Renewed calls for Queensland religious instruction in schools review after ‘horrific’ comments

Education advocates and experts have come out swinging after a Brisbane church volunteer’s comments about using Queensland’s religious instruction policies to “disciple” state school children.

Ex-principals have lashed a Brisbane church volunteer’s comments about using controversial religious instruction to “harvest” state school children and “disciple them afterwards”.

The comments have reignited calls for Queensland to follow other states’ example and review religious instruction policies in state schools.

Video footage obtained by The Courier-Mail showed Citipointe Church West members discussing going into Brisbane schools and using the program as an “amazing mission field”.

The video, taken in March 2021, filmed the church’s pastor Tim McDonald speaking to a religious instruction volunteer referred to as Cecile.

Citipointe Church West pastor Tim McDonald and religious instruction volunteer discussing the controversial RI program. Source: Supplied.

In the video, the volunteer said she had been “teaching” religious instruction at several schools in the Inala area, including Middle Park and Jindalee state schools.

“Like we pray, we go to church, we do things. It’s almost like having a church in the school system,” the volunteer said.

“ … You can have a potential to harvest hundreds for the Lord. And disciple them afterwards.

“And it’s only just the beginning. There are many other schools just in the Inala area, that’s waiting to have a program as well.”

Teachers Professional Association Queensland secretary Tracy Tully, also a highly experienced principal, said she was “appalled, as an educator”.

“I’m sickened, absolutely sickened,” she said.

“The problem is that they are not educating kids, they are indoctrinating kids.

“Queensland has an arrogant approach, they are not listening to everyone and not having equitable consultation, they have their blinkers on.

“The proper way to do it is for teachers to be teaching a religious instruction curriculum that serves all.”

TPAQ state secretary Tracy Tully – also a highly experienced Queensland teacher and principal. Photo: Zak Simmonds

Southern Cross University School of Education Associate Professor David Zyngier – a former Victorian public school teacher and principal – said he was “horrified” to read the church comments, “but not surprised”.

“These kinds of comments are familiar to me from campaigns in early 2000s that led to removal of special religious instruction in classrooms in Victorian public schools,” he said.

“Similar comments are made in New South Wales as well where special religious instruction is compulsory in public schools, unless parents opt out.

“Western Australia never had special religious instruction in public schools, and South Australia has moved away from it.”

Queensland Teachers’ Union president Cresta Richardson said she believes religious instruction in state schools should be opt-in, and delivered outside of school hours.

“Any organisation offering RI should be approved by the Department of Education. Approval should not be the responsibility of school leaders,” she said.

“Queensland students deserve curriculum formulated and taught by education professionals with the appropriate training and accreditation.”

QTU president Cresta Richardson has called for the state’s religious instruction policies in public schools to change. Photo: Supplied.

Associate Professor Zyngier has a theory why Queensland is resisting making religious instruction policies stricter, like Victoria.

“My hypothesis is that Queensland is more religious than other states,” he said.

“We can see that in the growing numbers of Queensland children being withdrawn from public schools to be homeschooled.

“Evidence shows a greater number of parents indicate they are homeschooling because they are not happy with religious instruction in Queensland public schools.”

Associate Professor Zyngier said school curriculums are already jam-packed and questioned whether the hour or so allocated to religious instruction could be better used.

“If parents want their kids to have religious instruction they can do it at home, or in a church or synagogue or temple, or they can pay to send their child to a religious school,” he said.

“Our classroom curriculum is very crowded and to give up an hour minimum each week for something that should not be in our public schools because they are meant to be secular – this takes away valuable teaching time.”

A spokesperson from the Citipointe Church Brisbane’s head office denied the use of the word “harvesting” in the video as it was “not a faith word”.

The spokesperson suggested the word may have been “mispronounced” as there “could be religious terminology that would include the word harvest”.

Despite the woman being introduced by Mr McDonald as a member of the church congregation, the Citipointe spokesperson said they had “no affiliation with Citipointe Church”.

“We believe that RI is a positive program for students to attend and parents have the decision as to whether their child attends,” the spokesperson said.

Pastor Tim McDonald at Citipointe Church West. Source: Facebook.

A Courier-Mail poll asked: “Would you let your state school child learn religious instruction?”

It attracted 3211 votes – 29 per cent voted “no”, 63 per cent said “yes”, and 8 per cent already had a child in a religious school.

Reader comments were varied.

Mara Henry: “Regular church goer here, but I don’t believe RI should be taught in school. Unless they are covering every single religion. Religion in my opinion is something that needs to be taught by families and then take the children to church if they wish. Teachers are flat out fitting in everything they are supposed to teach them in the day as it is, without taking time up from unqualified volunteers overtly biased.”

Nicholas Jackson: “You all need to understand those words from the Bible. Disciple – is someone learning the teaching of Jesus with the desire to follow the teaching. Harvest – in the Bible Jesus spoke of the ‘harvest’ as people who need help to understand God’s ways and are to grow to maturity as a harvest grows to maturity in the knowledge of God. Jesus taught to love enemies, forgive, do good to those who hate us, be obedient to parents, respect authority and much more. Is it bad to be discipled’ in that?”

Barry: “This is completely disturbing but not surprising. Schools need to focus on their core business which is the three Rs. If you want religion in your child’s life, then take them to church on Sunday, or pay for a private school.”

John: “Teachers are in front of children far more than RI visitors (and parents can opt-out their children from the latter) and, I would suggest, some indoctrinate their pupils with their own life views. What’s the problem with a religious person sharing their life-experience in the hope that the people they talk to will find similar fulfilment?”