At the 2010 AGM of the Presbytery and Synod of South Australia it was agreed that the Presbytery and Synod:encourage congregations to make links with Congress congregations, appoint a Covenanting  contact person and advise the Secretary of the Covenanting Committee of contact details for receiving the Covenanting newsletter.

 The following is the text of the speech made to support the proposal that was passed by consensus.

Moderator and members of Synod,

 You are already aware that our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, both inside and outside of the church, are at a disadvantage in our society on so many fronts. We do not need to remind you what these disadvantages are.

 What is more important is taking positive action. Too often our communities have seen the body on the road and passed by helplessly on the other side, leaving it to others to take action. And those that do take action, our governments included, have tended to take a patronising attitude of knowing what’s best for the patient. Few take the time to develop the relationships necessary for real understanding, real healing and real progress to occur.

On the 25^th September 2007 the General Secretary of the Presbytery and Synod, Graham Humphris, signed, on behalf of this church, the Close the Gap Organisational Pledge committing this church to call on all governments  to take positive action to assist Aboriginal people to “close the gap” in health in the next 25 years – now 22 and counting.

In November 2007 this Presbytery and Synod passed a proposal to, and I quote, “Join with the Northern Synod in its call upon the Federal Government to enter into a real partnership with Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory by enacting legislation that upholds human rights, affirms self-determination and builds the capacity of individuals and communities to contribute to solving issues of concern within their own lives.”

This latter call has still not been heeded by our Federal government.  These are two examples of what our Synod has done and must continue to do if it is to be faithful to our Lord.

But if practical reconciliation is to occur we must get closer to our people. We want to mention a few practical things members and congregations can do, and what some of you are already doing. This is not an exhaustive list so if anyone feels left out I apologise. Please add your own ideas to the list.

Make friends with some local Aboriginal people and/or arrange to visit a Congress Church and listen to their stories. The key here is to keep this shut and these open. Talk to members of Journey who have made a trip to Port Augusta Congress. Contact the Congress community at Kalparrin, near Murray Bridge and organise a picnic. You don’t even have to leave Adelaide to arrange a visit to Salisbury. See Pastor Denise Champion and Nelson Varcoe, who are here today, about coming and sharing worship with them on a Sunday.

Get involved in a Congress Project or offer your skills and talents to the Congress. Aberfoyle Park has made a commitment to take working parties to the APY Lands. You need not belong to the organising congregation to join such a party. Other churches have organised working parties to different locations.

If you own a business, offer a real job to an Aboriginal person, and/or contact UnitingCare Wesley – Port Adelaide to see if you might take on an Aboriginal trainee in your organization or even in your local church office. Geoff Revill (at UCWPA) provides excellent and ongoing support for those that do. Contact him to explore this option and others.

Start a Covenanting group in your congregation and make sure Reconciliation Sunday is on your congregation’s worship plan.

Make your own commitment as a whole congregation to acknowledge the custodians of the land on which your church was built – remember the land was stolen property. Talk to a church that has already done this. (Athelstone, Modbury, Port Augusta . . .)

If you have not seen the movie, OUR GENERATION presented by Jeff MacMullan and including past Moderator of the Northern Synod and a Congress minister, Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra, with Yolngu from North East Arnhem Land, buy a copy of the DVD. Watch it with some friends from your congregation. Become informed about the realities of the NT Emergency Response. Don’t take just what you read in the mainstream newspapers without question. Be open and willing to have your prejudices overturned.

And there is no excuse for anyone not to take action because these last two things everyone can and should do.

1.     Pray continually for our Aboriginal brothers and sisters, for the Congress Congregations & communities, and their leaders and families.

2.     Appoint a Covenanting Contact Person for your congregation and sign up for the Covenanting Newsletter.

In conclusion, we would like to acknowledge the Kaurna people, the traditional custodians of this land, on which we meet, pay respect to their elders past and present, and finish with this thought from Rev Dr Djiniyini Gondarra – “The day is justice for me when I am treated the same way as others . . .”

 Thank you, Moderator