Christies Beach Baptist Church has adopted an Acknowledgement of Country that includes the desire to see the Uluru Statement from the Heart adopted into the Australian Constitution. This expresses our desire to be good neighbours to our First Nation brothers and sisters. The Uluru Statement from the Heart is an invitation from First Nations people to all Australians to walk together towards a better future.
It is clear that in 2023 there was no political consensus in favour of amending the Australian Constitution to establish a Voice to Parliament. However, both the YES and NO campaigns recognised the need to better involve First Nations People in decisions that affect their communities.
CBBC acknowledges that we live on the traditional land of the Kaurna people. We recognise, respect, and will listen to the spiritual experiences of their relationship with country, land, sky, and waters. We respect the strength and richness of Aboriginal culture and their elders, past, present, and emerging. We commit to be allies on a journey of healing towards true Reconciliation and unity in our future together, including seeing the Uluru Statement from the Heart adopted into the Australian constitution.
In September 2022, the National Council of Australian Baptist Ministries released a statement encouraging Baptist churches and agencies across the nation to familiarise themselves with the Uluru Statement and to prayerfully consider how we can respond to its invitation for action. The Assembly Board of Baptist Churches of South Australia has adopted ABM’s statement (see here).