reporter.lcms.org/2026/global-lutheran-leaders-challenges-abound-contentment-rules.
Learn more about partner churches around the globe at lcms.org/how-we-serve/international/partner-church-bodies.
Find the International Lutheran Council at ilc-online.org/members.
For more information on The Lutheran Witness or to subscribe to the magazine, please visit witness.lcms.org.
