Bundaberg Christian College says staff will be sacked if they’re gay or don’t attend church

Staff rules at a Bundaberg school, which say teachers must attend church and express love through heterosexual marriages, echo the staff clauses of some Brisbane schools, which have been slammed by equity groups.

Equality groups have spoken out about a Christian school which requires staff to frequently and regularly attend church and express love only through heterosexual marriages.

Bundaberg Christian College (BCC) staff rules are published under ‘lifestyle clause’ on their website for people wishing to be employed at the college.

In Goodna, the Westside Christian College (WCC) staff rules came to light after it advertised on online jobs site Seek for a music teacher.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman weighed into the debate late on Thursday, May 26, saying the guidelines were “absolutely appalling’’.

The Bundaberg school specified that its teachers must follow a range of “lifestyle requirements’’.

They included regular attendance at a Christian church and relationships which were monogamous and heterosexual.

Bundaberg Christian College.

“It is a genuine occupational requirement (subject to the provisions of the Anti-Discrimination Act) of the College that, consistent with the Act, staff members must not act in a way that they know, or ought reasonably to know, is contrary to the religious beliefs of the College,” the rules said.

“Nothing in their deliberate conduct should be incompatible with the intrinsic character of their position, especially, but not only, in relation to the expression of human sexuality through heterosexual, monogamous relationships, expressed intimately through marriage.

“Staff are required to regularly and frequently attend a Christian church.

“Staff are encouraged to regularly and frequently support Staff Devotions and Staff Worship Services but this is not included in hours of duty.

“Where any staff member acts contrary to these lifestyle requirements, the Principal may attempt restoration, counsel, discipline and dismiss the employee.”

A section in the Commonwealth’s Sex Discrimination Act states it is not unlawful for religious bodies and ‘educational institutions established for religious purposes to discriminate against people in certain circumstances on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation or gender identity.

The BCC guidelines went on to state that if staff members acted contrary to those clauses, “the Principal may attempt restoration, counsel, discipline and dismiss the employee.”

Bundaberg Christian College Principal Paul Thompson.

The school was contacted for comment.

Parents and students were expected on May 26, to file discrimination complaints with the Queensland Human Rights Commission about Carindale’s Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane.

The College sparked opposition when families were asked to sign a contract saying their children must identify as their birth gender, or face exclusion from the school.

The contract also proclaimed beliefs that homosexuality and bisexuality were destructive to society, prompting then Prime Minister Scott Morrison, a devout Christian, to say he did not support the contract.

Principal Brian Mulheran later withdrew the contract and resigned.

The issue came to the fore when the former LNP Federal Government was forced to shelve its religious discrimination Bill in February this year after five LNP politicians crossed the floor to back changes from an independent.

The Australian Christian Lobby said the changes would have completely undermined the intent of the Bill, which she said was to allow faith-based schools to teach their religion and conduct their schools according to their faith values.

Bundaberg Christian College has a strict “lifestyle” clause for staff, including being in heterosexual relationships only and regular and frequent church-going.

Anna Brown, CEO of Equality Australia, said “these sorts of draconian contractual requirements’’ were out of step with contemporary Australia.

“They are also out of step with the vast majority of people of faith, who support and affirm LGBTIQ+ people,” Ms Brown said.

“Our hope is that the current review of Queensland anti-discrimination laws — and our incoming federal parliament — can deal with this injustice, at both a state and federal level, and ensure that teachers are not turned away or fired because they are gay or trans, or because their religious belief is supportive of LGBTQ+ people.”

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said she was “absolutely appalled to see these unacceptable and damaging requirements’’ in Westside Christian College staff guidelines.

“We have strong laws in place to protect Queenslanders against discrimination,’’ Ms Fentiman said.

“We introduced the Human Rights Act in 2020 and the Human Rights Commission is reviewing our Anti-Discrimination Act.

“The Commission will hand down their report in July and I am committed to ensuring our laws continue to protect and promote equality for our diverse communities.’’

The Australian Christian College Moreton was embroiled in controversy in 2020 when it threatened to exclude a Cook Islands/Niuean boy, Cyrus Taniela, at the time five years old, because his parents refused to cut his hair until a traditional ceremony performed at the age of seven.

Cyrus’ parents, who ironically like the school because they are deeply religious, successfully challenged the expulsion in the Queensland Civil and Administration Tribunal.

An appeal by the school is yet to be heard.

Cyrus is still at the school and his hair is still not cut, as Covid meant relatives have not been able to fly to Australia for the ceremony.