NCLS data shows a significant increase in recent years
Resource Type: Article
Topics: indigenous aboriginal church community engagement church and community cultural News Jun 2023
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 |
Pentecostal |
Other |
Rural |
Regional |
Capital |
||
|
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
2021 National Church Life Survey
Some 46% of churchgoers are involved in community groups not connected to church
Amongst a wide range of services, most common are visitation and emergency relief