Indigenous Ministry
NATSIAC
NATSIAC stands for National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council. This Council formally represents the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members of the Church nationally. It assists individuals and communities by providing pastoral care, and it also assists, encourages and resources Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ministries.
There is a NATSIAC Canon which is part of General Synod’s rules and regulations that govern the membership of NATSIAC and give the Council guidelines as to its work and function. NATSIAC is affiliated internationally with the Anglican Indigenous Network which has a seat on the United Nations.
For further information about the activities of NATSIAC, visit the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council website.
NATIONAL ABORIGINAL BISHOP
Archbishops and Bishops from around Australia and overseas gathered at St Peter’s Cathedral to recognise and celebrate the Episcopal Ordination of South Australia’s first Aboriginal Bishop on April 11th 2015.
Bishop Chris McLeod is Assistant Bishop in the Diocese of Adelaide with special responsibility for ministry alongside Aboriginal people in South Australia.
Bishop McLeod is identified as the National Aboriginal Bishop appointed after consultation with each of the Archbishops of the Australian Church and the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council.
He is of Gurindji descent and has been involved in ministry among and beside Aboriginal people in Anglican orders for more than 20 years.
Constitutional Recognition and The Voice
The Anglican Church of Australia has confirmed its support for constitutional recognition for first nations people and a voice to the Commonwealth parliament.
In 2017, the following resolution (R28/17) was passed at the Seventeenth Session of the General Synod:
The General Synod:
Supports the recommendation of the Referendum Council for a constitutionally-entrenched First Nations’ Voice to the Commonwealth Parliament;
- Encourages the governments in Australia to seek to negotiate in good faith with First Nations’ Peoples towards treaties or other similar forms of agreement;
- Requests the General Secretary to convey this resolution to the Prime Minister, State Premiers, and Leaders of the Opposition;
- Requests the Public Affairs Commission in consultation with NATSIAC to prepare resources, including summaries and theological reflections for use by Anglican parishes, schools and organisations, on the Referendum Council Report on any subsequent referendum questions and on the progress of treaty or similar negotiations.
Statement from the Heart and Statement from the Deep
The Anglican Church of Australia responds to the following statements:
Statement from the Deep – the Masig Statement
Bishop Chris McLeod, the National Aboriginal Bishop, signed an endorsement of the Statement from the Heart with other faith leaders in 2023.
The National Bishops issued a statement of support in March 2023.