Challenging yet important conversations were had at national, community and individual levels and many non-Indigenous Australians were mobilised and equipped to stand with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and amplify our voices.

While this doesn’t diminish the overwhelming grief and mental health impacts that many First Nations peoples experienced as a result of the referendum, we take some comfort that our grief became the grief of so many others.

Now many are asking what’s next?

Aboriginal Sunday is an opportunity for Christians to continue the journey of walking alongside Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is a long, ongoing journey that requires courage, humility, love and prayer.

Since 2019, the Common Grace movement, led at the time by Aboriginal Christian Leader Brooke Prentis, has been encouraging churches and faith communities across Australia to reclaim William Cooper’s Aboriginal Sunday each year on the Sunday before 26 January. William Cooper was an Aboriginal Christian Leader, pastor and instrumental leader in the plight for justice, equality and full citizenship for Aboriginal peoples.

On 26 January 1938, while the rest of Australia was celebrating the 150th anniversary of the landing of the first fleet, Aboriginal leaders, including William Cooper, gathered and called for a national Day of Mourning.

William Cooper then asked the Australian churches to set aside the Sunday before 26 January as Aboriginal Sunday (previously called Aborigines’ Day) – a day for Christians to pray and act in solidarity with Aboriginal peoples and the injustices being experienced. This day was eventually moved to July and became NAIDOC Week.

We have the opportunity as Christians to listen to, value and respond to the voices and perspectives of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders.

This year on Aboriginal Sunday (21st January 2024) we have the opportunity as Christians to listen to, value and respond to the voices and perspectives of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders.

As a young Aboriginal Christian woman, I have been so incredibly honoured to sit under the wisdom and guidance of many of my elders and Aboriginal Christian leaders. Aboriginal Sunday to me is a special moment where the wider Christian church can do the same.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders of the past and present have contributed to the Christian Church in Australia in profound ways, yet this is sadly not recognised. I believe that if our brothers and sisters in Christ will open up their hearts, ears and even church buildings to the gems of wisdom, truth and grace that Aboriginal Christan leaders hold, all will be profoundly blessed.

Churches and faith communities from across all mainstream denominations have been equipped to take their congregations on the deep journey of prayer, listening, learning and acting for justice through Common Grace’s Aboriginal Sunday resources. In 2023 over 650 churches received the resources, and in 2024 we have had over 430 churches sign up so far.

Here’s a reflection from Tathra Uniting Church on their Aboriginal Sunday service in 2023:

“At Tathra Uniting Church in 2023, we began the service with mourning, but as we went deeper in our time together we were lifted by your Common Grace voices to a new place of hope. Jesus is healing this country’s broken heart, and Aboriginal people are leaders in this healing. I think that more and more of us want to be walking together with Aboriginal people.”

This Aboriginal Sunday, Uncle Ray Minniecon is calling Australian churches to reflect upon the very first Bible passage and sermon ever given on Aboriginal land.

Common Grace’s Aboriginal Sunday 2024 church resources include a range of incredible resources, with contributions from seven Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Christian leaders. A highlight resource is the sermon message which is a video conversation with Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader Uncle Pastor Dr Ray Minniecon.

This Aboriginal Sunday, Uncle Ray Minniecon is calling Australian churches to reflect upon the very first Bible passage and sermon ever given on Aboriginal land. This sermon was given by the chaplain of the first fleet, Rev. Richard Johnson on 3rd February 1788. The passage he read was Psalm 116 verse 12: “What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?”

A sandstone monument stands on Gadigal land, at the intersection of Hunter, Bligh and Castlereagh Streets, in Sydney in remembrance of this sermon.

Uncle Ray provides rich and challenging insights based on this Bible passage and individual churches and faith communities are called to reflect and respond.

I think it is such a prophetic call from Uncle Ray, particularly after the referendum, to challenge us to go back to that moment. To reckon with our history together. Not from a place of blame or shame, but from a place of truth-telling, mourning and deep reflection, so that healing and hope may emerge.

In 2024, we have the opportunity to walk a different path. A path grounded in love, truth, justice and healing.

When European colonisers first arrived in Australia, they failed to honour, respect and value the Aboriginal people whom God placed on these lands as stewards and caretakers of Country. This had deeply horrific consequences for Aboriginal peoples, the effects of which we still experience today.

In 2024, we have the opportunity to walk a different path. A path grounded in love, truth, justice and healing. A path of honour and deep listening to First Nations peoples. My prayer and hope is that the Church would lead our nation on this journey so that we may see God’s goodness and justice flow.

Sign up your church for Aboriginal Sunday 20224 here: commongrace.org.au/aboriginal_sunday_2024

Attend an Aboriginal Sunday service near you here: commongrace.org.au/aboriginal_sunday_services_2024

Bianca Manning is a Gomeroi woman, a social worker and Common Grace’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Coordinator. Bianca currently lives in Logan, South East Queensland on the lands of the Yuggera and Yugambeh peoples, working with Senior Aboriginal Christian Leader Aunty Jean Phillips in the Brisbane and Logan areas.