About our fellowship
OUR HISTORY
Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship
Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship was formed in 2009 with a desire to bring people of all ages together to grow as disciples of God and to gather in a lay-led, contemporary, Lutheran worship service.
Worshipping at Concordia Lutheran College Chapel not only gives us the beautiful chapel as our home, it also gives us the opportunity to be intentional about our partnership with the school community, especially the boarder for whom Emmanuel has become their spiritual home away from home.
Our congregation continues to strive to use the many gifts that God has given to each of us to share the message of God’s love with our community.
Emmanuel is a passionate Christian community which desires to see people come into a deep relationship that their Heavenly Father has called them to. Our heart is to welcome all people, just as Jesus did 2000 years ago, and invite them to be a part of his mission in our city. We strive, through the power and example of the cross, to be transformed so that we can grow as Jesus’ disciples and share this same love with our community.
Our Vision is “Transforming lives by sharing God’s love and acceptance every day”.
OUR PASTOR
Period of Vacancy
Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship is currently in a period of vacancy and working through the process to select and call a Pastor to lead our faith community.
During this period of vacancy we continue to provide moving and impactful contemporary worship services each Sunday with the support of gifted lay readers and visiting Pastors under the direction of our Specific Ministry Pastor candidate Mike Ludwig.
Consistent with Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship’s vision to be a congregation which is “Transforming lives by sharing God’s love and acceptance every day” we also continue to support important areas of ministry and mission lead by a dedicated Pastoral Care Team.
SERVICES
Pastoral Services
Baptism
Baptism is a gift from God.
In the waters of baptism God reaches out to wash us clean so that we are born again as his children. Through baptism our heavenly Father forgives us our sins and unites us with our Lord Jesus Christ, so that we share in his death and resurrection. And the Holy Spirit renews us and gives us eternal life.
Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship would love to be involved in your baptism, or the baptism of child or friend. If you would like to learn more about Baptism please contact office@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au
Confirmation
Confirmation is a rite which allows individuals to "confirm" their baptismal promises, declaring their intention to live in a relationship with God.
Confirmation Courses, which are generally aimed at young teenagers, are run cooperatively with other local Lutheran congregations and Concordia Lutheran College. Lead by local pastors, these courses cover Lutheran teachings as expressed in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, biblical stories and faith practices.
Confirmation is considered a milestone on a Christian's journey, which often, though not always, coincides with first communion.
To find out more about upcoming confirmation courses contact office@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au
Weddings
Marriage is a gift given to us by God. It is a gift not only for Christians but for all people.
A Christian wedding is special in that it involves Scripture readings which bring the Word of God to bear on the marriage, and prayers and blessings for the couple. The vows taken in a wedding are very profound and are made not only in the presence of family and friends but in the presence of God.
Some preparation is required for those seeking a wedding conducted by a Pastor Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship. Typically this preparation involves several sessions with Pastor for pre-marriage instruction, to explore what the Bible teaches about marriage, and to prepare the necessary legal paperwork. Pastors of the Lutheran Church of Australia (as ‘Registered Ministers of Religion’) are also required by law to perform marriages according to the Rites of the Lutheran Church of Australia.
If you are interested in having Pastor conduct a wedding ceremony, please email office@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au
Funerals
As hard as it may be, death is a gate we all must walk through. Yet, because of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, his followers have hope even in the face of death.
Those needing support during a time of bereavement, including Christian burial for a loved one, are invited to contact our Pastor at pastor@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au to discuss their situation and needs.
Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship are here to help you to plan a funeral of a deceased loved one as part of their community ministry.
TENETS OF FAITH
Our guiding principles
1ST GUIDING PRINCIPLE
GRACE
We live in the grace of God, taking hold of opportunities to extend this into our community.
2ND GUIDING PRINCIPLE
FAITH
We are disciples of Christ, people growing in faith that is grounded in scripture.
3RD GUIDING PRINCIPLE
MISSION & OUTREACH
We desire for all people to know the love of God and put their faith in him.
We take seriously our call to make disciples and to love our neighbour.
4TH GUIDING PRINCIPLE
COMMUNITY & FELLOWSHIP
We pursue genuine relationships with one another.
5TH GUIDING PRINCIPLE
LOVE & ACCEPTANCE
We believe that God accepts everyone.
As disciples we seek to extend God's love and forgiveness to all.
What we believe
Emmanuel Lutheran Fellwoship is a member congregation of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA), and adheres to the LCA's doctrinal teachings.
As Lutherans, we also have a special relationship with Lutheran Churches across the world.
What is a Lutheran?
The Lutheran Church has its origins in the 16th century when Martin Luther became critical of things that were currently happening in the Church.
His study of Scripture led him to see that our salvation is not something we can earn by our merit or the goodness of our lives, but is a free gift given by a gracious God, received in faith.
Luther himself always thought of the church as being Christ's, but the name "Lutheran" was given to his followers and has stuck ever since.
Lutherans hold these things to be true:
That salvation is through Christ alone.
That God is the focus of everything for the Christian, not us and our own activities, worship, good living. GRACE (God's underserved love) is the key message of the Gospel.
That Scripture is the source of our knowledge of God's revelation of himself.
That we are, at the same time, saint because of Jesus' redeeming work, and sinner, constantly in need of forgiveness and that these two are in tension with each other.
That every believer is able to learn from Scripture, forgive sins and be forgiven, approach God in prayer and be a "minister" of the Gospel.
That God is at work in the world both in wanting to bring people to himself and working through Christians to bring peace and order on his behalf.
The "Lutheran" in Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship identifies the way we see God and our relationship to him and influences the way we live out that faith. It defines our origins and our connections.
Visit www.lca.org.au for more information on Lutheran theology and doctrination and what current resources are available to you.
Our goals
To proclaim and reflect the gospel in all aspects of our personal andcommunal lives. (Guiding Principles1,2,3,4,5)
To maintain and grow a lay-led contemporary worship practice.(Guiding Principles 1,3,4)
To grow Small Group participation. (Guiding Principles 1,4,5)
To maintain and grow our mission to Concordia Lutheran College, our local Harristown community and the broaderworld we live in. (Guiding Principles 3,5)
To empower all people who are a part of Emmanuel to grow deeper in their faith. (Guiding Principle 1)
To use our gifts to bring people into a relationship with their Heavenly Father and our community. (Guiding Principles 1,2,3,4,5)
To build our social engagement within Emmanuel. (Guiding Principles 4,5)
To continue building our relationships within the Toowoomba and Darling Downs LCA Community. (Guiding Principle 4).
FAQ
Questions people ask
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Absolutely! Whilst we have a strong relationship with Concordia Lutheran College, and are privileged to have the beautiful chapel as our home, a large number of our members are not part of the Concordia Lutheran College community.
The use of the college chapel and other facilities by our faith community gives us the opportunity to be intentional about our partnership with the school community, especially the boarder for whom Emmanuel has become their spiritual home away from home.
If you have any questions regarding our relationship with the College or use of its facilities for Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship programs, please contact our office: Call 0461 463 588 or email office@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au
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We take the safety of all children and vulnerable people very seriously. We want everyone who is involved with Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship to find the rich and full life that God wants for us and to do so we follow the 10 Child Safety Standards set out by the Lutheran Church of Australia.
This includes requiring that all leaders involved with our children and youth programs have a BlueCard and have completed ‘Safe Church’ training.
For more information about our child safety, go to https://www.lca.org.au/ministry-support/child-safety-standards/
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Yes. Visitors, families and children are warmly welcomed. Activities for children and youth are offered during selected services and events.
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There are opportunities to join Bible study groups, service teams and social activities. Contact the church office or speak with a member after worship to find a group that suits you.
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The church office can be reached by phone or email during office hours. For specific enquiries about pastoral care, baptisms, weddings or funerals, please contact the pastor or office directly.
office@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au
pastor@emmanueltoowoomba.org.au -
Our Fellowship is located in Toowoomba Queensland.
Concordia Lutheran College Chapel
369 South Street,
Harristown QLD -
Sunday worship is at 9:00 am each week. Special services for Easter, Christmas and other occasions are announced in advance.
COLLABORATION
Renew Mission Region
History
The Renew Mission Region was formed on 5th October 2025 through the formal signing of a Memorandum of Understanding which established a framework for collaboration between the Wilsonton Glencoe Lutheran Parish, which consists of St John’s Lutheran Church – Wilsonton and Bethlehem Lutheran Church – Glencoe, and Emmanuel Lutheran Fellowship – Toowoomba.
The Memorandum of Understanding provides clarity regarding the shared calling, financial support, and collaborative ministry of pastoral and other ministry personnel, ensuring that resources and efforts contribute to the common good. It also outlines the respective roles, responsibilities, and financial arrangements to ensure a sustainable and effective ministry across all participating entities. There is provision for additional congregations or parishes to be included in this arrangement upon mutual agreement, in alignment with the principle of subsidiarity, ensuring that decisions and responsibilities are managed at the most appropriate local level.
While each congregation and parish within the Mission Region operates as an independent entity, they recognize the benefits of working together in ministry and mission. The Memorandum of Understanding facilitates appropriate and meaningful shared leadership, strengthens missional outreach, and ensures financial sustainability in pursuit of the common good.
Opportunities for collaboration beyond shared pastoral leadership, such as ministry initiatives, outreach programs, or shared resources, will be identified and agreed upon within this framework, ensuring that they are effectively supported to the highest local level possible in keeping with the principle of subsidiarity.
Our Mission
The Renew Mission Region represents an exciting new opportunity for our congregations to work together in a more intentional and creative way for the sake of the gospel.
Rather than seeing ourselves simply as separate congregations managing our own ministries, we are stepping into a shared way of working that strengthens relationships, expands mission capacity, and opens up new possibilities for ministry and outreach. It is a practical expression of our belief that, together, we can do more than we can apart.
This new model creates space for shared leadership, mutual support, and a broader vision for mission. It enables us to think beyond our individual boundaries, to discern where God is at work across the region, and to respond together with greater courage, flexibility, and purpose.
By working collaboratively, we can strengthen pastoral and ministry leadership, make better use of resources, and encourage new initiatives that may not have been possible for one congregation alone. It also creates opportunities for us to grow a culture of partnership, where wisdom, energy, and gifts are shared for the common good.
Importantly, this is not about losing our local identity. Each congregation remains grounded in its own community and calling, while also participating in a wider shared mission. In this way, local ministry is not diminished but enhanced, as each of our communities contributes to and benefits from a broader regional vision.
The Renew Mission Region is, therefore, much more than a structural arrangement. It is a new way of working together that invites us to imagine what faithful, sustainable, and collaborative mission can look like in this season. It holds the promise of deeper partnership, stronger witness, and greater mission capability as we seek to serve Christ together into the future.