The Presbyterian Church of Australia has made the decision to ban Aboriginal Australian ceremonies from being conducted during worship services. This decision was reached during the church’s general assembly in Sydney, where it was determined that Indigenous ceremonial practices, such as the Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country, were not compatible with Christian belief. John McClean, spokesperson for the Presbyterian Church of Australia, stated that worship services should focus on praising and celebrating God, and including these ceremonies would not be appropriate.
However, this ban does not extend to “other circumstances” outside of worship services held at Presbyterian churches. McClean clarified that while the general assembly expressed what it considered appropriate for the church, individuals would not be prosecuted for deviating from these guidelines. The Presbyterian Church’s 700 congregations will no longer conduct these ceremonies.
The use of Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country ceremonies has faced criticism for being overused or tokenistic at public events. Lyle Shelton, former director of the Australian Christian Lobby, argues that these ceremonies are incompatible with Christian practices and that they should instead acknowledge the Creator of the country. Indigenous advocate Noel Pearson also believes that the procedure can be overused and that a sensible approach to rituals in public life is needed.
However, for Indigenous Christian Safina Stewart, the ban on these ceremonies represents the use of Indigenous spirituality against Indigenous people. She views the ceremonies as an opportunity to come into alignment with the creator and does not see them as placing a particular race above God. On the other hand, Reverend Mark Powell of the Cornerstone Presbyterian Church in Hobart disagrees, stating that Indigenous claims of spiritual sovereignty are unbiblical and that worship of Christ should not be hindered.
Indigenous Senator Jacinta Price has called for the scrapping of Welcome to Country ceremonies, seeing them as divisive and sending a message to non-Indigenous people that Australia is not their country. She argues that while acknowledging history is important, these performances before every sporting event or public gathering are unnecessary.
The Presbyterian Church of Australia is known for its conservative theology and is distinct from the more progressive United Church in Australia. Despite attempts to reach the Presbyterian Church for comment, they did not respond before the publication of this article.