Toowoomba school’s connection to college at centre of gender controversy

The college that made headlines this week after issuing a controversial gender identity and sexuality contract to parents, which has since been withdrawn, is one of four Queensland schools connected to the former Christian Outreach Centre.

Highlands Christian College was founded by the same group that established Citipointe Christian College – the school at the centre of the controversial contract issued to parents that stipulates homosexuality is “offensive” and students can be expelled if they do not identify as their birth gender.

A Brisbane school that sparked national controversy for likening homosexuality to bestiality in its now withdrawn contracts to the parents of students, is one of four Queensland schools connected to the International Network of Churches.

Citipointe Christian College came under fire this week after it issued a contract to parents which stated students could be expelled if they did not identify with their birth gender.

Additionally, the updated enrolment contract which has now been withdrawn, required parents to sign the document before their children returned to school, also branded homosexuality as “sinful, offensive and destructive” and grouped it with paedophilia, incest and bestiality.

The new enrolment contract issued by Citipointe Christian College which requires a parent’s signature before their children return to the school.

It also stated that marriage and sexual intimacy should only be between a biological man and woman and outlined the school’s anti-abortion and anti-euthanasia stance.

The document has since been withdrawn by the school.

The other schools connected to the INC – Toowoomba’s Highlands Christian College, the Sunshine Coast’s Suncoast Christian College and Gympie’s Victory College – have declined to comment on the controversy.

“Citipointe Christian College is one of International Network of Churches’ schools established for religious purposes,” an INC spokeswoman said.

“The College understands from media reporting that a referral has been made to the Non State Schools Accreditation Board.

“The College will work with the Board to respond to any concerns the Board may raise.

“It is not appropriate for other colleges to comment on the circumstances concerning the Citipointe matter. Each of the colleges within INC are separately accredited with the NSSAB.”

It is not suggested that any of the other three schools ever issued a contract like Citipointe’s to parents.

Highlands Christian College was founded by the same group that established Citipointe Christian College – the school at the centre of the controversial contract issued to parents that stipulates homosexuality is “offensive” and students can be expelled if they do not identify as their birth gender.

Citipointe Church, which runs the school at the centre of the controversy, was the founding church of the Christian Outreach Centre in the 1970s.

The organisation has since changed its name to International Network of Churches, and lists more than 100 affiliated churches across Australia.

Schools in Brisbane, Toowoomba and the Sunshine Coast were initially named under the Christian Outreach College banner but have since changed their names to Citipointe, Highlands and Suncoast respectively.

Highlands Christian College was started by the Highlands Church, which was formerly known as Christian Outreach Centre Toowoomba.

Citipointe Christian College in Brisbane’s southeast, is linked to Toowoomba’s Highlands Christian College. Picture: Richard Walker

On Thursday morning, the college principal Pastor Brian Mulheran confirmed he had withdrawn the enrolment contract issued to families on January 28.

“We deeply regret that some students feel that they would be discriminated against because of their sexuality or gender identity, and I apologise to them and their families on behalf of the College,” he said.

“As stated previously, the College does not and will not discriminate against any student because of their sexuality or gender identity.

“It is central to our faith that being gay or transgender in no way diminishes a person’s humanity or dignity in God’s eyes.

“It is also deeply distressing that some of our students have been vilified in the community simply for their religious beliefs or because they attend the College.

“I hope that by withdrawing the contract we can return all of our focus to the Christian education of our students as we begin this new year.”

Mr Mulheran said he thanked the families, students and staff who had continued to support the school.

“Every individual is created equal in the image of God and should be treated with compassion, love, kindness, respect and dignity – this will continue to be at the heart of our College and help us to come together again as a community.

“Our society gives freedom to people to be a part of groups with shared beliefs. Citipointe has the freedom to maintain its Christian ethos and this is an essential part of Christian education and choice for parents.

“As a College established for religious purposes, we will continue to provide an education based on our shared beliefs.”

Citipointe Christian College principal Pastor Brian Mulheran.

Following the Citipointe controversy, more than 139,000 people signed a petition demanding the college recall the amended enrolment contract.

“We believe that any form of sexual immortality (including but not limited to; adultery, fornication, homosexual acts, bisexual act, incest, paedophilia and pornography) is sinful and offensive to God and is destructive to human relationships and society,” the Citipointe Christian College document states.

“We believe that life is created at conception. We believe that every life is sacred and every person has a right to life from the first moment of conception through to the natural end of life.

“To take life within the womb or the hasten the end of life through euthanasia is against the word of God.”