Respecting Country: Deep history, the colonies, and the church (CH1200P)

Undergraduate, 18.0 points

Content

This unit equips you to tell histories of the land on which your congregation lives and worships. It focuses on seeking understanding and on respecting Country. It examines the deep history of First Nations peoples, the recent history of colonial settlement, congregational history writing, and the challenges and hopes for the contemporary church on Aboriginal land. You will be introduced to methods of historical research and the skills you need to interpret legal, theological, and local historical sources. This unit walks with you as you research, write and reflect on the legacies of the past in the present.

Unit code: CH1200P

Unit status: Approved (New unit)

Points: 18.0

Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1

Unit discipline: Church History

Proposing College: Pilgrim Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.

Assess primary and secondary sources of local history
2.

Interpret historical social, economic and legal contexts
3.

Apply principles and methods of historical research
4.

Connect theological and ethical aspects of historical research

Pedagogy

Workshops, guest presentations, discussions, lectures, time to share experiences of research. Sessions framed within stories of Country presented by First Nations people.

Indicative Bibliography

  • Atkinson, Alan. The Europeans in Australia. 3 vols. UNSW Press, 2014-2016.
  • Attwood, Bain, and Fiona Magowan, eds. Telling Stories: Indigenous History and Memory in Australia and New Zealand. Allen & Unwin, 2001.
  • Banner, Stuart. Possessing the Pacific: Land, Settlers, and Indigenous People from Australia to Alaska. Harvard University Press, 2007.
  • Boyce, James. God's Own Country? The Anglican Church and Tasmanian Aborigines. Anglicare, 2001/2014.
  • Brett, Mark G., Naomi Wolfe, Ray Minniecon, & Ben Clarke. "Sovereignty: Australian Stories". Zadok Papers. Zadok Institute for Christianity and Society, 2019.
  • Deverell, Garry Worete. Contemplating Country: More Gondwana Theology. Wipf & Stock, 2023.
  • Griffiths, Billy. Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia. Black Inc, 2018.
  • Jones, Ross L, Edward Waghorne, and Marcia Langton, eds. Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne. Melbourne University Publishing, 2024.
  • Land, Clare. Decolonizing Solidarity: Dilemma and Directions for Supporters of Indigenous Struggles. Bloomsbury, 2015.
  • McKenna, Mark. From the Edge: Australia's Lost Histories. Miegunyah Press, 2012.
  • Yoorrook Justice Commission. Reports of the Yoorrook Justice Commission. First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria, 2022-2025.

Assessment

Type Description Word count Weight (%)
Investigation

Investigate primary sources (including archival materials) and secondary sources for your local project and develop a detailed annotated bibliography

 1000 25.0
Portfolio

Prepare a portfolio of research and reflection including the following: (1) Use primary and secondary source research to prepare a history of Country and present it in a format that will be meaningful for the church community; (2) Reflect on the process of historical research in a 5-min oral presentation that considers theological and ethical dimensions.

 3000 75.0
Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 20 Jun, 2025

Unit record last updated: 2025-06-20 12:09:15 +1000