In this week’s update: Protest in the air within Australia’s Uniting Church, the UK primary school indoctrinating six-year-old children, and the Romanian Parliament votes to define marriage as union of a man and a woman.

Please read on…

Will the Uniting Church survive 2018 intact?

Protest is in the air at the Uniting Church of Australia (UCA) after its national assembly's decision to allow two distinct – and contradictory – views on marriage.

In July, the assembly resolved that the UCA would become the first major denomination in Australia to conduct same-sex “weddings” – while also allowing some parishes to only recognise man-woman marriage.

And while the decision, apparently made in order to “honour the diversity of Christian belief among its members”, has been welcomed by ABC journalists, the move has actually placed a wedge firmly down the middle of the church.

The ABC celebrated UCA’s first same-sex “wedding” on 21 September

Whether any full congregations leave the UCA or not over the inclusion of same-sex “marriage” within the life of the church is yet to be determined.

However, there has already been a significant protest move made – one that could determine the long-term future of the Uniting Church.

The protest, made in accordance with Clause 39 of the church’s constitution, allows the wider membership of the Uniting Church to stop the implementation of a decision and respectfully call for a wider consultation and review.

And that is exactly what is happening right now. Essentially, there is a call from several groups within the Uniting Church calling for the assembly’s decision to be reviewed and reversed.

Failure by the assembly to respect this call could lead to the fracturing of the Uniting Church.

UCA’s largest Church, Newlife on the Gold Coast, has already moved drop the word “Uniting” from its name.

And the Assembly of Confessing Congregations (ACC) is backing a call for the UCA to adopt “non-geographic presbyteries” (regional councils) which would allow evangelical churches that hold to traditional marriage only to band together.

ACC's move has widespread support, including from outside of the Uniting Church umbrella.

“The decisions of the Uniting Church National Assembly should be of grave concern to faithful Christians of all denominations,” said Sydney’s Anglican Archbishop Glenn Davies.

“On my behalf, Bishop Michael Stead has been in discussions with the leaders of the Assembly of Confessing Congregations and others.

“We urge them to stand firm in the face of a departure from the doctrine of Christ and compromise with the spirit of the world by the Synod of the Uniting Church.”

Only time will tell whether the Uniting Church can survive the year intact.

Many ministers and their congregants have already left the Uniting Church; and we suspect that only a complete reversal of the same-sex “marriage” decision will prevent thousands more doing the same in coming months.

Six-year-olds forced to write gay “love letters” in UK primary school

BBC Radio has shared a video of junior primary students being made to write “love letters” in response to a homosexual fairy tale.

“You’re Prince Henry,” says teacher Sarah Hopson, who sports a rainbow-coloured lanyard around her neck.

“You’re going to tell Thomas why it’s a brilliant idea for him to marry you.”

Video screenshot

The video explains that Thomas is Henry’s servant. It then goes on to explain that this school – Bewsey Lodge Primary School in Warrington – teaches children about LGBT relationships from an early age.

“Children are going to go out into that world and find this diversity around them, and they’ll find that at a young age as well,” says the teacher.

Bewsey Lodge appears to pride itself for pushing the envelope in promoting homosexuality and gender fluidity to young children. It has gender-neutral uniforms, and its website declares that “any form of homophobia, transphobia and biphobia is unacceptable.”

The school’s “Personal, Social, and Health Education” (PSHE) program calls for teaching about “sources of support and reassurance” for “diversity in sexual attraction and developing sexuality,” the “difference between sex, gender identity and sexual orientation,” recognition of “diversity in sexual attraction,” understanding “accepted terminology” on LGBT topics, the “need to challenge” “sexist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist language and behaviour,” and more.

What’s abundantly clear about this school’s ethos is the very narrow focus of its so-called “diversity” curriculum.

For example, where are the references to a student’s religious beliefs? Or even their ethnic background?

At the time of drafting this email, several key documents on the school’s website were not available. However, many of their online documents contained specific LGBT content.

The school’s anti-bullying policy, for example, is named “anti_bullying_policy_updated_for_lgbt_.docx”.

And the school’s “Creative Curriculum” page, named “PSHE, British Values, SMSC & LGBT+”, features a child’s work entitled “Is it OK to be gay?” and a video of Year 3 students learning about “what it means to be transgender”.

Example of a child's work displayed on the school website

The Australian Family Coalition, along with many other groups, warned of the serious consequences of redefining marriage – particularly when it comes to what our children are taught at school.

And with the UK redefining marriage only a few years before Australia, the indoctrination occurring at this UK school demonstrates exactly why we need to keep fighting for parental rights and religious freedom here in Australia.

Romania stands up for true marriage

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news.

In mid-September, Romanian senators voted to approve a constitutional change that would explicitly state that marriage is a union of a man and a woman only.

Their constitution currently states that marriage is a union between “spouses”, but senators overwhelmingly supported the positive change, voting 107-13 in favour of true marriage.

A senator for the ruling Social Democratic Party, Serban Nicolae, said the vote was a reflection of the country’s religious heritage. “We’ve been a Christian nation for 2,000 years,” he said.

Romania will hold a public referendum on the issue this month.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

The Australian Family Coalition

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