AUSTRALIA

Reconciliation and redemption in Australia

By JOSEPH SMITH

Photo: Ramon Williams / Worldwide Photos Ltd.

It was an historic moment when Jonathan Lilley (left) was ordained deacon at St Andrew’s Cathedral in Sydney, Australia on Feb. 2. While Sydney Diocese has several aboriginal workers, Mr Lilley, 31, is the first Aboriginal candidate to complete the Bachelor of Divinity degree at Moore College.

Synod funds given to the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Peoples’ Ministry Committee (SAIPMC) were used to support Mr Lilley’s college training, which has borne the fruit of his appointment as the new assistant minister at Nowra Anglican Church, where he will be involved in ministry to the South Coast’s Aboriginal community.

Mr Lilley regards Sydney Diocese’s support of his ministry training and appointment as an indication of its willingness to facilitate reconciliation with the indigenous community.

“They are training up people like me to go into my own community which is great. There is much support from Sydney Anglicans which help mission organisations reach remote indigenous communities,” he says.

However, Mr Lilley says the indigenous communities within Sydney still require more assistance at social, economic and spiritual levels.

“There are now four indigenous churches within Sydney but they struggle with many issues and would value support from other churches,” he says. “We as aboriginal people often feel alienated from our own land. Many still struggle with health, education, housing and substance abuse. But my communities’ biggest need is their need to know Jesus and what Jesus offers all people: salvation and eternal life.”

Mr Lilley says meaningful connections can be made with indigenous churches by listening to their needs.

“A good start is a phone call to the leaders of the various indigenous churches. Simply listening and taking an interest is an awesome start,” he explains.

“Some leaders within the indigenous churches in Sydney are trying to plan and structure training for our people in Sydney.  We need the prayer and financial support of other churches for this project to take place.”

Mr Lilley says a bridging program is needed to equip and guide indigenous Christians into higher levels of theological training.

SAIPMC committee member Archdeacon Deryck Howell says the Sydney Anglican Indigenous Peoples’ Ministry Trust Fund set up in 1997, which has supported Lilley’s college education and the opening of the Gawura School, has grown from the $1.2 million it received at Synod in 1997 to over $2 million dollars.

Mr Lilley, who was born in Newcastle and grew up in Melbourne, says he went to Moore College because he wanted to be challenged and equipped to tell indigenous people about Jesus.

“Moore College is known for its academic training and they really push their students in this way. I wanted to be tested, tried and have the best education for the position of teaching about Jesus to my people,” he says.

“The Anglican Church in Sydney is really keen to tell all people about Jesus including the Aboriginal people. I want to help in any way I can to share Jesus with my people and address various issues within the indigenous community.”

However, Mr Lilley says at this point in time he has a real passion for ministering to the indigenous community of Nowra.

“They are a beautiful people. They are water people, like my mob in Port Stephens. Like all of God’s creation, they need to hear of Jesus and respond in faith to his call,” he says.

Mr Lilley says the local community has made him very welcome.

“The locals I have met have received my family and I warmly and we are very thankful for this,” he says.

Mr Lilley is still uncertain as to what a new Christian fellowship may look like in this indigenous context, but he is certain about his methodology for reaching out to people.

“I want to speak to the people and see what they want it to look like. I want to start by building relationships, reading the Bible and praying with people, then let God move us in the direction of His will,” he says.

“There are already many Aboriginal Christians in the community so I will work in the Anglican church and build from that platform into the community.”

Ray Minniecon, SAIPMC chairman, said, “We have seen the graduation of the first indigenous student from Moore College, we have seen the opening of the Diocese’s first indigenous school and we have secured indigenous representation on Sydney Synod.

The Gawura School opened in Sydney in St Andrew’s Cathedral School in April 2007, teaching students Aboriginal language and culture, basic numeracy and literacy skills.

In 2006 Sydney Synod decided to accept two indigenous representatives onto the Synod.

“It’s a huge decision – it’s very historic,” Mr Minniecon said at the time. “The motion means Aboriginal Christians for the first time [can] make decisions about the furtherance of the gospel in Australia.”

Editor’s note: There are almost 4 million Anglicans in Australia in a country with almost 18 million people compared to just over half a million Anglicans on parish rolls in Canada, a country with over 31 million people. 

For the full story see www.your.sydneyanglicans.net