Religious instruction Qld: Church’s language shows a blatant abuse of influence

The use of the word “harvest” by a Brisbane church member, referring to the hundreds of children it could “disciple” for the Lord, is a blatant abuse of influence, writes Kylie Lang.

A Freudian slip, of biblical proportions? I don’t think so. I’d call the use of the word “harvest” by a Brisbane church member, referring to the hundreds of children it could “disciple” for the Lord, a blatant abuse of influence.

While Education Queensland offers religious instruction in state schools it does not, publicly at least, endorse indoctrination.

Yet indoctrination is exactly what is described in video footage of Citipointe Church West members speaking of their involvement in several schools.

A volunteer describes her church’s school presence as an “amazing mission field” with “potential to harvest hundreds for the Lord, and disciple them afterwards”.

She talks about the many schools waiting for their program, saying “it’s only just the beginning”.

Of what, a subject called Evangelism 101?

Attempts by a Citipointe Church spokesman to deflect scrutiny can only be described as ridiculous.

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

The spokesman says the word “harvest” might have been “mispronounced”.

My ears work fine, and so do those of many others who are justifiably upset about this video and the message it sends.

Personally, I don’t have a problem with religious education in schools. And if your child attends a government school, that instruction is not mandatory. Parents can advise principals if they want their child withdrawn.

But I do take issue with “harvesting” young minds and changing the rules to suit agendas, no matter how fervently they are believed to be right.

The government website says state schools make available “up to one hour per week for the provision of religious instruction to students (except prep students) who are members of a faith group that has approval to deliver religious instruction at the school”.

It states “the background and beliefs of all students and staff” are respected by “not promoting, or being perceived as promoting, any particular set of beliefs in preference to another”.

Citipointe appears to have breached that stipulation.

And the church, which is affiliated with Citipointe Christian College, seems to have form in pushing a hardline stance.

Education Minister Grace Grace. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Last year the Carindale school, in Brisbane’s southeast, came under fire for an enrolment contract that asked parents to sign off on the college accepting students “only on the basis of the gender that corresponds to their biological sex” or face expulsion.

The then principal pastor Brian Mulheran attempted to justify the contract, including in a video in which he denied it was discriminatory.

As I wrote when the contract was scrapped – after some, but not all, school members complained and outsiders including the LGBTIQ+ community turned up the heat – the principal’s defence “didn’t stack up”.

And so it is again, with lame attempts to justify evangelising children in public schools. It just shouldn’t happen.

Education Minister Grace Grace needs to do more than provide The Courier-Mail – and Queenslanders – with a response that fails to address the Citipointe Church West video.

Instead of reiterating the spiel on the government website, she needs to investigate the matter.

Originally published as Religious instruction Qld: Church’s language shows a blatant abuse of influence