Anglican Diocese of Bendigo|Aboriginal Ministry

Aboriginal Ministry

The Reverend Canon Shannon Smith

In 2021 a newly developed position was established in the Bendigo Diocese and Shannon has stepped into that position as Diocesan Aboriginal Community Support Officer (ACSO) as well as the Priest In-Charge at St Mark’s Golden Square.

Shannon’s ministry includes:

  • Supporting Aboriginal communities across the Bendigo Diocese
  • Attending various Gatherings for Aboriginal clergy (NATSIAC)
  • Pastoral Care
  • Raising Awareness across the Diocese during specific dates that directly involve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Communities such as National Sorry Day, Reconciliation, NAIDOC, Coming of the Light
  • Parish visits to share in Aboriginal Ministry
  • Developing new Ministries specifically orientated toward Aboriginal Communities both local and wider afield.

Reconciliation Action Plan

Reconciliation is an essential part of being a Christian. Most basic is being reconciled to the Creator God. A natural and necessary consequence of this is seeking reconciliation with other people. For Australians, reconciliation must focus on relations between the original peoples and the people who arrived in the last few centuries.

The diocese is committed to working towards reconciliation at this level through the actions of its personnel, institutions and affiliates. It recognises the traditional custodians of this land and the many dire consequences of European settlement. It is committed to working towards justice at all levels. Reconciliation is not seen as an optional extra, but at the very core of our obligations as Christians in Australia.

The diocese endorsed the Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan at Synod in 2017.

Read a statement from the Anglican Diocese of Bendigo about its commitment to Indigenous Australians.