Sunday School, I remember looking at an illustration of Jesus in a children’s Bible. Jesus was pictured as a man with very fair skin. Sitting on his knees were fair-skinned children, whom he was happily conversing with. At his feet sat a dark-skinned girl who reminded me of me. “Why was Jesus not smiling at and talking with her also?” I wondered. I felt alienated and excluded by this illustration, rather than welcomed and included. Sharing stories like these takes a spirit of openness and courage. It also takes openness to be willing to read or listen to such stories, as well as courage to reflect upon them. There are also other stories that take openness to read or listen to and courage to reflect upon, including much more recent ones. I still sometimes hear stories about First Nations parishioners around the country only being allowed to sing hymns in Language during services if they provide the rest of the congregation with an English translation. This additional work means that they don’t sing hymns in Language as often as they would like. This is yet another way that the Church is putting stumbling blocks in front of our people, especially young people who wish to worship. I have also been present at Anglican gatherings when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural protocols were explicitly dismissed by leaders as “unnecessary”. I always speak up and advocate for the importance of cultural protocols when this happens. 77
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