What is NATSIAC?
NATSIAC stands for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council. There is a NATSIAC Canon which is part of General Synod's rules and regulations that govern the membership of NATSIAC and give us guidelines as to how we work and function. NATSIAC is affiliated internationally with the Anglican Indigenous Network which has a seat on the United Nations.
Our Story
In 1991 at a meeting of the House of Bishops it was decided that the Anglican Church of Australia needed an Indigenous voice and The National Aboriginal Anglican Council was established. In 1996 the Torres Strait Islanders were included and in 1998 the 11th session of General Synod established the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC) by Canon and that Canon was later amended in 2004 and 2014. There have been many struggles over the past years to have our voices heard. Our prayer is for you to walk beside us, share our stories, our dreams and hopes and minister together to all peoples of this great land and seas.
"Our God welcomes all strangers and offers love and hospitality to all - may we follow that example and welcome all people and extend love and hospitality to each other."
Who are we?
We are bishops, priests, deacons and lay members of the Anglican Church of Australia, who are Indigenous. We are Indigenous representatives from every diocese in the Anglican Church of Australia and are appointed by each diocesan bishop. NATSIAC also holds the rights to nominate an additional ten members.
At its core NATSIAC is about the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We seek to be a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians within and without the church. We give an Indigenous perspective to the Anglican Church forum, especially those issues that involve support and social justice for Indigenous communities and ministries. Above all our members minister to, with and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
At its core NATSIAC is about the promotion of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We seek to be a voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians within and without the church. We give an Indigenous perspective to the Anglican Church forum, especially those issues that involve support and social justice for Indigenous communities and ministries. Above all our members minister to, with and alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
What does NATSIAC do?
NATSIAC is an
Indigenous voice in the Anglican Church.
We have an "as of right" position on General Synod. We give an Indigenous perspective to the
Anglican Church forum, especially those issues that involve support and social
justice for Indigenous communities and ministries.
What have we been up to?
Members supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart and have expressed their great disappointment in the Federal Government decision to ignore the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At the 2019 Gathering members passed the following motion: “That this NATSIAC re-affirms the Statement from the Heart and calls on the Australian Government for constitutional recognition and a treaty between the First Nations Peoples of Australia and the Federal Government. This agreement will recognise the First Nation People’s history and prior occupation of this land, as well as the injustices many have endured and enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the constitution. Conversations were held with the Public Affairs Commission regarding constitution and asked for advice on recognition in the Australian Constitution:
NATSIAC gave thanks for Anglican Alliance and supports moving toward a closer relationship with them moving forward through sharing information and resources on the issues which we both seek to address.
A letter was sent to The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia in 2018 regarding Aboriginal deaths in custody and the recommendations from the Royal Commission. Members expressed their dismay at 339 recommendations from the Commission, almost three decades ago lay largely unimplemented while people are still dying at a rate of one per month. At the 2019 Gathering, members shared stories regarding suicides in their communities and the Indigenous population. The following motion was passed: “NATSIAC is continually mourning as we see the deaths of our people caused through drug use and suicide. We call on Health Departments to adequately fund and resource programs designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address mental health issues in our communities through wholistic family approaches to these issues.
Discussions held at the 2019 Gathering regarding incarceration rates resulted in the following motion being passed: “NATSIAC is appalled at the incarceration rates of our people and the over representation of our young people in the justice system. We call on state governments to investigate pathways than include non-custodial and pre-judgement options for our people. NATSIAC notes that the vast sums of money spent on incarcerating our people could be re-directed into preventative programs that both heal and rehabilitate our people.
ABM launched a funding program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mission Grants. The grants are designed to assist mission activities which benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ABM raises the funds and administers the grant scheme, but the successful applications over $5,000 are decided by the members of NATSIAC. To date NATSIAC has endorsed the approval of 17 grant applications (14 of these totalling over $100,000 were selected at the 2019 Gathering). NATSIAC gives thanks to God for the work of ABM and especially for their ongoing support of NATSIAC.
NATSIAC wrote a letter of congratulations to The Most Rev Mark MacDonald and all Indigenous Anglicans in Canada on the forming of a self-determining Indigenous Church within the Anglican Church of Canada and on Bishop Mark’s elevation to the role of Archbishop. This is a momentous occasion, not only in the lives of faithful Indigenous Anglicans in Canada, but for Indigenous Anglicans around the world.
After reading through material and discussions, the Executive endorsed ABM Statement of the Heart study guide. NATSIAC endorses this study as a fantastic tool to focus on the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia. It is a powerful document which is engaging and thought provoking. We would encourage all Christians to engage with the material with an open heart and an open mind.
Discussions were held with The Reverend Neville Naden from Bush Church Aid, with NATSIAC endorsing BCA’S Reconciliation Action Plan as the outcome of these discussions.
Bishop Chris McLeod, National Aboriginal Bishop issued a statement regarding “Smoking Ceremonies”, a copy of which can be found on the NATSIAC website. Bishop Chris was asked by Eternity News if he wished to respond to Pastor Mark Powell’s article which suggested Christian Churches should not use Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country. Both Bishop Chris McLeod and The Reverend Daryl McCullough wrote separate responses to the article. Bishop Chris continues to be very active in his own community and across the nation.
NATSIAC held discussions at the 2019 Gathering on the Same Sex Marriage debate.
Bishop Chris McLeod, Reverend Daryl McCullough and Dr Rose Elu were NATSIAC representatives at the Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN) conference in Hawaii in 2019 and engaged in many workshops and discussions during the conference. NATSIAC gives thanks to God for the Anglican Indigenous Network and rejoices in the news that the AIN has been invited to attend the Lambeth Conference in 2020 to lead a seminar and resources booth. NATSIAC endorsed the decision of the AIN to nominate Rose Elu and Fr Daryl McCullough to attend the Lambeth conference as representatives of both NATSIAC and the AIN. Another member from NATSIAC, Mr Lindsay Murgha informed the 2019 Gathering he has been chosen to represent Australia at Lambeth next year as a steward.
The Executive and members have held discussions with Southern Cross Ministries regarding A National Act of Recognition, this will continue to be an ongoing conversation.
Beside the day to day involvement in ministry, NATSIAC members have been involved in:
Members supported the Uluru Statement from the Heart and have expressed their great disappointment in the Federal Government decision to ignore the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. At the 2019 Gathering members passed the following motion: “That this NATSIAC re-affirms the Statement from the Heart and calls on the Australian Government for constitutional recognition and a treaty between the First Nations Peoples of Australia and the Federal Government. This agreement will recognise the First Nation People’s history and prior occupation of this land, as well as the injustices many have endured and enshrine an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice to Parliament in the constitution. Conversations were held with the Public Affairs Commission regarding constitution and asked for advice on recognition in the Australian Constitution:
NATSIAC gave thanks for Anglican Alliance and supports moving toward a closer relationship with them moving forward through sharing information and resources on the issues which we both seek to address.
A letter was sent to The Hon Scott Morrison MP, Prime Minister of Australia in 2018 regarding Aboriginal deaths in custody and the recommendations from the Royal Commission. Members expressed their dismay at 339 recommendations from the Commission, almost three decades ago lay largely unimplemented while people are still dying at a rate of one per month. At the 2019 Gathering, members shared stories regarding suicides in their communities and the Indigenous population. The following motion was passed: “NATSIAC is continually mourning as we see the deaths of our people caused through drug use and suicide. We call on Health Departments to adequately fund and resource programs designed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to address mental health issues in our communities through wholistic family approaches to these issues.
Discussions held at the 2019 Gathering regarding incarceration rates resulted in the following motion being passed: “NATSIAC is appalled at the incarceration rates of our people and the over representation of our young people in the justice system. We call on state governments to investigate pathways than include non-custodial and pre-judgement options for our people. NATSIAC notes that the vast sums of money spent on incarcerating our people could be re-directed into preventative programs that both heal and rehabilitate our people.
ABM launched a funding program for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mission Grants. The grants are designed to assist mission activities which benefit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ABM raises the funds and administers the grant scheme, but the successful applications over $5,000 are decided by the members of NATSIAC. To date NATSIAC has endorsed the approval of 17 grant applications (14 of these totalling over $100,000 were selected at the 2019 Gathering). NATSIAC gives thanks to God for the work of ABM and especially for their ongoing support of NATSIAC.
NATSIAC wrote a letter of congratulations to The Most Rev Mark MacDonald and all Indigenous Anglicans in Canada on the forming of a self-determining Indigenous Church within the Anglican Church of Canada and on Bishop Mark’s elevation to the role of Archbishop. This is a momentous occasion, not only in the lives of faithful Indigenous Anglicans in Canada, but for Indigenous Anglicans around the world.
After reading through material and discussions, the Executive endorsed ABM Statement of the Heart study guide. NATSIAC endorses this study as a fantastic tool to focus on the issues facing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia. It is a powerful document which is engaging and thought provoking. We would encourage all Christians to engage with the material with an open heart and an open mind.
Discussions were held with The Reverend Neville Naden from Bush Church Aid, with NATSIAC endorsing BCA’S Reconciliation Action Plan as the outcome of these discussions.
Bishop Chris McLeod, National Aboriginal Bishop issued a statement regarding “Smoking Ceremonies”, a copy of which can be found on the NATSIAC website. Bishop Chris was asked by Eternity News if he wished to respond to Pastor Mark Powell’s article which suggested Christian Churches should not use Welcome or Acknowledgement of Country. Both Bishop Chris McLeod and The Reverend Daryl McCullough wrote separate responses to the article. Bishop Chris continues to be very active in his own community and across the nation.
NATSIAC held discussions at the 2019 Gathering on the Same Sex Marriage debate.
Bishop Chris McLeod, Reverend Daryl McCullough and Dr Rose Elu were NATSIAC representatives at the Anglican Indigenous Network (AIN) conference in Hawaii in 2019 and engaged in many workshops and discussions during the conference. NATSIAC gives thanks to God for the Anglican Indigenous Network and rejoices in the news that the AIN has been invited to attend the Lambeth Conference in 2020 to lead a seminar and resources booth. NATSIAC endorsed the decision of the AIN to nominate Rose Elu and Fr Daryl McCullough to attend the Lambeth conference as representatives of both NATSIAC and the AIN. Another member from NATSIAC, Mr Lindsay Murgha informed the 2019 Gathering he has been chosen to represent Australia at Lambeth next year as a steward.
The Executive and members have held discussions with Southern Cross Ministries regarding A National Act of Recognition, this will continue to be an ongoing conversation.
Beside the day to day involvement in ministry, NATSIAC members have been involved in:
- Conversations that have led to the establishment of the Aboriginal Council of the Anglican Province of Victoria
- Participated at the Abundant Justice Conference in Brisbane.
- Diocesan Indigenous Ministry Training Weekends and involvement in working parties to establish Reconciliation Action Plans at Diocesan levels, to encourage Indigenous ministry and incorporation of Indigenous Culture within the life of the church.
- Assisted and supported Bamaga Youth Group on a cultural trip to Dubbo NSW, where they shared their culture and faith with a broad cross section of the community at church, school and community events.
- The establishment of new churches (Pondee Church)
- Ecumenical services and participated in community events, conferences as both participants and guest speakers.
- Discussions on climate change: this continues to be an ongoing concern particularly for the Torres Strait Islands.
- Repatriation of Indigenous bones from overseas.
- Translating the second edition of the Kriol bible and the prayer book.
- Travelling to Hawaii to represent NATSIAC at the funeral of former Secretary General of AIN Malcolm Nāeu Chun.
Joint Commitment
and Affirmation of Faith and Justice passed as resolution 48/07 of the
fourteenth session of General Synod
WE,
together through this shared commitment continue to seek to heal the wounds,
hurts and sufferings of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of
Australia.
WE shall share with each other visions, hopes, needs and wants in constructive ways that will bring us closer together as peoples of this Church so we may better support each other.
AS peoples of Christ we are bound into a relationship that seeks to be the foundation of mutual trust, respect, and the sharing of power and resources to create a just and righteous Church and nation of Australia. Through this commitment our own homes, communities, parishes, dioceses and national organisations are to be sanctuaries where we will strive to live out to the fullest the tenets of this our shared faith.
We are committed to celebrating together important Church festivals and cultural celebrations and commemorations in the life of our land and seas. This gives us the opportunity to share deeply our different ways of celebrating our faith through cultures as peoples and communities of prayer.
WE are committed to assisting, encouraging and resourcing ministry to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
WE pledge to consult and work with each other as equal partners in the development of our Church and land, in our communities, parishes, dioceses and nationally and internationally.
We shall establish means through which we can give witness and testimony accounting for the learnings, struggles, challenges and successes of our journey.
AND we invite all who call Australia their home to join with us as we continue the process of healing our peoples and this land and seas.
WE shall share with each other visions, hopes, needs and wants in constructive ways that will bring us closer together as peoples of this Church so we may better support each other.
AS peoples of Christ we are bound into a relationship that seeks to be the foundation of mutual trust, respect, and the sharing of power and resources to create a just and righteous Church and nation of Australia. Through this commitment our own homes, communities, parishes, dioceses and national organisations are to be sanctuaries where we will strive to live out to the fullest the tenets of this our shared faith.
We are committed to celebrating together important Church festivals and cultural celebrations and commemorations in the life of our land and seas. This gives us the opportunity to share deeply our different ways of celebrating our faith through cultures as peoples and communities of prayer.
WE are committed to assisting, encouraging and resourcing ministry to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
WE pledge to consult and work with each other as equal partners in the development of our Church and land, in our communities, parishes, dioceses and nationally and internationally.
We shall establish means through which we can give witness and testimony accounting for the learnings, struggles, challenges and successes of our journey.
AND we invite all who call Australia their home to join with us as we continue the process of healing our peoples and this land and seas.
