For many years, Lutheran congregations throughout Australia had been examining how best they should make use of resources, and in particular, the scarce resource of pastors. The Knox congregation had had a part time pastor since 1994. Initially that pastor's 'other' employment was outside the church. Over time this changed and more and more of the Knox pastor's 'other' time was being used to fill in for neighbouring congregations who had no pastor, or to minister to emerging Lutheran communities that were forming in population growth areas nearby.
It became evident, that the congregations in the area needed to consider the long term sustainability of ministry to the eastern and south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. In particular, the congregations needed to explore formal ways of sharing pastoral resources by merging congregations or forming parishes. The Lutheran Church of Australia had also begun developing a model of ministry in congregations, advocating a combination of pastor and paid lay support.
In 2002 the two neighbouring congregations of Our Saviour's Knox and Good Shepherd Ringwood, initiated discussions to see how they could, by collaborating, share their mission and ministry resources. In 1999 the two congregations to the north of Ringwood had formed a parish (Outer Eastern Lutheran Church), sharing a pastor. The two congregations to the west (Nunawading and Waverley) were also considering a parish arrangement.
At the end of 2003, the pastors of both Ringwood and Knox left their congregations, one through retirement and the other to take up another call. In a significant step towards collaboration, the two congregations agreed to offer a joint call to a new pastor who would serve both congregations. This pastor would be assisted by a paid lay worker. Pastor Stephen Pietsch, then at Greensborough/Thomastown, accepted this call and was inducted at a joint service on 15 August 2004.
Prior to his arrival, a motion was put to each congregation that they should form a single congregation, but with two preaching places. This was narrowly passed at Knox and narrowly defeated at Ringwood. So for the first few months of Pastor Stephen's incumbency the congregations operated under a 'document of understanding' which laid out, in informal terms, the nature of their collaboration.
Eventually it was decided that a more formal agreement was needed. On 31 July 2005, a motion to form a parish was passed by both congregations, and the Ringwood-Knox Parish was born.
The original intension in calling a single pastor to serve both congregations, was that he would be supported by paid lay workers. Commencing in April 2005 a small group meet on a number of occasions to consider the needs of the parish, and to recommend what type of paid lay support would best suit our mission and ministry aims. It was decided that a single half time person should be employed (later increased to 0.7). This person's role would not be to run the various programs and activities; but would rather be to encourage, coordinate and equip the members of the parish to do so. In November 2005, Christie Lange was appointed and the following month was inducted at services at both Ringwood and Knox.
At this point in time we are a relatively young and recently established parish. Each of our congregations has its own distinct identity, born of its history, traditions and environment. As respective members we have a great sense of fellowship, collaboration and unity of mission. As congregations we have significant diversity, a great blessing in helping us meet the challenges of witnessing to and serving our neighbours, and in doing so, serving God. We see the hand of the Lord at work in the two congregations of our parish, drawing us together in closer union, challenging us to work together so that sum of our parts enriches the whole.
As a young parish, we share great joy as we continue to grow and mature into a uniquely gifted, vibrant and cohesive body, richly blessed and well placed to serve and witness to our diverse community in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne.
We share a common mission, to worship Our Lord, to care for each other and to live and share the Gospel in our daily lives.