The Archbishop of Canterbury has today launched a report from the Education Division of the Church of England “Valuing All God’s Children: Guidance for Church of England Schools on Challenging Homophobic Bullying.”
The guidance, which is being sent to all Church of England schools, provides 10 key recommendations which should be adopted by schools in combating homophobic bullying as well as sample policies for primary and secondary Church schools. Published by the Church Of England Archbishop’s Council Education Division, the guidance involved consultation and involvement with a number of Church of England schools with existing good practice.
Speaking at a Church of England Secondary School, at Trinity Lewisham, The Right Reverend Justin Welby said that the publication of the guidance fulfilled a pledge he made last July when addressing the Church of England’s General Synod.
“Less than a year ago I set out my concerns about the terrible impact of homophobic bullying on the lives of young people and I made a public commitment to support our schools in eradicating homophobic stereotyping and bullying….
++Welby says on the CofE website:
[blockquote] “Less than a year ago I set out my concerns about the terrible impact of homophobic bullying on the lives of young people” [/blockquote]
That is laudable. But what about other sorts of bullying? There is a great deal of bullying goes on in English schools (like all schools) for many reasons. The singling out of bullying on the grounds of homosexuality in this way is likely to make perpetrators believe that bullying on other grounds is okay. That is a very serious matter, and one would hope that ++Welby gives very serious attention to the perceptions that he may be creating.
++Welby then says something that is very good, and if he had stuck by this principle, there would be no problem:
[blockquote] “Church schools begin from the belief that every child is loved by God. This guidance aims to help schools express God’s love by ensuring that they offer a safe and welcoming place for all God’s children.” [/blockquote]
Unfortunately, it appears that ++Welby departs from this principle in a number of ways, and that the church of England website has been less than frank about this. The newspaper the Telegraph carries additional information about what ++Welby is pushing in CofE schools, which for reasons best known to himself, have not been reported on his website:
[blockquote] “The document sent to all CofE schools, says primary school pupils should be taught about same-sex relationships as a basic “fact of people’s lives”.
It adds that church primary schools should draw up policies specifically recognising the needs of transgender pupils.
Meanwhile older children who decide to come out are to be given “unequivocal support” from teachers and chaplains.
Secondary school children should, it adds, be given frank information to help them to “explore their identity”.” [/blockquote]
See: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/10825796/Welby-tells-Church-schools-to-teach-respect-for-gay-and-lesbian-relationships.html
This raises serious questions as to:
• What ++Welby really believes, and whether what he says on his website is reliable.
• What the bishops of the Church of England really believe.
• Whether Christian parents should be sending their children to CofE schools.
If you cut through all the blather I think it is clear that Welby has no principled difficulty with same-sex sex. If he could drag the C of E into full acceptance with no repercussions in the Communion he would do so.
[i]I think it is clear that Welby has no principled difficulty with same-sex sex[/i]
Exactly. If COE schools [and Christian schools in general] actually followed God’s plan for mankind, then any bullying one would see could be addressed by the most basic moral teachings in scripture. Every time I hear ++Welby addressing some issue, I think of the crystal clarity of ++Okoh, ++Wabukala, and ++Ntgali. Those three bishops don’t have to twist themselves into rehtorical pretzels to talk about their faith. They speak in true faith and all conviction. How sad that that is such a novel thing from high level clerics.