A UK-based Christian rights group, Christian Concern, has laid into an attempt by the Church of England to reduce bullying in school. The Church campaign, titled Flourishing for All, aims to set a framework that addresses bullying while attempting to uphold the dignity and compassion due to all children. However, Christian Concern characterises this new guidance as 'woke indoctrination' that replaces biblical principles with progressive ideologies.
Christian Concern's statement would have it that the framework laid out in Flourishing for All encourages children to explore aspects of their identity, including gender and sexual orientation, which they believe conflicts with Christian ethics, despite the fact that Jesus never once mentioned sexuality.
In an official statement, Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, expressed her profound disapproval. Oh no! She reckons that the guidance continues to reflect a troubling trend within the Church of England where, according to her, the emphasis on secular ideologies has eroded the Church’s commitment to biblical morality. Williams was particularly vocal about her concerns over the legal implications of the guidance, especially sections that instruct chaplains to be cautious when discussing traditional Christian views on gender and sexuality, potentially labelling them as non-mainstream perspectives.
The Church of England has defended its guidance as being in line with biblical principles. A spokesperson explained that the guidance promotes a clear biblical approach to bullying prevention, grounded in the belief that all children are made in God’s image. They argue that the requirements outlined in the guidance comply with the Equality Act 2010, which aims to protect against discrimination and harassment based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Church of England's report shows a commitment to safeguarding all students. This includes emphasising that discrimination or victimisation is illegal, whatever the circumstances surrounding a child’s gender identity. However, Christian Concern - which gets itself in a sweat over such dangerous anti-biblical phenomena as drag queens - interprets this framework as one that restricts authentic expressions of faith and could stifle Christian educators from conveying their beliefs on sexuality openly. In short, it might prevent them from being as bigoted as they would like, despite no word from Jesus on the subject while his teachings on love and acceptance and not judging are clear.
Source: Noah Wire Services