Indigenous Ministry
Quick Search

Search

MINISTRY TO ABORIGINALS AND TORRES STRAIT ISLANDERS PEOPLES

Joint Working Group appointed to consider recommendations flowing from reports of Committee to Review Indigenous Ministry -
The Horsburgh Committee


In October 2006, the General Synod Standing Committee appointed a Committee chaired by Professor Michael Horsburgh with the following terms of reference:

“In recognition of the commitment of the Anglican Church of Australia to assist, encourage and resource ministry with and to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the General Synod Standing Committee resolves that the whole situation in relation to Indigenous Bishops and Indigenous Ministry be reviewed in conjunction with NATSIAC as to leadership, mission, strategies, structure and funding, including the operation of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council Canon. … The Committee is to consult widely, including with current and former Bishops of North Queensland and NT, ABM-A Ltd, CMS.”

The Committee produced three reports:
On 13 June 2009 the General Synod Standing Committee heard from Professor Horsburgh and other stakeholders to develop a deeper understanding of the issues confronting the National Church in relation to indigenous ministry in light of the first two reports. The Standing Committee resolved to invite the Executive of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council to join in a consultation timed to take place after production of the third report.

That consultation took place on 17 October 2009. The consultation developed a proposal which you can download here:
Proposal for consideration by NATSIAC and General Synod Standing Committee

Both the Standing Committee and NATSIAC adopted the following resolutions:
  • That a Working Group be jointly established by Standing Committee of General Synod and NATSIAC to consider and report to Standing Committee in April 2010 on:
    (a) A position description for a National Indigenous Ministry Officer.
    (b) Recommendations with regard to the NATSIAC Canon.
    (c) Establishing goals that the two entities would adopt for Indigenous Ministry for the next 3 years.
  • That the Joint Working Group consist of eight persons with Co-chairs from NATSIAC and the Standing Committee:
    4 members of NATSIAC
    4 members of Standing Committee
  • That representatives from the Funding Bodies ABM, BCA and CMS be invited to attend and participate in all meetings.

The Standing Committee appointed the following four members:
- Bishop Glenn Davies (Co-Chair, Standing Committee)
- Ms Audrey Mills
- The General Secretary
- The Treasurer of General Synod
NATSIAC appointed the following representatives to the Joint Working Group:
- Archdeacon Brian Kirk (Co-Chair, NATSIAC)
- Rev’d Di Langham (later replaced by Bishop James Leftwich)
- Ms Rose Elu
- Mrs Lala Leftwich
The Joint Working Group met on 28 January and 26 March 2010.

The Joint Working Group reported to General Synod Standing Committee in April 2010 and this report was then published in an amended form with the papers for the Melbourne General Synod in 2010. It may be downloaded below.
Report to Synod of the Joint Working Group of GSSC and NATSIAC

The outcome of the Joint Working Group was the passing of a new NATSIAC Canon and a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture with dancing and singing, though there was no progress on the appointment of a NATSIAC Ministry Officer. Due to some timing difficulties, NATSIAC, which only meets annually, was not able to comment upon the Canon before General Synod, so the Canon was passed with a the provision that it would not come into effect until NATSIAC had agreed to its contents. At the NATSIAC gathering in Bendigo later that year it was agreed to defer consideration of the Canon until 2011.

In November 2010 an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry Task Force was appointed by the Primate on the recommendation of the Standing Committee. Its terms of reference were
  1. To address matters concerning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministry in the light of the Horsburgh Report.
  2. To review the recommendations of the Horsburgh Report
  3. To facilitate better understanding of the proposed NATSIAC Canon and consider any suggested improvements to the Canon that may arise from the current consultations initiated by NATSIAC.
  4. To make recommendations concerning ways in which Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ministry might be developed, supported, made more effective and given greater profile and be celebrated in the Anglican Church of Australia.
  5. To report to Standing Committee by November 2011.
Its membership comprised eight persons, four elected by Standing Committee and four elected by the NATSIAC Executive, plus representatives of ABM-A, BCA and CMS as observers.
  • Bishop Glenn Davies (Co-chair, Standing Committee)
  • Bishop Bill Ray (Standing Committee)
  • Ms Carolyn Tan (Standing Committee)
  • Bishop Greg Thompson (Standing Committee)
  • Archdeacon Brian Kirk (Co-Chair, NATSIAC)
  • Ms Rose Elu (NATSIAC)
  • The Rev’d Gloria Shipp (NATSIAC)
  • The Rev ‘d Elemo Tapin (NATSIAC)
The Task Force had its first meeting on 4 May 2011 and is due to meet again on 23 August 2011.