As the Anglican General Synod (national church parliament) begins a week of sitting in Melbourne, Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander Bishops have been given increased recognition in the church, guaranteed funding by General Synod and become Bishops Assisting the Primate (national leader). In the debate on the bill, speakers recounted that in the wake of the Voice referendum, First Nations Anglicans have sought their voice to be lifted up within the church. There was a long period of consultation with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Anglican Council (NATSIAC) and other First Nations people.
“We all need to own it. Having a National Aboriginal Bishop is wonderful for all of us,” Newcastle’s Aunty Canon Di Langham told the General Synod.
The General Synod has agreed to fund incoming First Nations Bishops. Bishop Chris McLeod, the existing National Aboriginal Bishop, who has held that office while also being the Dean of Adelaide’s St Peter’s Cathedral, is attending his final General Synod. He continues in the role for a further year. There is no Torres Strait Islander Bishop at present.
The new rules mean the Bishops, renamed “First Nations Bishops”, will be appointed by the national church in “an appointment process and structure modelled on current arrangements for the Bishop to the Defence Force.”
The bill’s explanatory memorandum states the First Nations Bishops will have “shared episcopal oversight of First Nations people in a diocese with the goodwill of the relevant Diocesan Bishop.”
A clause provides that “A First Nations Bishop does not have the power to ordain a person, to permit a person to function or to authorise a person to function other than in accordance with the agreement of the Diocesan bishop of the diocese in which the person is to function, and that that agreement must not be unreasonably withheld.”
The new rules require consultation with First Nations people when Bishops appoint members of the NATSIAC.
The term “First Nations” (as distinct from First People or Indigenous), which had been was recommended by NATSIAC. led to debate, with the bishop of North Queensland, whose diocese includes the Torres Strait Islands, seeking to retain “Torres Strait Bishop” as a title. The bill was revised to accept this change.
(Correction: Canon Aunty Di Langham was the speaker quoted in the story)