NATIONAL ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT
ISLANDER ECUMENICAL COMMISSION

Continuing the Journey...

[Back to Contents]

  <Previous                            Next>

Recommendations arising from the review

The responses from the member churches have provided the AIC with a national, ecumenical picture of the churches responses to the Reconciliation Process and to the Bringing Them Home recommendations. The AIC is now better able to identify areas where further action needs to be taken by the churches.

Some responses to the review from individual churches provide inspiration and hope for what is possible in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Some recommendations have therefore been developed in response to the success of particular churches in their support of their Indigenous members and Indigenous church partners. Some of the church responses, however, have highlighted areas where churches can take more effective action to support their Indigenous church members and church partners. Eleven recommendations have been developed accordingly.

Recommendations relating to the Reconciliation Process

Recommendation 1.

That the National Council of Churches (NCCA) commit to work with the AIC to develop mechanisms whereby the NCCA can be a better advocate on behalf of the Indigenous church partners.

Churches, in response to the challenges, and their histories, of fulfilling their mission in Australia, have developed individual and often quite complex organisational structures. These structures, while designed to enable the churches to better perform their ministry, can present problems for Indigenous church members and their organisations.

The Commissioners have found that there is a certain degree of confusion within Indigenous communities about the organisational structures of the member churches. The Commissioners have determined that they will develop resources to better inform Indigenous people about the differing roles and responsibilities of the various Church structures.

These structures are also problematic for Indigenous church partners in that they often obstruct the ability of the churches to respond to requests to be advocates for their Indigenous members. The inability of the member churches to provide endorsement at crucial times to enable the NCCA to respond publicly and immediately has, inadvertently, supported the present Federal Government's failure to provide leadership on Indigenous issues. The absence of a public response by the churches at these times also contributes to the hurt which Indigenous people suffer.

The AIC calls on the member churches of NCCA to commit to develop a mechanism, which would allow the NCCA to respond, promptly and publicly, to requests for advocacy support from the AIC.

Recommendation 2.

That member churches be urged to support financially the organising of a National Summit of Indigenous church organisations.

Church responses to the review indicate that there is a high level of participation by the churches supporting reconciliation initiatives that are organised by bodies such as the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR) and the Journey of Healing Committee. There are, however, few examples of the churches being proactive in organising in support of reconciliation.

The review also showed that some churches have not been able, aside from providing emergency assistance, to support their Indigenous church members and organisations in developing programs to address the core issues of Indigenous disadvantage.

The AIC recognises and respects that the churches are reluctant to make decisions on behalf of Indigenous people and acknowledges that there is a need for the AIC to provide clear and substantive direction to the member churches.

With the winding up of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation, the reconciliation process has been handed over to the people of Australia. There is a need for the churches, Indigenous and non Indigenous Christians together, to work imaginatively to help resolve those areas of "unfinished business" which have prevented the achievement of reconciliation.

The AIC believes that, in order to provide the necessary guidance for the member churches, there is a need for a national gathering of the Indigenous church members and their organisations.

The AIC requests that the member churches support this initiative.

Recommendation 3.

That the member churches be encouraged to take further their efforts to express the gospel in ways, which recognise and respect Indigenous spirituality.

The review affirmed that there are many initiatives being taken by the churches, particularly at the local level, to introduce protocols and symbols into the church which acknowledge and respect Indigenous history and spirituality.

Some churches have been involved in projects to explore their local Indigenous history to better understand the challenges of reconciliation. The recovery of information about traditional ownership of parish land has led a number of churches to install plaques acknowledging the traditional owners.

Many churches have also taken steps to include symbols of significance to Indigenous people in their churches and their church services. Some churches have had Bibles, hymns and prayers translated into the local Indigenous language.

The AIC welcomes these initiatives which respect the rights of Indigenous people to express themselves as Indigenous people, and encourages the churches to continue to build on this work to articulate the Gospel in a way which recognises and respects Indigenous history and spirituality.

Recommendation 4.

That member churches be encouraged to implement, within their training for ministry, cross-cultural and anti racism programs.

Some churches have been particularly effective in working with the opportunity afforded through their training programs for ministry to respond to the needs and concerns of their Indigenous church members.

Some churches have focused on supporting the training of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and have provided scholarships for individuals and financial support for Nungalinya College. Support has been demonstrated by some churches for the development of Indigenous theology. Some of the theological colleges have identified the need for training in Indigenous issues and culture for all students and for ministers in placement. There has been some church commitment to implementing anti-racism programs for church leaders.

The AIC encourages those member churches which have not, as yet, implemented cross-cultural and anti-racism courses within their training programs for ministry, to work towards this goal.

Recommendation 5.

That the member churches be urged to develop a vision and a plan of action for their ongoing involvement in reconciliation, drawing upon the Roadmap for Reconciliation as a resource.
On completion of its 10-year term the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation presented the Australian public with two documents - the Roadmap for Reconciliation and the Declaration for Reconciliation. The Roadmap for Reconciliation presents four strategies, and the list of essential actions for each strategy, for moving the reconciliation process forward.

An extensive consultation process preceded the release of these documents. Many churches contributed to this consultation. These documents have been circulated widely and, as was indicated in the review, churches are generally aware of their existence.

Despite this awareness and despite the widespread involvement of churches in the consultation process, churches have not, with the exception of the Uniting Church, significantly seized the opportunity provided by the Roadmap to vision and plan for future involvement in reconciliation.

The AIC notes that many churches have indicated in the review that they have identified the need for their involvement in future planning and the AIC encourages them to make this a matter of priority.

Recommendations relating to the Bringing Them Home report

Recommendation 6.

That the member churches which do not have a detailed and accurate record of their involvement in the separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families be urged to undertake this research.

There remains a certain amount of confusion and ignorance within some churches regarding their own history in relation to forcible removals. The AIC encourages those churches that do not have a detailed history of their involvement to commit to compile and document an accurate account.

Recommendation 7.

That those churches which do not acknowledge that they were involved in forcible removals be encouraged to dialogue further with their Indigenous church members about this response.

There are differing perspectives on the implications of churches having provided accommodation and services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children forcibly removed from their families. Some churches acknowledge that, due to the role they played, they are part of the forcible removal history. These churches have publicly acknowledged their involvement and have issued apologies.
Other churches believe that because it was the governments, and not the churches, which formulated and implemented the policies of separation, they were not responsible for forcible removals. These churches, while publicly acknowledging support for reconciliation, have not issued apologies.

The AIC is concerned that while there are some churches which have yet to acknowledge and apologise for their involvement, the healing process of those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families who were housed and cared for by these churches may be hindered.

Recommendation 8.

That the member churches of NCCA ensure that Stolen Generations history is included in the school curricula and in the professional training offered to church employees.

The AIC believes that churches need to contribute to awareness raising about Stolen Generations history. It is only in recent years, most notably since the release of Bringing Them Home in 1997, that the general public has become aware of this history.

AIC would like to encourage churches involved in school education to ensure that Stolen Generations history is included in the curriculum. Materials suitable for schools have been developed in some states. The AIC is willing to support the member churches is accessing materials.

Churches employ many people who work with, or who through their work have contact with, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. As the policies and practices of forcible removals have impacted on a very large number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people there is a need for much deeper sensitivity and awareness in relation to this history. The AIC encourages the churches to ensure that within the professional development training provided to church employees, particularly for those who are working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, there is included awareness raising on the history and possible effects of the forcible removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families.

Recommendation 9.

That the member churches be urged to dialogue, as a matter of priority, with their Indigenous members and organisations, about supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accessing their records.

There are still a number of difficulties facing Indigenous people who have been affected by forcible removals in accessing their records. The churches that have been involved may be able to respond to some of these difficulties.

The AIC encourages the churches involved to dialogue with their Indigenous church members and partners about how Indigenous people can be supported through all the steps involved in the accessing of records - making the decision to access records, locating the whereabouts of records, the reading of the documentation and subsequent healing.

Some churches have been able to complete the task of compiling a central directory, which details the records that they have available. A Piece of the Story, compiled by the Catholic Church, is one such directory. The AIC encourages those churches, which have not as yet been able to complete this work, to seek ways to ensure that this is given priority.

There is also a need for churches to inform, as widely as possible, Indigenous people and groups about the records that they have available. The churches are encouraged to talk to their Indigenous church members and organisations about the possibilities for sharing the information with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Recommendation 10.

That member churches be asked:

(a) To ensure, through accessing cultural training, that their counselling and healing services are appropriate and   responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and
(b) To support the training of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in counselling and healing.

There is, particularly as a result of forcible removal history, a need for appropriate healing and counselling services to be made available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Healing has always been seen as an important part of ministry and within the churches there are a number of individuals and organisations available with healing training and experience. However, as indicated in the review, there churches have not been involved to any significant extent in providing healing and counselling services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people affected by forcible removal history.

The AIC is aware that there are concerns by both Indigenous and non Indigenous people and groups about the provision of appropriate healing and counselling services by the churches. However, while the churches need to be mindful about this consideration, the AIC believes that this should not prevent the churches from supporting their Indigenous church members and partners.

Churches are encouraged to be involved in supporting the training of Indigenous people in counselling by making their resources, materials and expertise, available and also in taking steps to ensure that their own services are culturally appropriate by accessing cultural training for counselors.

Recommendation 11.

That the member churches be encouraged to determine their responses to the recommendation for a Reparations Tribunal.

Throughout the course of the review the member churches of NCCA have been involved in a number of discussions about the Bringing Them Home recommendation relating to a National Reparations Tribunal. Despite general awareness of this recommendation, the review found that many of the member churches are still unclear about what their response should be. In particular the churches have not determined what, if any, their role would be in supporting such an initiative.

The AIC supports the establishment of a National Reparations Tribunal and would encourage those churches that were involved in providing accommodation and training and services for children who were forcibly removed to commit to support the Tribunal financially.

The Public Interest and Advocacy Centre (PIAC) is currently conducting consultations with Indigenous groups around Australia on the preferred model for a Reparations Tribunal. The AIC is hoping that the member churches of NCCA will be in a position by August 2001, the scheduled date for a Reparations Conference in Sydney where the PIAC report will be presented to political parties, governments and the churches, to contribute to the establishment of the Tribunal.