anglican focus

The news site of the Anglican Church Southern Queensland: nourishing and connecting our faith community

First Nations history

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Statement from Anglican Church Southern Queensland leaders in support of the Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry and the Path to Treaty Act

“We first acknowledge the resilience and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly their willingness to engage so collaboratively and constructively in treaty and truth-telling processes…Treaty and truth-telling are essential elements to ensuring healing and reconciliation and to effectively addressing the socio-economic targets in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap,” say Archbishop Jeremy, Aunty Dr Rose, The Rev’d Canon Bruce, Bishop Cam, Bishop John, Bishop Sarah, Bishop Daniel and the Cathedral Dean

Saibai elder Aunty Dr Rose Elu loves spending time with young people — she is pictured here with Erub man Aiden Wu (from St John's College within the University of Queensland) celebrating The Coming of the Light at Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Fortitude Valley on 1 July 2024
Justice & Advocacy

Keeping the home fires burning — a very long way from home

“I have shared something of my culture here with you — how muiy (fire) gives physical and spiritual strength to my people. I have shared this from the warmth that I have for you in my heart. I encourage you to similarly share with someone this NAIDOC Week something of your culture, speaking from the warmth in your own heart. What keeps your pride in your culture burning?” asks Aunty Dr Rose Elu
Resources & Research

My experience navigating the Anglican Church as a Torres Strait Islander person

“I also often invite other Anglicans to see that Torres Strait Islander Christians are Christians in our own way. We seamlessly blend our ancient sovereign ways and knowledges as Traditional Custodians with the wider Church’s ways and knowledges. For example, as part of my baptism as a baby, my mum removed my clothing and nappy and held me up in the sea breeze to be sprayed, to first be blessed, by the malu (ocean). She then took me to the church for the service,” says Aunty Dr Rose Elu

Justice & Advocacy

What is the Queensland Community Alliance and how is the Anglican Church Southern Queensland connected to it?

“I am aware that the Anglican Church Southern Queensland has been a leader in the Reconciliation space for decades — the ACSQ’s first submission in support of constitutional recognition was sent to the Federal Government in 2011, so your Diocese has been an active supporter of this for years,” says Devett Kennedy from the Queensland Community Alliance

Justice & Advocacy

''Mother Earth''

“I will be giving thanks for the gift that First Nations knowledge has given me by helping me to understand the sense of connection I have to the place in which I was born and lived the first third of my life,” says The Very Rev’d Dr Peter Catt

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