[Update: Stan Grant has had to withdraw for personal reasons. He has been replaced by Dr Geoff Broughton]
It is becoming common for churches to recognise Aboriginal Sunday, the Sunday before the day, which we can simply call January 26.
Stan Grant will be the guest speaker on Aboriginal Sunday at St Barnabas, Broadway in Sydney at 10 am and 5:30. St Barnabas is a key pulpit in Sydney, the focus of much University ministry at the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Sydney.TS and can be regarded as a reliable indicator of mainstream Sydney Anglican thought.
“We are taking up the call of Aboriginal Christian Leader William Cooper, for churches of all denominations to mark the Sunday before January 26 as Aboriginal Sunday,” St Barnabas’ senior minister Michael Paget has posted on Facebook. “A day for Christians to go deeper on the journey of listening, learning, and being led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian Leaders.
“We are really fortunate to have as our GUEST SPEAKER Wiradjuri man, Stan Grant, who is a journalist, writer and radio & television presenter, which is really exciting!
“Do make sure you come along.”
Aboriginal Sunday has an eight-decade history. “On January 26 1938, Aboriginal leaders, including William Cooper, met for a Day of Mourning, seeking equality and full citizenship (though it would take another 30 years),” according to a history published by the activist group Common Grace.
“The Australian Churches were then asked to set aside the Sunday before January 26 as Aboriginal Sunday (previously called Aborigines’ Day), a day for Christians to act in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples and the injustices being experienced.
“The first Aboriginal Sunday is suggested as occurring in 1941, although it was referenced in a letter from William Cooper to John McEwen, Minister for the Interior, written on 19 January 1938 and also referenced in the Herald (Melbourne) newspaper on 18 January 1939.”
On Aboriginal Sunday last year, Archbishop Kaniskha Raffel endorsed the commemoration in a sermon. “William Cooper led his protest against the Nazi’s treatment of the Jews in December 1938. In January of that same year, 1938, as Australia prepared to celebrate the sesquicentenary of British settlement, Cooper – who was Secretary of the Australian Aborigines League – along with the Aborigines Progressive Association, arranged a Day of Mourning on January 26, which was held at Australia Hall in Elizabeth Street, Sydney. It was the first time Aboriginal people gathered from around Australia to advocate for the welfare of their own people. This followed on from the Australian Government’s rejection of a petition drafted by Cooper and addressed to the King, seeking among other things, Aboriginal representation in the Federal Parliament.
“At roughly the same time, Cooper called on the churches of Australia to mark what he called ‘Aborigines Sunday’ on the Sunday before Australia Day. He was supported by John Stafford Needham, Honorary Canon of this Cathedral, whose plaque (on the northern wall) describes him as ‘Priest, Missionary, and Friend to the Aborigines’,
“In calling on the churches of Australia to mark the Sunday before Australia Day in this way, Cooper said: ‘“’We request that sermons be preached on this day dealing with the Aboriginal people and their need of the gospel and response to it and we ask that special prayer be invoked for all missionary and other effort for the uplift of the dark people.’”’
“His language reflects the idiom of the time, but in recent years, there have been renewed calls, including by people like Aunty Jean Philips, calling for prayer and action on behalf of First Nations people. Aunty Jean has spoken of the history of her people in this Cathedral, history of which most of us are mostly unaware. Her consistent themes are that we need to know the history of our own country; we need to meet at the foot of the cross as we giveexpression to the reconciliation that Christ has won for us; we need to approach all of these questions with deep prayerfulness. A dozen years ago, Aunty Jean initiated the nationalprayer movement known as #Change the Heart, in which the Cathedral has participated over recent years.”
Not every church can have Stan Grant to preach on January 21, but there are many other significant elders that could be approached. However, Common Grace has developed resources that any church can use. Common Grace’s outline says, “These resources will include Bible readings, prayers, sermon materials, video messages from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders (including Uncle Pastor Ray Minniecon, Safina Stewart, and Bianca Manning), worship resources, benediction resources, advocacy resources, and a creative activity to help your congregation engage their faith through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander justice.”
The Uniting Church (UCA) has resources for Aboriginal Sunday using William Coopers original title of “Day of Mourning.” The UCA Day of Mourning service includes this greeting. “Today, friends, we are remembering the tragic history of our nation and the violent dispossession of her First Peoples.
“Today is a Day of Mourning. Today, we mark in lament the truth of our shared history, and we lift up to God our prayers for First Peoples and our nation.
“We say sorry, and we pray for forgiveness, healing and hope.
“We also come together and give thanks to God for the grace which enables us to face ourselves and the wrongs in our country and seek healing and be given the courage to repent and seek to mend our wrongs.
“The God of all justice, The God of all peace, be with you all.
And also with you.“
Image: The blackboard outside the first Day of Mourning
Is Stan Grant a Christian, if not, why is he been asked to preach. Hasn’t he said, “We come to God through many faiths.” How is this true to the Christian faith and why are you publishing something that pertains to be orthodox?
Why did you take down my comment?
It was in the queue awaiting approval – the WordPress system requires first time commenters to be approved.
Hello John. Can you provide a reference for your concerns regarding Stan Grant’s orthodoxy? I am genuinely curious.
To the person who asked is Stan Grant a Christian. Yes he is! He has either just completed, or about to complete a PhD in theology. He has made numerous comments about his Christian faith. Google it!