Bell ringing 

Looking at the next steps in connection & solidarity with our First Nation people in the wake of the most recent "death in custody”, the 480th* since the Royal Commission of 1987.

The NCCA are encouraging churches to 'ring out' their bells whenever there has been yet another Death in Custody.

 "... the cumulative nature of it (Black Deaths in custody) intimidates us. We need a socially central vitality to stand with us in recognising what is being done to us (indigenous Australians)." Felicity McCallum 

*Poignantly , the story comes from the distress caused by the news of another Aboriginal death in custody -  Ngemba man Frank ‘ Gud’ Coleman, the 480th since the Royal Commission of 1987. ( There have been no convictions of perpetrators to do with any of these deaths.)

Bell ringing suggestions:

• We should toll them for every Black Death in custody that has gone un-responded-to since the Royal Commission of 1987, plus the new number when it strikes, so it would be 480 chimes now and 481 the next time this happens. 
• 480 is a lot to bear, but so is the number of deaths that we are faced with like this every time it happens
• they are ring sensitively offered and they bespeak the goodness of a culture to which we can all aspire and can all call Home
• they are rung out with a mourning tone - something akin to bell--long silence; bell-long  silence
• the tones would probably be distinguished somewhat by the faith tradition they come from, so for instance, a Koori mob would use clapping sticks and eastern traditions, their bells
• those in jails may be able to hear the bells over the walls of the prisons, and know that they are not out of sight, out of mind

We continue our discussion on how this may work and what it would like. 

Further context

SUPPORTING LOCAL CONVERSATIONS- TOWARDS A MORE LOVING,FORGIVING AND UNDERSTANDING CULTURE

"Speaking with our NCCA Board member and First Nation elder, Felicity McCallum, we wonder whether we can form a network of Churches who will ring their bells, across the nation, should there be other “deaths in custody”.

Deaths of our First Nation people in custody brings us to our knees. We rise to do all we can to prevent any further suffering."  Bishop Philip Huggins, NCCA President