‘God has called me to do this’
AS the first Aboriginal woman to be ordained as a priest in the Anglican Church, Gloria Shipp is quite humble about her achievements.
She is on the go most days but believes you are never given more than you can handle.
“I really believe that God has called me to this so he gives me the strength to do all things,” she told Dubbo Photo News.
As a member of the Holy Trinity clergy in Dubbo, Rev Shipp has the Walkabout Ministry and runs a number of church-related events. She is also the Orana Juvenile Justice Centre chaplain, a founding member of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Anglican Council and involved with the Anglican Border Missions. She has also previously been named as the Dubbo Koori Interagency Network Elder of the Year.
It’s a busy life but she wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Pioneering is a word that’s been used. It is what it is.”
Rev Shipp is a Kamilaroi woman who was born and raised in Nyngan. She has happy memories of going to church there.
“Going to church, it was a part of our life. We didn’t live far from the church and I went to Sunday School with my sister,” she explained.
“There were bush brothers in Nyngan – Brother Norman and Brother Bruce. We got toys and games. They had a library and I love reading so I spent a lot of time there.”
As an adult, Rev Shipp married and had three sons. Her faith remained a strong part of life.
“We lived in Dubbo and went to Cobar to work, my husband Eddie worked on the pipeline there.
“I became very much involved in the church community; I was running a women’s Bible study group in Cobar.
“I really felt God’s calling then.” Rev Shipp spoke to the priest about her wish to become ordained but she came up against resistance.
“The priest didn’t believe in ordination of women, he told me to visit the hospital,” she said. “But I really wanted to do it. They fought for years for women to be ordained.
“So I got in touch with Bishop Bruce Wilson and he was excited.”
With the Bishop’s blessing, Rev Shipp went to bible college in the
Northern Territory in 1990.
“I did three years of theological study at Nungalinya in Darwin.
“They weren’t used to women being there.”
Darwin was a culture shock for Rev Shipp but after chatting with one of the nuns, she decided to stay and became a deacon in 1994 and a priest in 1996.
In 2008, Rev Shipp became the Orana Juvenile Justice Centre chaplain where she works with teenage boys.
“They range in age from 10 to 17 and call me Aunty, they do respect me,” she explained.
Rev Shipp gives bible talks and officiates at special services such as memorials.
She talks to the boys as a mother or grandmother would.
“I always ask the boys what they want to be and then I pray for them,” she said.
“I tell it to them straight. God doesn’t keep a record but the law of the land does. I try to encourage them to make a better life for themselves,” she said.
“(After they leave) some of them stay out of trouble and they are fine, but some have gone on to the Big House (jail). A lot of them are reoffenders. They need something in the community when they go home.”
Rev Shipp cares a lot for the youngsters and wants the best for them.
“One would hope and pray for them. I give them all a gift at Christmas time and Easter. I tell them that the door to your heart has no handle – only you can open the door.”
Rev Shipp also runs women’s camps, Sunday School, bible study and an elders’ group.
“The women’s camps have craft, culture and a healing service. We also do afternoon tea where we focus on women in the bible and women today.” The next event is on May 6.
Rev Shipp said Holy Trinity Archdeacon Brett Watterson is very supportive of Aboriginal culture.
“He talks about Aboriginal issues – he is opening doors. And there are different services for everyone.”
It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for this trailblazing gutsy lady but she is as strong as her beliefs.
“I don’t really set goals but I’ll just keep going.”