Reconciliation Action Plan 2018 - 2019

Brochure 2016 | company name

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R NC C II LLIIAT ATIIO ONN RE EC CO ON A TIIO ONNPP LN A N2 021081 8- -2 02 1091 9 AC CT LA

TABLE OF CONTENTS 2

RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN

PAGE

Table of Contents

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Who we are

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Our history together

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Action Plan: Relationships

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Action Plan: Respect

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Action Plan: Governance and Tracking Progress

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Artwork Explanation

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Contact

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WHO WE ARE

RAP Working Group

The Baptist Churches of SA are a movement of about 70 Christian communities in South Australia and Alice Springs. We have strong links to the Australian and global Baptist movement as well as the wider Christian Church. Together we are a growing movement of local churches that are thriving in Jesus Christ, and with Him, transforming the world. Our association includes Alice Springs Baptist Church who have a long-standing relationship with the Warlpiri. In May 2015, we welcomed our first Indigenous Australian church as a member church.

The RAP working group is formed under the championship of the Baptist Churches of SA Assembly Board. Its members consist of:

Since 1944 the Australian Baptist movement through various agencies have served alongside the Gurindji and Warlpiri people in the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Today through our cross-cultural mission arm, Global Interaction, we offer training and Bible teaching to encourage church leaders to lead their congregations as they follow Jesus in their own distinctive ways. To this end Global Interaction is committed to partnering cross-cultural workers who are committed to learning and understanding the appropriate Indigenous culture and language with these communities.

Rev Jason Hoet

For over a hundred years, through our community services arm, Baptist Care SA, we have continued to provide a wide range of services to and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across South Australia. Today this includes camps, mentoring, Elders programs, youth engagement programs as well as Homelessness and Housing.

Indigenous Consultation

Baptist Churches of SA Inc. provides ministry and administrative support to our movement of churches and comprises a staff of 16 totalling 9.5 full-time equivalent.

Rev Mike Mills State Executive Minister (SEM), Baptist Churches SA

Immediate Past President, Baptist Churches SA

Ian Townsend Enfield Baptist Church member

Justine Hatton Blackwood Hills Baptist Church member

Ps Don Haywood Pastor, Aboriginal Berean Community Church

Les Wanganeen Elder, Aboriginal Berean Community Church

Ps Clyde Rigney

Pastor, Raukkan, Ngarrindjeri

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OUR HISTORY TOGETHER From the earliest days of our history as Baptists in South Australia, Ɏǝƺȸƺ ǣɀ ƺɮǣƳƺȇƬƺ ɎǝƏɎ ƏȵɎǣɀɎɀ ɯƺȸƺ ƏȅȒȇǕ Ɏǝƺ ˡȸɀɎ ɎȒ ƏƳɮȒƬƏɎƺ for Aboriginal people. Baptists were part of the Aboriginal Friends Society and acted for the protection of Aboriginal people within the limits of social understanding of the times.

Over the years, while there has not often been a centralised ‘Baptist’ work, autonomous Baptist churches have encouraged their members and local congregations to be involved out of a personal commitment to the rights of others and to God’s love and care for all people.

In 2000 after extensive consideration and consultation with churches and Indigenous Elders and friends, the, then South Australian Baptist Union Inc. made a reconciliation statement to Indigenous Australians ɯǝǣƬǝ ǣȇƬǼɖƳƺƳ Ɏǝǣɀ ƏǔˡȸȅƏɎǣȒȇ ǔȒȸ Ȓɖȸ ǔɖɎɖȸƺ ɎȒǕƺɎǝƺȸ‫ي‬

A F F I R M AT I O N FO R O U R F UTU R E áƺ Əǔˡȸȅً Əɀ !ǝȸǣɀɎǣƏȇɀً ɎǝƏɎ ɯƺ Əȸƺ ƏǼǼ ȅƏƳƺ ǣȇ Ɏǝƺ ǣȅƏǕƺ Ȓǔ JȒƳ ƏȇƳ therefore there is a sanctity and dignity in people of all ethnic groups.

We believe that that image has been marred such that all people are in need of forgiveness from God and healing and restoration to God. We, as Christians are being made into a new, redeemed humanity, therefore we intend to continue to work together with you to address the wrongs which have occurred. We need your help.

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In October 2013, our journey of reconciliation continued as we renewed our commitment to journey together with Aboriginal people at our 150-year anniversary. From May 2015, we initiated the practice of a Welcome to Country or Acknowledgement of Country for all our large public gatherings.

In April 2017, the Assembly Board established the RAP Working Group. The intent for a RAP is to provide an accountable framework to support our vision for reconciliation and relationship. Under Christ we hold to the vision that Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians can and should live in respectful, relationships with each other. We believe this vision is to be demonstrated amongst our Churches as we model the reconciling way of Jesus in walking as Australians together.

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Reconciliation Action Plan

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

Action

Deliverable

Timeline

Responsibilty

Establish a RAP Working

Review and maintain a RAP Working Group that is operational to

Review April 2018

President

Group

support the implementation of our RAP, consulting Aboriginal

February 2018

BCSA RAP Working Group

May & June 2018

President

and Torres Strait Islander peoples and decision-making staff from across our organisation.

Build internal and external

Develop a list of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples,

relationships

communities and organisations within our local area or sphere Ȓǔ ǣȇˢɖƺȇƬƺ ɎǝƏɎ ɯƺ ƬȒɖǼƳ ƏȵȵȸȒƏƬǝ ɎȒ ƬȒȇȇƺƬɎ ɯǣɎǝ Ȓȇ Ȓɖȸ reconciliation journey.

Develop a list of RAP organisations and other like-minded organisations that we could approach to connect with on our reconciliation journey.

Participate in and celebrate

Encourage staff and Board to attend a NRW event.

National Reconciliation Week (NRW)

SEM Circulate Reconciliation Australia’s NRW resources and reconciliation materials to our staff.

Ensure our RAP Working Group participates in an external event to recognise and celebrate NRW. Provide resources to the churches to engage with NRW.

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RAP Working Group

Reconciliation Action Plan

R E L AT I O N S H I P S

Action

Deliverable

Timeline

Responsibilty

Raise internal awareness of

Develop and implement a plan to raise awareness amongst

May 2018 Assembly

RAP Working Group

our RAP

Baptist Churches SA staff about our RAP commitments.

SEM

Develop and implement a plan to engage and inform key internal stakeholders of their responsibilities within our RAP. Internal Stakeholders include Board, Assembly, Churches and Pastors.

Build and maintain

Build partnerships with Baptist Care SA and its Aboriginal

partnerships with Aboriginal

Services – responsibility SEM/President

June 2019

Assigned against deliverable

and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders

Engage Pastoral Accreditation candidates in Australians Together materials - responsibility Melinda Cousins Provide support for the Aboriginal Berean Community Church’s mission and ministry - responsibility Ministry Team Continue SURRENDER Conference Sponsorship and Participation. At the core of SURRENDER is the relationship with and involvement of the Indigenous Australian People of this land.

- responsibility Board Maintain a close relationship with the Ngarrindjeri Community, particularly at Raukkan. – RAP Working Group Through Alice Springs Baptist and Global Interaction maintain a close relationship with the Warlpiri people - responsibility SEM

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Reconciliation Action Plan

RESPECT

Action

Deliverable

Timeline

Responsibilty

Investigate Aboriginal and

Review our staff and Board’s current level of knowledge and

February 2018

RAP Working Group

Torres Strait Islander cultural

understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures,

learning and development

histories and achievements.

Participate in and celebrate

Raise awareness and share information amongst our staff of

First week in July 2018

RAP Working Group

NAIDOC Week

the meaning of NAIDOC Week which includes information

June 2019

RAP Working group

about the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.

Introduce our staff and Board to NAIDOC Week by promoting community events.

Ensure our RAP Working Group participates in an external NAIDOC Week event.

Raise internal understanding

Explore, Scope and develop a list of local Traditional Owners

of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

of the lands and waters within our organisations sphere of

President

Islander cultural protocols

ǣȇˢɖƺȇƬƺِ

SEM

(continued on next page)

Engage staff and Board in understanding the protocols around

Ministry Staff Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country ceremonies to ensure there is shared meaning behind the ceremonies.

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Reconciliation Action Plan

RESPECT

Action

Deliverable

Timeline

Responsibilty

Raise internal understanding

Engage staff and Board in cultural learning to increase

June 2019

RAP Working group

of Aboriginal and Torres Strait

understanding and appreciation of different cultural

President

Islander cultural protocols

backgrounds in order to lay the foundation for another RAP.

SEM

(continued from previous

Promote knowledge of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander

page)

cultures and communities, especially during Reconciliation and

Ministry Staff

NAIDOC Week.

Investigate current

Identify current Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander emerging

Aboriginal and Torres Strait

leaders to inform future development opportunities

June 2019

Ministry Team

June 2018

Ministry Team

June 2019

RAP Working Group

Islander emerging Christian leaders

Determine appropriate employment policies to ensure encouragement of Indigenous employment

Investigate further

Strengthen relationship with ABCC

appropriate consultancy work with Aboriginal Berean

Increase understanding of strengths and needs of ABCC as they

Community Church (ABCC)

grow in sustainability

Investigate further

Identify and pursue relational opportunities with other

opportunities with other

Indigenous groups and/or communities

Ministry Team

Indigenous communities Investigate special artwork

XƳƺȇɎǣˡƺƳ ƏȸɎɯȒȸǸ ǔȒȸ « ¨ ƫȸƏȇƳǣȇǕ ƏȇƳ ƬȒȅȅɖȇǣƬƏɎǣȒȇ

July 2018

SEM

for RAP and information kit for churches

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Reconciliation Action Plan

GOVERNANCE AND TRACKING PROGRESS

Action

Deliverable

Timeline

Responsibilty

Build support for the RAP

(ƺˡȇƺ ȸƺɀȒɖȸƬƺ ȇƺƺƳɀ ǔȒȸ « ¨ ƳƺɮƺǼȒȵȅƺȇɎ ƏȇƳ

30 September 2018

RAP Working Group

March 2019

RAP Working Group

implementation.

Complete the annual RAP Impact Measurement Questionnaire

Review and Refresh RAP

Liaise with Reconciliation Australia to develop a new RAP based on learnings, challenges and achievements.

Submit draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for review Submit draft RAP to Reconciliation Australia for formal endorsement.

Artwork by Kristen Forbes (2018) This picture depicts two pathways that represent the journey of two cultures –

The circular symbols on the outer represent all Indigenous nations and the broader

Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

Australian community.

Each of the eight circles have a unique meaning. They represent:

The colours, red ochre, yellow ochre, orange, yellow and browns represent the

‫ ى‬

State of being one

‫ ى‬

Humanity united

country, while the star constellations are associated to ancestors, who are an

‫ ى‬

Nature of Unity

‫ ى‬

Nation of Oneness

important spiritual connection.

‫ ى‬

Vision of Unity

‫ ى‬

Vision of Oneness

‫ ى‬

Nurturing of connection

‫ ى‬

Reconciliation

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The centre represents the ceremony place of meeting for all cultures.

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CO N TACT Rev Mike Mills State Executive Minister (08) 8357 1755 mmills@sabaptist.asn.au