I was blessed to spend time in worship and sharing with some of our Indigenous church members at our national ATSIM (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ministries) Camp at Watson Park, Qld. Several people I spoke to expressed their disappointment about their Church’s apparent silence in response to the Voice referendum and its aftermath. Some told me about how they or their family members have chosen to not attend their local church or other church events; that they have felt unsafe in some church situations; and have been deeply hurt by statements made by fellow church members, in person and on social media.
I admit we made some mistakes in how we worked through the implications of the referendum, while actively allowing for liberty of conscience in the voting process. For example, we issued a statement the day after the referendum, when many people were taking a time of silence irrespective of their vote. In our desire to support, sadly that action was hurtful and had unintended consequences.
We recognise pain was felt and as a broad Seventh-day Adventist Church community, we may have done better. I apologised to some of those I had conversations with, and on behalf of our church family am saying sorry now. “If we have set up distinctions within our hearts and minds about one another, even without intending to, God calls us to make it right with Him,” writes author Debbie McDaniel.
As a Church, we celebrated the strength of our Indigenous church members and our ministry with them. ATSIM is making an important difference in people’s lives and communities across Australia, even in some of the most remote places. But we have work to do and much of this is the responsibility of our majority-culture membership. We need to listen better to our Indigenous brothers and sisters, and to work together to grow a more compassionate church that will benefit each of us and bring glory to Jesus’ name. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart,” (1 Samuel 16:7). Appreciation and thanks to Pastor Darren Garlett, our AUC ATSIM director, and the ATSIM conference directors and volunteers who did an outstanding job providing for the camp worship experience. May our time together bring about reconciliation and healing to His glory as we all share the three angels’ messages of hope. “From one man he made all the nations” (Acts 17:26).
