More churches are engaging with Aboriginal people and culture

The 2021 National Church Life Survey (2021 NCLS) shows a significant increase in Australian church engagement with Aboriginal peoples and cultures in recent years.  

In late 2021 and early 2022, a majority (57%) of Australian churches indicated that they had acknowledged or engaged with Aboriginal people and culture through at least one of 10 different actions.

Most common were spoken acknowledgments of country or welcome to country, as well as special services and events such as Sorry Day or NAIDOC week (reported by 22-23% of churches).

 

 

A large majority of Catholic parishes (81%) had undertaken at least one of the specified actions. Catholics were especially strong on special services and events (40%), acknowledgment of, or welcome to country (32 to 40%), integrating Aboriginal art, symbols or language into worship (25%) and having  Aboriginal artwork in their buildings (18%). 

Mainstream Protestant churches were strong with regard to acknowledgment of, or welcome to country in church services (31%), while mission and outreach programs were most commonly found in Pentecostal churches (19%). A small number of Protestant churches had Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs). 

Engagement was generally highest in capital cities compared with rural or regional areas.

 

	Denomination				Locality			Total
	Catholic	Mainstream Protestant	Pentecostal	Other Protestant	Rural	Regional	Capital cities
Spoken acknowledgment/ welcome to country in church services	32%	31%	4%	11%	19%	19%	29%	23%
Spoken acknowledgment/ welcome to country at other events	40%	23%	12%	17%	18%	20%	28%	22%
Special services/events (e.g. Sorry Day, NAIDOC Week)	40%	20%	15%	19%	19%	24%	24%	22%
Acknowledgment of first people(s) in electronic communications	36%	20%	3%	14%	11%	21%	24%	18%
Aboriginal art in your church building(s)	28%	15%	12%	24%	11%	23%	22%	18%
Acknowledgment of first people(s) on a plaque	36%	9%	3%	13%	7%	9%	18%	12%
Aboriginal art, symbols, or language integrated into worship	25%	7%	3%	4%	5%	9%	10%	8%
Mission/outreach program(s) aimed at Aboriginal people	5%	5%	19%	9%	8%	11%	6%	8%
A partnership with an Aboriginal church or community	2%	8%	11%	7%	8%	9%	7%	8%
A Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP)	5%	5%	0%	13%	3%	7%	7%	6%
None of the above	19%	41%	59%	51%	49%	41%	38%	43%

Source: 2021 NCLS Church Census (n=2,309 local churches)

 

This data indicates a substantial increase in engagement compared with 2016, where only 37% of churches undertook any action (compared to 57% in 2021-22). This was especially the case for acknowledgment of or welcome to country, where spoken acknowledgement increased from ~9-12% in 2016 to ~22-23% in 2021/2022. 

It is heartening to know that a growing number of churches are acknowledging Australia's First Peoples and their cultures, and joining with them in celebrating special events and practices.

Click on this link to download a free fact sheet on Church Engagement with Aboriginal Peoples and Cultures