800 teachers, parents and students packed the hall of Christian school in Brisbane on Monday night in an overwhelming show of support for the future of faith in Christian schools.
Groves Christian College hosted the first town hall event in a series of rallies organised in response to controversial recommendations released by the Australian Law Reform Commission. If the Government accepts these recommendations, Christian schools would be restricted in their ability to hire staff who share their beliefs.
In a show of unity and commitment, 35 schools from Queensland were represented in the packed auditorium, with buses bringing supporters from as far as Chinchilla and Hervey Bay. The highlight of the event was the sharing of personal stories about the life-changing impact of the faith of teachers and staff on the lives of students and their families.
Political representatives from all parties were invited and four Liberal MPs and Senators attended, with Senator Henderson (Shadow Minister for Education) and Senator Paul Scarr addressing the crowd. No Government MPs or Senators were able to attend.
Speaking from the stage, AACS Executive Officer Vanessa Cheng said, “By your overwhelming presence here tonight, you are sending a clear message to our political representatives that we are opposed to any changes to the law that restrict our ability to continue operating as genuine communities of faith.”
Alistair Macpherson, Executive Director of Associated Christian Schools, said “Faith is for all of life. You cannot segregate faith into compartments, or areas, or times in a day. It’s why our schools have come to value a faith that’s lived, not just agreed to.”
The next town hall event will take place in Sydney on 6 May followed by Perth on 8 May.
Christian Schools Australia Director of Public Policy Mark Spencer said “Hundreds of people have already registered and we hope to sell out these auditoriums once again. We also hope that Government MPs and Senators will be able to join us and hear about the value of the Christian faith of our teachers and staff.”
For more information and to register for the events: mychristianschool.au/events.
ENDS
My Christian School and the Faith In Our Future events are the initiatives of Associated Christian Schools, the Australian Association of Christian Schools and Christian Schools Australia.
For all media enquiries
Vanessa Cheng, Australian Association of Christian Schools, 0416 244 372
Alistair Macpherson, Associated Christian Schools, 0401 365 776
Mark Spencer, Christian Schools Australia, 0419 419 224
About the Associations
Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) represents over a hundred independent Christian schools in every state and territory across Australia, ranging from very small to large; urban to regional, rural and remote. The majority of member schools are non-denominational with a protestant heritage and are governed by parent associations with over 44,000 students enrolled from a wide variety of socio-economic, cultural and religious backgrounds.
Associated Christian Schools (ACS) represents over 45 independent Christian Schools throughout Queensland. With over 30,000 students attending member schools, this represents approximately 20% of the independent school students in Queensland. Whilst each of our member schools are independently governed, they choose to collaborate together through ACS, for the purpose of delivering high quality Christian education for the common good.
Christian Schools Australia (CSA) is the largest association of Christian schools in the country and has member schools educating over 86,000 students and employing more than 13,500 staff at more than 200 locations across Australia. CSA member schools provide caring and compassionate education within an authentic Christian learning community.
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