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Salvo Leaders attend Indigenous Ministry Conference

20 June 2012
Salvo Leaders attend Indigenous Ministry Conference

More than 60 Salvation Army leaders attended the first Salvation Army Indigenous Conference. (Photo: Shirli Congoo)

More than 60 Salvation Army leaders engaged in ministry with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, attended the first National Salvation Army Indigenous conference in Sydney from 8-10 June.

Bringing together Army personnel from all over Australia, the aim of the conference was to advance The Salvation Army's Indigenous ministry.

“About 20 to 25 percent [of attendees] were Aboriginal and 90 percent that led the presentations were Aboriginal people. We heard directly from Aboriginal people, their expertises and knowledge,” said Adrian Kistan, Australia Eastern Territorial Indigenous Ministry Coordinator.

“The purpose was to firstly advance Indigenous ministry within The Salvation Army, secondly to inspire and encourage new expressions of Indigenous ministry, and thirdly an opportunity for those who sometimes feel isolated to connect with others and share the journey.

“There was a deep cry for Indigenous Christian leadership [at the conference]. We desire to see it to rise up and be identified, invest in, resource and empower Indigenous Christian leadership.”

Aunty Jean Phillips, an Indigenous elder from Brisbane and a pioneer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian ministry, was one of the first people to highlight this desire when she spoke.

“She shared the deep meaning for us to minister holistically to Aboriginal people in Australia," said Adrian. "The need for Indigenous Christian leadership to rise up, and she really endorsed The Salvation Army’s work and challenged us to go deeper and do more.”

Revered Graham Paulson, the first Aboriginal ordained minister in the Baptist church, shared from the Bible passages Philippians 2, 3 and 4 during three sessions.

“He focused on taking us on a cultural journey of understanding into cross-cultural ministry and explained the cultural values held by Western people as opposed to Aboriginal people," said Adrian. "But right at the heart of that is God’s kingdom values and how we bring about God’s kingdom values when understanding different cultural values.”

Reverend Graham also gave a prophetic word to the conference guests. "The Salvation Army in Australia will have an Indigenous ministry in this country that will be second to none, if we take hold of God's purposes for us to be a holistic ministry," he shared.

Adrian believed the most powerful part of the conference occurred during question time. A panel of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders were asked many questions about culture and ministry.

“We created this safe environment where we’re all under the grace of God and could ask questions and go a bit deeper,” he said.

Uncle Vince Ross, a Salvationist from the Australia Southern Territory and the chairperson of The Salvation Army National Indigenous Reference Group, concluded the conference by providing some practical steps for developing ministry.

“It was an awesome gathering of people and we really believed God did a significant work amongst us,” said Adrian.

Report by Esther Pinn

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The Salvation Army acknowledges the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognises their continuing connection to land, waters and community. We pay our respects to them and their cultures; and to elders both past and present.

The Salvation Army is committed to ensuring the provision of safe and inclusive environments for children, young people and vulnerable people where they feel respected, safe, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential. The Salvation Army is a child safe organisation.