NATIONAL ABORIGINAL & TORRES STRAIT
ISLANDER ECUMENICAL COMMISSION

Continuing the Journey...

[Back to Contents]

   <Previous                            Next>

RESPONSE TO THE RECONCILIATION PROCESS

In addition to individual church participation in the Reconciliation Process, there have also been a number of reconciliation initiatives which have developed out of combined church activity. The strength of the state ecumenical responses lies in the united church position that they are able to facilitate. Reconciliation provides the various Christian denominations with an opportunity to come together and reflect a model of Christian unity.

Support for Reconciliation:

The ecumenical state bodies have played a role in promoting and distributing within their networks information and materials on the main reconciliation initiatives, such as Week of Prayer for Reconciliation, the Draft Document for Reconciliation, Sorry Day and Journey of Healing commemorations. The ecumenical bodies have been instrumental in facilitating the presence of church leaders and church members at many of the key reconciliation events, such as the bridge walks, thereby making an important contribution to the success of such events. The ecumenical state bodies have also played a role in providing support to other networks, organisations and local groups working for reconciliation. In South Australia, for example, the Executive Officer of the South Australian Council of Churches is a member of the South Australia Bringing Them Home Working Group and the Ngarindjerri Land and Progress Association and has supported the campaigns of Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR).

The participation of church leaders and representatives in many reconciliation events and networks has provided, in a number of instances, a spiritual dimension to the Reconciliation Process. Ecumenical services, rites of reconciliation, memorial services, the Pilgrimage to the Heart and related local ceremonies and the presence of church speakers have made a significant contribution to the Reconciliation Process. The NSW Ecumenical Council has produced materials for churches and schools for use during the Week of Prayer for Reconciliation and has worked with the National Council of Churches in Australia to provide the ecumenical service in St Mary's Cathedral during Corroborree 2000. As healing for both Indigenous and non Indigenous people is a crucial part of the Reconciliation Process this has been an important role for the ecumenical bodies.

The ecumenical body in Queensland, Queensland Churches Together, has identified that a priority for them has been to support the Indigenous ecumenical group Churches Together Aboriginal Partnership (CTAP).

Education for Reconciliation:

In Queensland, the work of the CTAP has been instrumental in educating for reconciliation. The CTAP visits schools and tertiary institutions, provides a consultancy service to educational authorities and provides input in reconciliation workshops and church services. The presence of the CTAP in the life and work of Queensland Churches Together has been important in the growth of awareness and understanding of the issues around reconciliation.

Ecumenical events, supported by state ecumenical bodies, which have taken place in schools throughout the states, have been important church endorsements and encouragement for wider participation in the reconciliation process.

The newsletter of the South Australian Council of Churches is a forum for raising the awareness of people within their network about reconciliation. The NSW Ecumenical Council has organised seminars to provide an opportunity for people to become better informed on reconciliation and produced a kit, Walking with Indigenous people, for use in local churches and schools.

Advocacy for Reconciliation:

The South Australian Council of Churches, through the Ministers Circle, is standing in solidarity with Aboriginal people by their participation in a consultation on a Dry Area Program for the City of Adelaide. They have also maintained a presence in the Justice and Peace Walks around Government House in support of a Treaty via a Bill Of Rights. The NSW Ecumenical Council has been involved in lobbying the NSW Government on Land Rights and Aboriginal Deaths in Custody and negotiated the drafting of a statement to the Australian Government during the Wik debate. The Tasmanian Council of Churches has maintained a commitment to lobbying the government to recognise the truth of Tasmanian history in relation to Aboriginal people and to transfer land back to Aboriginal people. The Victorian Council of Churches has lobbied on Native Title issues.

Responding to Disadvantage as Reconciliation:

In general, the state ecumenical bodies do not have access to the financial resources to engage in programs to address disadvantage.

Negotiation - Demonstrating Reconciliation:

The Queensland Churches Together negotiates with the CTAP which maintains a deep connection with Indigenous communities.

The South Australian Council of Churches meets with the representatives of Aboriginal organisations for specific issues, such as the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement and the Ngarindjerri Land and Progress Association.

The Tasmanian Council of Churches has Indigenous representation on the decision making bodies within Tasmanian Council of Churches.

Vision for Reconciliation:

As with many of the member churches there appears to be some hesitation amongst the state ecumenical bodies about the future directions for reconciliation. Some ecumenical state bodies are in the process of discerning with their members both the most suitable strategies to progress reconciliation and the structures which may need to be developed to maintain the process within the ecumenical life of the churches. Other bodies are waiting for outside direction.

The NSW Ecumenical Council responded to the need to ensure that there was planning for the further life of reconciliation in NSW churches by organising a seminar following Corroborree 2000. This seminar partly focused on the Roadmap for Reconciliation and produced papers for more widespread use. There are plans for the NSW Ecumenical Council to facilitate similar seminars in regional and rural NSW. The NSW Ecumenical Council has also identified that a response to being involved in this survey is a commitment to exploring options with the Aboriginal and Islander Commission for follow-up with NSW churches regarding the recommendations in the Bringing Them Home Report.

The Tasmanian Council of Churches has committed to developing relations with Indigenous people.

In Western Australia it is the Heads of Churches who have met ecumenically and developed a combined strategy for moving forward with reconciliation. The strategy is being reproduced, in full, as it may provide a valuable checklist for those churches still considering future possibilities. It should be noted that while this is a strategy for future involvement some church communities had already implemented a number of the actions. The strategy is as follows:

1. Church work area
2. Possible Strategy
3. Likely Outcome

EMPLOYMENT

1. Churches are a large employer, through the many agencies attached to the churches.
2. Churches and associated agencies set targets for the employment of Indigenous people on staff.
3. Positive discrimination in favour of "job ready" Indigenous people.

EMPOWERMENT

1. In the past, Churches operated welfare and other agencies for Indigenous people.
2. Many churches have handed over such agencies wholly or in part to Indigenous leadership.
3. Indigenous people design services for Indigenous people.

AWARENESS

1. Churches have members who may not be aware of culturally sensitive issues or the story of dispossession.
2. Some churches have taken up promotion of Learning Circles among their parishes, others print awareness raising information in newsletters and church papers, some conduct awareness raising seminars and workshops. Some churches ensure that clergy have been trained in cross-cultural training before they are ordained.
3. Non-Indigenous Church leadership and membership are aware of and supportive of the reconciliation process.

MENTORING

1. Church membership have skills which can support Indigenous people who are moving into business, employment or other endeavours.
2. Churches may offer to join mentoring programs. Members may set up mentoring programs to go with positive employment practices.
3. Indigenous people are supported and guided into employment and business etc.
   

ADVOCACY

1. Churches have always played a role in speaking out against injustice.
2. Churches, through Association of Heads of Churches, Social Justice Committees etc. Seek to speak up for the rights of Indigenous people.
3. Indigenous people are supported in their struggle for justice.
   

WELFARE SERVICES

1. Churches provide emergency assistance, housing, and other welfare services for all in the community.
2. Agencies conduct audits to determine the suitability of services for Indigenous people, invite Indigenous people onto Boards of management or to act as consultants.
3. Indigenous people have services which are culturally appropriate and sensitive.
   

SPIRITUALITY

1. Some Indigenous people are Christian.
2. Churches seek to train Indigenous church leaders. Churches/agencies provide study groups who are working on translating the scriptures and other texts into Indigenous languages.
   Churches seek to incorporate Indigenous symbols into the worship area where appropriate.
3. Indigenous people are encouraged to see their Christianity and Indigenous spirituality as complementary.
   

EDUCATION

1. Church schools are a major community service provided by Churches.
2. Church schools provide strategic partnerships with Indigenous schools to share resources.
   Schools offer scholarships or fee relief for Indigenous students.
   Church schools educate for justice and reconciliation.
3. Indigenous students are supported, schools are resourced.
   

ACTIONS

1. Churches support the reconciliation process by positive action.
2. Churches have offered land to Indigenous people. Churches have conducted worship services and hosted Sorry Books during Week of Reconciliation. Churches have conducted meetings with Indigenous people and non Indigenous people to further the process of reconciliation.
3. Churches engage proactively to support the reconciliation process.

RESPONSE TO THE BRINGING THEM HOME REPORT

Acknowledgment and Apology [Recommendation 6]:

Queensland Churches Together, with the assistance of Joan Hendriks, the CTAP Coordinator, drafted the apology used by Heads of Churches in Brisbane City Council Bringing Them Home events.

Awareness Raising [Recommendations 8 & 9]:

The state ecumenical bodies have, through their involvement in organising, supporting, promoting and participating in Bringing Them Home events, contributed to wide public awareness of forcible removal history and effects.

The CTAP, in providing consultation services in curriculum development and extending assistance to schools, has been able to promote the inclusion of Stolen Generations information. The CTAP has also contributed, mainly informally, to ensuring that church people working with Indigenous people are aware of the history and effects of forcible removals.

Counselling Services [Recommendation 40]:

Queensland Churches Together and the CTAP Coordinator assisted Link Up Queensland prepare a Statement of Healing for reconciliation events.