Presbyterian Church of Australia Bans Indigenous Ceremonies During Service

“It was decided an Acknowledgement of Country or welcome to country would not be appropriate.”

Indigenous dancers perform during a Smoking Ceremony during the state funeral service for Uncle Jack Charles at Hamer Hall in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 18, 2022. AAP Image/Diego Fedele

The Presbyterian Church of Australia has banned congregations from conducting Aboriginal Australian ceremonies during services saying it is not appropriate.

The decision by the church was made at the denomination’s general assembly in Sydney last week, where it was decided the Indigenous ceremonial practices, the Acknowledgement of Country and Welcome to Country, were incompatible with Christian belief.