The ministry of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been given significant backing at the General Synod in Melbourne.

General Synod, bringing together representatives from dioceses all over, began meeting on Saturday 18th September 2010 at Melbourne Grammar School. It continues until Thursday 19th September.

High on the weekend agenda was debate on restructuring the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council or NATSIAC.

The Bishop of North Sydney, Dr Glenn Davies, led debate as co-chair of the General Synod and NATSIAC working group charged with considering changes to its composition and operation.

"This is a great day to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ministry in our country," said Bishop Davies speaking in support of the Bill.

"It's also a great opportunity for us to be more aware of the nature of those ministries and how we can support them without falling into the trap of being white people making decisions for others."

Photo: Lay member and Torres Strait Islander Rose Elu speaking during the debate.

Work together

Torres Strait Islander Bishop Saibo Mabo told the Synod that while Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders believed in the same Jesus Christ as other Australians they often saw Him "through different cultural eyes".

"We have to be good listeners if we are to work together as a family of Christ," Bishop Mabo said.

"Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people and white people must properly and faithfully work together, helping each other, carrying the loads together.

Archdeacon Brian Kirk, Co-Chair of NATSIAC, said the organisation wanted to "make a difference in the lives of its members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in general".

The hundreds of delegates in the packed Synod Hall rose to their feet as a group of Torres Strait Islander women led in the singing of an Islander hymn after the bill was unanimously approved.

It will not come into effect until the NATSIAC group has had time to consider and give its blessing to the move.

Watch Video: Bishop Davies speaks after Synod’s celebration Hymn

Education vital

Synod debate on Saturday also touched on aboriginal issues, with Synod hearing a report on Anglican Education across Australia, including efforts to boost the education of indigenous peoples.

Sydney delegate, Dr Laurence Scandrett, said many Anglican schools had made a great contribution but much more was needed.

He challenged Synod delegates to ensure all Anglican schools had programs such as Aboriginal scholarships and bursaries or innovative ideas such as the Guwara campus at St Andrew’s Cathedral school in Sydney.

Speaking to Anglican Media after the debate, Bishop Davies said “We’ve often strayed between paternalism or providing a welfare mentality. We want to avoid both those extremes. We want to see them (Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders) as equals in the Kingdom of God, equals as image bearers of God and provide the same opportunities for education as white people have in our culture today.”