Principal
The need to protect our RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
On Monday 19th November, I was a witness at the Senate Committee Hearing (Legal and Constitutional Affairs References Committee). I was speaking as a principal of a Christian school belonging to CSA (Christian Schools Australia) and the need for us to have religious freedom to be able to employ committed Christian staff. We want the right to be able to freely live out our faith in the context of Christian Education and therefore we need to employ committed Christian staff who model Christ and live out their values privately and publicly. We also need the right to be able to teach God’s Word and His design for living to our students. These are biblical values that have held society together for hundreds of years!
Unfortunately the hearing focused on gender/sexual identity issues. As Christians we don’t define ourselves in relation to any ‘label’ except the precious identity of being a child of God.
The whole process of releasing and publishing my Opening Statement (originally given ‘in camera’ – confidential) has been really drawn out and extremely disappointing, but it is now on HANSARD (public transcript of parliamentary debates/hearings). My answers in the QUESTION TIME are not being released (my request on legal advice).
I believe this is all a spiritual battle and a time where we as Christians need to stand firm in God’s Word and be unshakable in our convictions; be courageous in God’s strength; stand strong in a winsome and gentle way that is not judgemental; avoid ‘labels’; know our that our identity is in Jesus (not our gender/sex); make sure we take care of the wellbeing of all our students; continually praise God and be thankful in all the ‘mess’, so we are a positive witness for Jesus.
I love what Peter says in 1 Peter 3:15-16:
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.
We have a message of hope not based on judgement. We are beyond condemnation because of what Jesus did on the cross.
So how do we move forward?
2 Corinthians 2:6:
..continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
For your interest, for your information and for your prayer, this is my Opening Statement at the Senate hearing, Monday 19th November, 2018:
Thank you for your time today. I appreciate it’s been a long day for you all.
My name is Catriona Wansbrough and I am principal of St Andrews Christian College. I’m also on the State Council for CSA (Christian Schools Australia).
I have been a principal of 2 different Christian schools for a total of 16 years.
I am here because I am concerned about the misconceptions of Christian schools in the media.
I am concerned about the statement of why we are here today: Exemptions that allow faith- based educational institutions to discriminate against students, teachers and staff.
First of all, we don’t discriminate against students or want to discriminate against any student in any way – especially on the basis of their sexuality.
We have a non-threatening environment and our school is a safe place for everyone.
An active effort is made not to approve or disapprove of any student, because approval is conditional. It says, if you do this, I will like you; I will approve of you.
All students are accepted for who they are- that is, made in the image of God – but also unique in their different personalities, their religions, their cultures, their backgrounds, their gender and their sex. We care for and nurture every student.
Successful education is relational, and that’s how we deal with issues. Research by Relational Schools exhibit that Christian schools actually excel in this area.
When parents are interviewed for enrolment into the school (this is a get-to-know-you interview), I say to parents:
‘We are happy with you, but are you really happy and content with who we are as a school? We are a genuine Christian school where Christ is the foundation of everything that happens in the school. Faith is not compartmentalised. Religion is not a separate subject. Our faith affects every part of our life, our thoughts and our actions, and so it is in a Christian school, where Christ is foundational in every aspect of the College.’
I tell the parents: ‘We love Jesus so much that we will be praying that your child accepts Jesus as Lord in their life and becomes a Christian.’
I then ask: ‘How do you feel about that? Are you still happy to enrol your child at St Andrews?’
I often feel embarrassed for the family I’m interviewing, because I’m so full-on in their face about the Christian focus in the school, but it is better to be clear up front and let parents make an informed choice.
We love all the children whether they are Christian or not. Most young children adopt the faith of their parents, but as children grow, it is up to them to make that choice. Personal faith is a heart decision.
In interviewing prospective parents we also insist that people read and understand our STATEMENT OF FAITH.
This explains what we believe and what we teach at the school. I explain that they don’t have to agree with or believe what we believe. Even though we have a majority of Christians at the school, they don’t have to embrace what we embrace, but they have to understand we don’t change what we believe or teach to suit individuals. If their values and faith are so different to how we worship or how we live, it will be really difficult for the student to cope and it could cause difficulties at home, because there’s a conflict of values between home and school, when school is teaching this and home is teaching that. It becomes really difficult for students.
There is a choice in education! People don’t have to come to our school, but they’re actually coming in droves. We have long waiting lists. For next year, in 2019, we have nearly 200 students on the waiting list for Prep.
There are parents in our society who are desperate for a genuine Christian education for their child, where biblical truth is taught and Christian morals and values are upheld.
Teachers are in loco parentis – The Children Act 1989 states that the teacher is seen as a parent. This is driven by our parents. Parents want teachers to uphold the same values as what they have at home.
I am not sure whether you are aware of this, but there are many Christian families that are moving to authentic Christian schools because they are being discriminated against in public schools. These are families who were committed to public education, but because of programs like Safe Schools and because they’re not able to express their faith freely, they can no longer support public education.
As an educationalist, I find this is wrong! It is polarising our society!
We’re looking at the differences rather than the commonality, in the care for all our children, whoever they are.
To be a genuine Christian school you need committed Christian staff who model and demonstrate the reality of the gospel by the way they live; who are people that love Jesus; who are passionate about education and their area of expertise and specialty.
The employment process is a self-select one. We are up-front in all our information, policies and forms, that it is an inherent requirement to be a committed Christian to teach at our school and to be a staff member of the school, even for our gardener and office staff - because staff model that faith.
Education is not just about head knowledge; it’s whole education and it’s who you are. We have staff who walk-the-talk, not just in their words but in their actions.
For Christian staff working at St Andrews Christian College it’s seen not just as a job but as a vocation. I have many testimonies to support this. You’re all welcome to come to our school and talk with people yourself.
Each year in July, I put out a form to all staff to see their desires and requests for the following year, but I also ask the question: ‘Do you still feel called to be at St Andrews Christian College?’
Also on this form is a clear Statement of Faith that people sign. We just have passionate staff and we have passionate families who desire a Christian education, and we need the freedom to do that!
Threatening the viability of faith-based schools, we believe, is an attack on the basic human rights of people of faith in Australia.
If we take away the right of teachers and staff to teach according to their Christian faith, how can we be really free in this country?
Catriona Wansbrough
Principal
St Andrews Christian College
Christmas Blessings to you all!
Thanks friends for a wonderful year at St Andrews; for your support and your involvement in your child’s education.
Have a wonderful break over the holidays and a special Christmas with your friends/families.
Celebrating Jesus with you all as you prepare for and celebrate Christmas.
The words to the carol ‘Hark! The Herald Angels Sing’ written by Charles Wesley, beautifully presents the message we all need to hear:
Hail the heav’nly Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings,
Ris’n with healing in His wings.
Mild He lays His glory by,
Born that man no more may die.
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Hark! The herald angels sing,
Glory to the newborn King.
May you all know the joy and certainty of ‘the second birth’ this Christmas season.
Abundant blessings to you all,
Catriona