One of Australia’s largest churches has sparked fierce debate by declaring Welcome to Country has no place in Sunday church services.
The Presbyterian Church of Australia (PCA), which runs some of the country’s most prestigious schools, ruled the recognition ceremonies are “inappropriate” at its general meeting of congregations in Sydney.
Welcome to Country and Recognition of Country ceremonies have come under increasing fire from some politicians and critics for being overused or symbolic.
The church said the reasons for banning the ceremonies included that there was a “multitude of tribal traditions” and that there was no “consensus” on their value.
But the PCA’s decision has sparked a backlash from indigenous Christians, with some calling it “extreme” and “sad”, while rival faith leaders said the church should be ashamed of itself.
One of Australia’s largest churches has sparked fierce debate by declaring Welcome to Country has no place in its church services. Pictured: Jakirah Telfer at the launch of the Voice to Parliment Yes campaign in Adelaide
The Presbyterian Church of Australia, Australia’s fifth largest Christian church, has a track record of making conservative decisions
When you want to worship, our focus is on God and who He is, and we praise and celebrate Him – PCA spokesman John McClean
The ruling means the church’s 700 congregations are now advised not to hold a Welcome to Country as part of any service.
The PCA, Australia’s fifth largest Christian church, has a track record of controversial decisions.
In April, the PCA told the Australian Law Reform Commission’s review of federal anti-discrimination laws that gay students should be excluded from leadership roles in schools.
John McClean, a spokesman for the church, said it is best placed to decide how its services are conducted.
“The church has a long tradition of telling us what to do during Sunday worship – it should simply be what is in the Bible and no other things should be added,” Mr McClean said.
“If you want to worship, our focus is on God and who he is, and we praise and celebrate Him.”
Safina Stewart, a Wuthathi and Mabuiag Island woman who works with the non-denominational Christian group Common Grace, said the decision is “extreme.”
She said it shows the PCA does not understand Aboriginal culture.
John McClean, a spokesman for The Presbyterian Church of Australia, said Sunday services should focus on God
“The recognition of the land and the welcome into the land does not place any race above God. It’s actually the opposite. It aligns with the creator as host and guest.”
Last month, Indigenous senator Jacinta Price called for Welcome to Country recognition to be scrapped before sporting matches and other events are scrapped, arguing the tradition sends a message to non-Indigenous Australians that “this is not your country”.
The Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman followed former Prime Minister Tony Abbott, who said the practice made him “a bit sick”.
“There is no problem with recognizing our history, but rolling out these performances before every sporting event or public gathering is certainly divisive,” Ms Price told The Australian.
“Australians don’t need to be welcomed into their own country,” she said.
According to the 2021 census, 414,882 Australians identify as Presbyterian, although not all belong to the Presbyterian Church of Australia.
The faith splintered in 1977, when two-thirds of the then-Presbyterian church formed the much more liberal Uniting Church.
Safina Stewart, a woman from Wuthathi and Mabuiag Island (pictured) who works with the non-denominational Christian group Common Grace, described the decision as ‘extreme’
Uniting Church has 673,000 members and is Australia’s third largest Christian church.
A leading figure of the Uniting Church, Reverend Dr. Brian Brown, criticized the decision on social media.
“Shame on you,” he posted to X.
PCA members can still perform the ceremony during meetings or events on its premises, just not during Sunday services.
But Mr McClean, who is also deputy principal of Christ College, added that PCA church members would not be “prosecuted” if they disobeyed the ruling.