The ‘National Society for Education Church of England (4,630 schools) & Church in Wales’ (200 schools) published a draft guidance to stop school bullying and in its 59-page consultation document promotes LGBT+ rights amongst children, regardless of theological objections.
Called ‘Flourishing for All: Anti-bullying Guidance for Church of England Schools,’ the draft has been published this month, July 2024, at the same time as church leaders from 1,300 churches of differing denominations wrote to the new prime minister Sir Keir Starmer voicing angst about plans to stop conversion therapy.
The draft school guidance has been published as the Anglican General Synod narrowly voted to support measures to allow same-sex marriages in the Church of England’s buildings, as previously reported by Christian Daily International.
In a foreword to the guidance, the Rt Rev. Dr Jonathan Frost, Bishop of Portsmouth, Lead Bishop for Education and Chair of The National Society, said the document sets out the core principles underpinning the Anglican body’s commitment to education.
“Our hope and prayer is that these resources will be used by schools across the country to enable such flourishing and ensure that each and every child, knowing they are unique and made in the image of God, will find in our schools a safe environment where bullying of any kind is not tolerated.
“They should all know themselves to be loved, supported and championed, irrespective of physical appearance, gender, race, religion, ethnicity, socioeconomic background, academic ability, disability, age or sexual orientation.
“‘Flourishing for All’ helps schools to offer the Christian message of love, joy and the celebration of our humanity without exception or exclusion.”
The church schools are supported by local Diocesan boards of education.
A substantial part of the consultation document outlines policies to support children in assuming LGBT+ identities, regardless of the theological position on sexuality by their church school or local Anglican parish fellowship.
“Human sexuality and gender identity are currently areas where there is no single opinion or understanding. Members of the school community might hold very different views and there may be tension on this subject in some schools, but this does not mean that matters and questions of sexuality, gender and gender identity should be passed over,” the draft document said.
“Nor does it mean that it is acceptable for homophobic, biphobic or transphobic language or viewpoints to be shared within the school.
“Rather, schools should ensure they sensitively address LGBT+ matters to create a culture of respect towards pupils who are (or perceived to be) LGBT+.”
The Anglican guidance opines that a school’s worship life and concomitant focus on spiritual growth “should reinforce that to be made in the image of God and to be human is to be diverse. Understanding of difference, therefore, is a key element of developing as a holistic spiritual human being.”
The document also states that schools should embed “preventative measures” in daily life, to create a welcoming and safe environment where “everyone is valued, including those who are LGBT+.”
The guidance asserts that school leaders should ensure “all children are aware of the positive contributions made by LGBT+ public and historic figures, in age appropriate ways.”
Any negative presentations of LGBT+ people must also be removed from the curriculum, instead “replacing these with positive role models and language.”
The guidance also wants children to be aware of the different types of families at primary school level and different kinds of relationships, including LGBT, in secondary schools.
School staff should be trained on “LGBT+ topics and terminology. This empowers them to be able to talk confidently with young people who are LGBT+.”
The guidance advises that healthy relationships should be promoted and this includes “sexual health for all students, including young people who are LGBT+, at age appropriate stage.”
Lastly, the guidance takes the phrase used by Jesus in John 10:10b: “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full” but puts it within a context of secondary schools being “places of welcome where all can achieve their best in an emotionally safe environment and can grow to have ‘life in all its fullness’.”
Other church leaders worry government might decide 'whether someone has prayed the wrong kind of prayer'
The Anglican school guidance has been published around the same time as a large group of church leaders who hold on to biblical views on sexuality wrote to the U.K. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, expressing concerns about the new Labour Government’s plans to prevent so-called conversion therapy.
“We write as Christian ministers to express our concern at the lack of religious literacy in British public life and the unwarranted hostility this can breed towards those in Bible-believing churches like ours,” wrote the church leaders.
“One of the major presenting issues is the way people talk about a legislative ban on so-called conversion therapy. Campaigners often imply that expressing mainstream, traditional Christian beliefs on sexuality or gender identity in pastoral conversations is, inherently, a form of ‘conversion therapy’.”
The leaders were concerned that a conversion therapy ban would include banning “gentle, non-coercive prayer” and this raised the “alarming prospect” of police and law courts deciding “whether someone has prayed the wrong kind of prayer.”
“Conversations between parents and their children are also at risk from this broad definition of conversion therapy,” the letter continued.
“This would affect gender-critical parents, not just those who are Christian.”
The church leaders asked for a meeting with the prime minister to discuss their concerns “and to explore how we can help fill the religious literacy gap and help the government better understand Christians and their beliefs.”
One of the signatories was the Revd Graham Nicholls who said the group wanted to support the new government but asked for respect over biblical beliefs in return.
“We want to be prayerful and supporting of the new Labour Government but have grave concerns about their proposals for a so-called conversion therapy ban.
“New legislation which will not make any difference to genuine abuse, which is already illegal, but will open the door to spurious accusations to be made against those who want the freedom to live out their Christian faith, and parents and pastors who uphold the Bible’s teaching on matters of sexuality and gender.”
Meanwhile, an email has been circulating to members of the National Education Union (NEU) in the South East of England, seen by Christian Daily International, accusing the prime minister of saying he “doesn’t want children to be able to learn about the existence of trans people in schools.”
The email calls on education staff to join Trans Pride Brighton on July 20, a trans rights event in the city of Brighton in East Sussex: “We are asking every NEU member in the South East Region to help us form the largest section of Teachers and Support Staff that any Trans Pride demonstration has ever seen, to tell the new Government that we support our trans students and colleagues and we will stand against any crackdowns on their rights.”
