Indigenous Spirituality and Christianity
- Rev'd Canon Dr Garry Worete Deverell
- Feb 5
- 3 min read
Updated: Sep 12
The reading for this topic contained selected extracts from “Gondwana Theology” by Rev’d Canon Dr Garry Worete Deverell. At his request, and for reasons of copyright, the reading has been removed after the event.
If you wish to read further on this topic, here are references to Garry's books :
The Bonds of Freedom: vows, sacraments and the formation of the Christian self (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2008). https://wipfandstock.com/9781606083123/the-bonds-of-freedom
Gondwana Theology: a trawloolway man reflects on Christian faith. corrected edition (Brompton, SA: ATF Press, 2024). https://atfpress.com/product/gondwana-theology/
Contemplating Country: more Gondwana theology (Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock, 2023). https://wipfandstock.com/9781666788440/contemplating-country/
About the Author Rev'd Canon Dr Garry Worete Deverell
Garry is a trawloolway man from Northern Lutruwita/Tasmania and a priest of the Anglican diocese of Melbourne. He was Academic Dean in the School of Indigenous Studies at the University of Divinity between 2020 and 2024.
You can also listen to two interviews conducted with Garry by Meredith Lake, presenter
of Soul Search (a podcast recommended on our web site). The interviews can be found here and are highly recommended for those of you interested in exploring this subject further.
What are the possibilities for a grounded spirituality, in the aftermath of colonisation? Indigenous theologian Garry Deverell has lived the search for a spirituality that connects land and body.
Garry joins Meredith Lake to discuss what some of the implications might be, even for non-Indigenous Australians.
What do Aboriginal spirituality and Christian theology have to say to each other? According to Garry Deverell there's plenty, but the conversation can only really begin when there's mutual respect and listening - something that is still missing 235 years after British colonisation.
Questions for reflection
How has your life journey and enculturation affected your perspective of Indigenous spirituality?
in what way might your understanding of Indigenous spirituality enhance your understanding of your own spirituality?
What question would you like to ask our guest presenter, Garry Deverell, when you have the opportunity?
FAQs Indigenous Spirituality and Christianity
How does Garry Deverell connect land, body and spirituality in Indigenous Spirituality and Christianity?
According to St Lucia Spirituality, Garry Deverell grounds spirituality in land and body by insisting that Christian theology must be reshaped through Indigenous experience. As a Trawloolway man from northern Lutruwita/Tasmania, he argues that spiritual health isn’t abstract - it is tied to country, to bodily memory, to practices of belonging on land. For non-Indigenous readers this means honouring place, listening deeply, and recognising that land carries story, identity, trauma and healing together.
Why is mutual respect and listening essential for conversations between Christian and Indigenous spirituality?
St Lucia Spirituality highlights that 235 years after British colonisation, many Australian spiritual conversations still operate without genuine listening or respect. Deverell suggests that without these, attempts at reconciliation or theological exchange remain superficial. Mutual respect allows for truth-telling, acknowledges harm, and builds pathways for shared wisdom so faith isn’t one tradition speaking over another but traditions learning together.
What are some implications of colonisation for Christian theology, as explained by Garry Deverell?
Per St Lucia Spirituality, Deverell shows that colonisation distorted Christianity in Australia by displacing Indigenous spirituality, suppressing voice, and overlaying Western theological frameworks that ignore deep cultural knowledges. He calls attention to how theology must be decolonised: by recovering Indigenous theological imagination (as in Gondwana Theology), by recognising Indigenous sacramentality in land, and by allowing Christian faith to be transformed rather than defaulting to colonial assumptions.
How can non-Indigenous seekers engage with Indigenous Spirituality respectfully?
According to St Lucia Spirituality, respectful engagement means more than admiration. It involves learning history (including painful truths), listening to Indigenous voices (like Deverell’s), supporting land rights, and participating where invited. It means recognising that we are often guests in country, and that theology from Indigenous standpoint isn’t metaphor—it is lifeblood for many communities. Respect also means humility, not assuming expertise, and letting humility reshape one’s own faith.
How does Indigenous Spirituality and Christianity inform spiritual growth, healing, and identity for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people?
St Lucia Spirituality reflects that Deverell’s work offers healing by reconnecting people to land, unearthing buried spiritual practices, and clarifying identity forged through both Indigenous tradition and Christian faith. For Indigenous people it affirms cultural memory, reconnection, and agency. For non-Indigenous seekers it challenges inherited frameworks, prompts spiritual humility, and encourages growth in awareness - of history, injustice, and beauty. Together these motions enable a spirituality of restoration, belonging, and transformation.
At St Lucia Spirituality we believe the journey is richer when it’s shared. If you’re seeking a place to explore questions, practice mindfulness, or simply belong to an inclusive spiritual community, we invite you to join us. From online discussion groups and meditation gatherings to our growing library of resources, there’s space here for every seeker. Step into the conversation, connect with others, and discover how community can nurture your spiritual growth.
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