:: At Work with Indigenous People ::

National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Commission (NATSIEC)’s mandate as the ecumenical peak body in Australia is to: provide a forum for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to speak and take action on issues of faith, mission and evangelism, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander spirituality and theology, of social justice and land rights; serve as a unified voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as they relate to member churches and international ecumenical bodies; help rebuild self-esteem, pride and dignity within Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities; promote harmony, justice and understanding between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and the wider community; provide a basis for further political action by church-related Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations and the member churches of the National Council of Churches in Australia; administer all funds of the National Council of Churches in Australia relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; share in furthering the objectives and promoting the programmes of the National Council of Churches in Australia.

All the members of the NATSIEC are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples: they represent a cross-section of church-related Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups from the Anglican Church of Australia (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council), the Churches of Christ in Australia (Australian Churches of Christ Indigenous Ministry), the Lutheran Church in Australia, the Roman Catholic Church (National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Council), the Salvation Army and the Uniting Church in Australia (Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress).

NATSIEC’s existence is made possible through financial contributions received from Christian World Service, Martung Upah Appeal and NCCA member churches. The Anglican Church and Uniting Church (NSW Synod) give directly to the work of NATSIEC. The World Council of Churches and other Christian international agencies provide financial support for specific projects.

CWS contributes to the work of NATSIEC in the form of a grant.