Aim
To further Indigenous theological education.
Origin
The Wandiligong Indigenous Ministry Fund was established in 2018 by the Rev Robert Sherwood Houghton in part as recognition and restitution for the dispossession of Indigenous land.
Rev Robert Houghton
Rev Houghton was ordained an Anglican priest in his mid 20s. Born and raised in Melbourne, he studied at the University of Melbourne (BA & LLB), the University of Cambridge (MA, theological tripos) and Wells Theological College. He had a strong and early calling to the ministry in his teens. His mother was supportive. His father needed a little more persuading, having hoped he would follow him into the law.
Rev Houghton was ordained in England and began his ministry as a curate in Howe Bridge, Manchester in 1953. A year later he and his wife, Ruth, returned to Melbourne where he was sent to the west to plant the parish of St Peter’s & St Andrew’s, Braybrook (5 years). After that he was chaplain at Grimwade House, Melbourne Grammar School (5 years). This was followed by time in South Australia as inaugural sub-warden of St Barnabas Theological College (5 years). Upon returning to Melbourne he served as parish priest at St Mary’s, North Melbourne (8 years), then St Matthew’s, Ashburton (8 years). He and Ruth were also involved in the catechumenal way for 20 years.
He had a heart for the Lord and for social justice. He was also a strong believer in the power of education. A fairly fit man, at age 60, he was struck by cardiomyopathy. The doctors insisted he retire. This was devastating news as he loved his work. The doctors gave him 5 years to live. But God had other plans. Rev Houghton had inherited money during his adulthood which he invested astutely. Had he not had a calling to the priesthood, he would have made a very good businessman. At times he could be a polarising figure but, without doubt, he used his talents to the full and in service to God’s kingdom.
Inheritance at work
In his retirement, Rev Houghton started working God’s vision for the money. He set up two funds. The first was the Australian Research Theology Foundation Inc (ARTFinc) which is still going strong 35 years later. This is run by a board that manages a capital base and distributes the interest annually. Grants are determined by the board on the basis of applications and vary in value, up to a maximum of $10,000. Australian theology and education are the broad foci of the foundation. The second fund he established was Elios. This provided funds for the poor and was eventually subsumed into Anglican Overseas Aid.
WIMF focus: teaching vs student
Towards the end of his life Rev Houghton wanted to establish a fund that would provide theological education for Indigenous peoples. Initially, he was interested in providing a scholarship for Indigenous students to study theology. However, discussions with Rev Dr Garry Deverell, late in 2017, persuaded him to shift the focus to Indigenous theological teaching. This was an acknowledgement that there were presently no funds available for Indigenous theological teaching- neither from governments, nor the churches. Whereas there were some government funds available for Indigenous students.
Rev Houghton died in September 2018, aged 92. This triggered the commencement of the Wandiligong Indigenous Ministry Fund and the release of funds into it.
WIMF administration
Initially the Wandiligong Indigenous Ministry Fund was administered by a committee which first met in November 2018 and then another five times in 2019. It consisted of the Rev Dr Garry Deverell, Ms Naomi Wolfe, Bishop Chris McLeod, Dr Peter Sherlock (Vice-Chancellor, University of Divinity), Mr Rob Houghton (secretary, eldest grandchild) and Ms Kathrine Houghton (chair, eldest child). By invitation of the committee Ms Shelley George, another grandchild, attended two meetings.
COVID 19 struck in 2020 and no meetings were held during that year.
In 2021 the administration of the fund reverted to being run by the family, in particular Kathrine Houghton (chair) and Rob Houghton (secretary) after approval was sought from, and given by, the committee. The reasons for this were as follows:
- the Indigenous members of the committee were now in direct discussions with the University of Divinity,
- WIMF, being teaching/training oriented, was not able to attract additional funds as it was not eligible for DGR (deductible gift recipient) status and
- the University of Divinity, being both teaching and student oriented, was eligible for DGR status, and, furthermore, had established a parallel Indigenous Theology Fund.
The fund continues to liaise closely with the Indigenous theology community.
WIMF initiatives
Forum: Exploring Indigenous Theology: as a bridge for moving towards Reconciliation on 6 April 2019, at Whitley College, Melbourne. The speakers were Rev Ray Minniecon, Rev Dr Garry Deverell, Rev Patricia Courtenay, Rev Dr Terry LeBlanc, Aunty Jean Phillips, and Ms Brooke Prentis. Ms Naomi Wolfe was the facilitator. WIMF initiative (April 2019)
$5,000
WIMF donation to UD’s Indigenous Theology Fund (Sept 2021)
$100,000
WIMF donation to UD’s Indigenous Ministry Fund (Sept 2022)
$100,000
WIMF donation to Wontulp Bi-Buya’s teaching program (April 2023)
$30,000
WIMF donation to Nungalinya College for 5 Indigenous trainers/students to SIS Feb 2024 Raising our Tribal Voices conference (Nov 2023)
$11,000
WIMF donation to Nungalinya College Foundation Studies program 2 year commitment (Dec 2023 & Dec 2024)
$50,000 each year
A further 1 year commitment (Dec 2025)
$50,000
WIMF donation to UD’s School of Indigenous Studies (Dec 2023)
$80,000
WIMF considerations
The calibre of speakers at the 2019 forum was very impressive, resulting in a very successful evening attended by 110 people. The reality is that the development of Indigenous theologies is key for reconciliation in Australia.
A major consideration of the committee in its first year was agreement that a lecturership be established under the auspices of the University of Divinity (UD). Disagreement occurred over whether this should be a lectureship in Indigenous Theologies or in Indigenous Studies.
WIMF’s substantial donations to UD’s ITF/SIS funds have helped establish a Lectureship in Indigenous Studies (Rev Dr Garry Deverell, 2021) and Prof of Indigenous Studies and Head of the newly established School of Indigenous Studies (Prof Anne Pattel-Gray, 2022).
Given the limitations of DGR and WIMF attracting donations, WIMF has decided to:
- draw down its original capital base. This means that the fund is likely to have an operating timeframe of approximately 10 years,
- provide seed funding for initiatives - that later the churches will need to consider funding,
- support grassroots programs, as well as big-picture SIS type programs, and
- support a program to assist Indigenous theology students transition from TAFE to university training
2024
At the beginning of 2024, the School of Indigenous Studies conducted a major conference in
Melbourne from 5-8 February 2024. The focus was Raising our Tribal Voices for Justice: an
Indigenous Revolution. 150 people attended, another 100 online, both Indigenous and non-
Indigenous, from all parts of Australia. It was a very successful conference with many
positive outcomes.
The subsequent closures of two Indigenous theological training institutions, therefore, came
as a great shock.
In May 2024, the board of Wontulp Bi-Buya College in Cairns announced the college’s
closure. This was after 40 years providing TAFE theological/community courses to
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples from remote communities. Straitened financial
circumstances of both the college and the Anglican diocese of North Queensland precipitated
the closure.
In July 2024, the University of Divinity disestablished the School of Indigenous Studies (SIS)
after only 2.5 years. Once again the rationale was financial. The SIS was originally
established by donations but once the donations ran out, the school was deemed unviable. It
is unclear how much money the University of Divinity contributed over the lifetime of the
SIS.
The positions of all Indigenous staff at both institutions were terminated. And the future of
Indigenous theological training in Australia was seriously curtailed and became uncertain.
The WIMF has mostly provided funds to institutions, not individuals. However, given the
serious circumstances, we decided to provide some support to Prof Anne Pattel-Gray
to enable her to complete her Red Ochre manuscript and to liaise with other tertiary
institutions about finding a new home for SIS.
WIMF also decided to make another individual donation, this time to Archbishop Philip and
Joy Freier to further their ministry in remote Indigenous communities in North Queensland,
upon the archbishop’s retirement in February 2025. The founder of WIMF was a big
supporter of their ministries and WIMF believes there may be opportunities for them to
encourage Indigenous ordination candidates. WIMF approached them about possible support
and it was decided we could help in the area of travel and accommodation.
Contact
339/77 Hobsons Rd, Kensington, Vic 3031
Updated: May 2025
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