A pioneer of ministry. Anglicans mourn death of Australia’s first Indigenous bishop
Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor |
The country’s first Indigenous Anglican bishop, Queensland-born Arthur Malcolm, has died at the age of 87.
Bishop Malcolm was born in Yarrabah, an Aboriginal community near Cairns, in 1935. He trained as a Church Army Officer in New South Wales and served there and in Victoria during the 1960s.
He served as Chaplain in Yarrabah from 1974 and also served Anglicans on Palm Island, near Townsville,.
In a historic ceremony in Townsville in 1985, he was consecrated Bishop with special responsibility to Aboriginal people, becoming Australia’s first Indigenous bishop.
In a statement, the Anglican Board of Mission said Bishop Malcolm was an outstanding leader and pastor who had continued to inspire and encourage since his retirement in 2001.
He was ordained in 1978 and made a Canon of St James’ Cathedral, Townsville, in 1984 before his consecration as bishop the following year.
Prominent Anglicans recognised Bishop Malcolm’s influence and ministry as leading to a public apology from the Anglican Church to Aboriginal people in 1988.
In February that year, the Anglicans became the first Australian church to make a formal public apology to Aboriginal people, on the bicentenary of the first Christian service on Australian soil.
At St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, Archbishop John Grindrod expressed sorrow and regret for the past mistreatment of Aboriginal people, speaking directly to Bishop Arthur Malcolm.
He replied, on behalf of Indigenous Anglicans, “I accept your seeking of our forgiveness and thank you for your apology”.
The Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, Kanishka Raffel, said Bishop Malcolm had led a pioneering ministry.
“His historic leadership of Indigenous Christians, pointing us all to an everlasting homeland, paved the way for generations to follow.
“We express our condolences to his family and his people and thank God for his example of gracious, humble and faithful service.”
