Pastor apologises over response to Colonel Light Gardens Primary student’s question on the Easter Bunny

A veteran Adelaide pastor has admitted he got it wrong in responding to primary school students who asked if the Easter Bunny was real.

Pastor Jason Hoet has apologised for his response after a primary school student asked if the Easter Bunny was real.

A veteran Adelaide pastor has been left with egg on his face after a question-and-answer session with primary school kids who asked if the Easter Bunny was real.

Unley Park Baptist Church lead Pastor Jason Hoet was giving an Easter seminar to Colonel Light Gardens Primary School’s Year 3-6 students on Tuesday when he was asked the big life question about the chocolate-bearing bunny.

The Pastor’s theologically accurate response prompted consternation among the young crowd – and left some families “disappointed and offended’’.

“They asked if the Easter Bunny was real, I responded … it was on the fly,’’ Pastor Hoet said.

“What we did, which we thought was a good idea at the time, was have a section to ask the pastor about Easter and anything you want in terms of faith.

“I was also asked if there was a devil and if Satan was real. I was concerned of the impact on that question.

“The other pastor said I fielded the question on Satan far better than I did on the Easter Bunny. I know exactly how to field the question now, but sadly it’s too late.”

Pastor Hoet said he explained to the children that the Easter Bunny’s origins stemmed from ancient religion, while the egg is a symbol of new life.

“I did go on to explain that the German Lutherans used to use the bunny as part of the way to teach children and the egg was the symbol of new life,” he said.

“(I told them) Greek Orthodox and Catholics still have painted eggs, but in the West we don’t tend to eat boiled eggs so people have made them into chocolate.”

Pastor Hoet has had four children attend the school over 14 years and had been heavily involved in the community and the school cricket club.

Unley Park Baptist Church lead pastor Jason Hoet.

Like the big query about Father Christmas, the Easter Bunny question is one every parent has to grapple with at some point, but Pastor Hoet says he is “embarrassed” at how he handled it.

“I think what my brain was going from a staff meeting with adults and I hadn’t clicked into being in the zone with little kids, so when they asked I gave them an answer,” he said.

In response to his bunny bungle, Pastor Hoet has withdrawn from future Christian presentations which he has been involved in at the school for the past five years.

In a statement provided to school families, he apologised for the pain he had caused.

“I appreciate why parents are disappointed and offended. Matters like these are a precious part of a child’s life which a family enjoys and is responsible for,” he wrote.

“I acknowledge my words have impacted both this joy and responsibility. This grieves me.

“In the 14 years my children attended CLG and 5 years of presenting Christmas and Easter seminars I have endeavoured to share the Christian story and be respectful to all ways of life.”

Pastor Hoet said he was open to speaking to families about the mistake.

Principal Liz Pelling said: “We have spoken to a number of parents about the heartfelt apology since, with comments ranging from appreciation for the apology to sympathy for the presenter.”

Editor’s note: And for the record, kids, of course the Easter Bunny is real!