A UK-based Christian rights group, Christian Concern, has laid into an attempt by the Church of England to reduce bullying in school. The Church campaign, titled Flourishing for All, aims to set a framework that addresses bullying while attempting to uphold the dignity and compassion due to all children. However, Christian Concern characterises this new guidance as ‘woke indoctrination’ that replaces biblical principles with progressive ideologies.
Christian Concern’s statement would have it that the framework laid out in Flourishing for All encourages children to explore aspects of their identity, including gender and sexual orientation, which they believe conflicts with Christian ethics, despite the fact that Jesus never once mentioned sexuality.
In an official statement, Andrea Williams, chief executive of Christian Concern, expressed her profound disapproval. Oh no! She reckons that the guidance continues to reflect a troubling trend within the Church of England where, according to her, the emphasis on secular ideologies has eroded the Church’s commitment to biblical morality. Williams was particularly vocal about her concerns over the legal implications of the guidance, especially sections that instruct chaplains to be cautious when discussing traditional Christian views on gender and sexuality, potentially labelling them as non-mainstream perspectives.
The Church of England has defended its guidance as being in line with biblical principles. A spokesperson explained that the guidance promotes a clear biblical approach to bullying prevention, grounded in the belief that all children are made in God’s image. They argue that the requirements outlined in the guidance comply with the Equality Act 2010, which aims to protect against discrimination and harassment based on a variety of characteristics, including sexual orientation and gender identity.
The Church of England’s report shows a commitment to safeguarding all students. This includes emphasising that discrimination or victimisation is illegal, whatever the circumstances surrounding a child’s gender identity. However, Christian Concern – which gets itself in a sweat over such dangerous anti-biblical phenomena as drag queens – interprets this framework as one that restricts authentic expressions of faith and could stifle Christian educators from conveying their beliefs on sexuality openly. In short, it might prevent them from being as bigoted as they would like, despite no word from Jesus on the subject while his teachings on love and acceptance and not judging are clear.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-group-accuses-cofe-of-pushing-woke-indoctrination.html – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://education.christianconcern.com/resources/responding-to-flourishing-for-all-anti-bullying-guidance/ – Christian Concern critiques the Church of England’s ‘Flourishing for All’ anti-bullying guidance, arguing it promotes ‘woke indoctrination’ over biblical principles. They claim the guidance introduces critical theory and intersectionality, diverging from a Christian worldview. The document’s approach to human flourishing, they argue, encourages children to explore aspects of their protected characteristics, including sexual and gender identity, which they believe contradicts Christian ethics. The group also contends that the guidance fails to uphold biblical morality in Church of England schools, citing concerns over its alignment with secular ideologies.
- https://christianconcern.com/news/church-of-england-responds-to-pressure-to-scrap-schools-guidance/ – Christian Concern reports on the Church of England’s response to calls for scrapping its ‘Valuing All God’s Children’ (VAGC) guidance. The Church defends the guidance, stating it does not support affirming children in the opposite gender and does not use the language of affirmation. However, Christian Concern highlights instances where the guidance has been used to discredit Christians who hold traditional views on gender and sexuality, suggesting a disconnect between the Church’s stance and the experiences of its members.
- https://www.churchtimes.co.uk/articles/2024/4-october/news/uk/updated-anti-bullying-guidance-aims-to-protect-freedom-of-expression-in-church-schools – The Church Times reports on the Church of England’s updated anti-bullying guidance, ‘Flourishing for All,’ which includes advice on supporting gender-questioning pupils. The guidance replaces the acronym LGBT+ with LGB/GQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual/Gender Questioning) to align with the Keeping Children Safe in Education (KCSiE) 2024 document. It emphasizes balancing freedom of expression with protecting students from harmful viewpoints, aiming to create a safe environment for all pupils, including those questioning their gender identity.
- https://christianconcern.com/comment/new-cofe-guidance-still-in-thrall-to-trans-ideology/ – Christian Concern critiques the Church of England’s ‘Flourishing for All’ anti-bullying guidance, arguing it aligns with transgender ideology and suppresses traditional Christian views on gender and sexuality. They express concern that the guidance could lead to the silencing of Christian teachings in schools, as it prohibits ‘polarised debates’ and deems certain viewpoints as unacceptable. The group calls for revisions to ensure the guidance supports both the protection of children from bullying and the expression of traditional Christian beliefs.
- https://christianconcern.com/news/parents-fury-as-cofe-school-accused-of-secret-trans-indoctrination/ – Christian Concern reports on parents accusing a Church of England school of secretly promoting transgender ideology to children. The parents allege that the school’s use of the ‘Valuing All God’s Children’ guidance led to the introduction of materials normalizing same-sex relationships and gender identity concepts to young students without parental consent. They argue that this approach contradicts their Christian beliefs and the Church’s teachings, calling for a review and withdrawal of the guidance to prevent further indoctrination.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
7
Notes:
Narrative refers to recent developments about ‘Flourishing for All’ guidance and includes updated terminology (LGB/GQ). No clear indication of being outdated. No direct evidence of content being recycled, but topics of faith and identity are recurring themes in UK media. Not identified as a press release.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes attributed to Andrea Williams and a CofE spokesperson. While exact wording matches coverage from Christian Concern and Church of England channels, earliest references are not specified. The narrative contains recent statements from involved parties, suggesting originality or first reporting in this context.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
Narrative originates from Christian Post, a niche but longstanding Christian news site. While not a national mainstream outlet, it covers faith issues but may lack the broad editorial rigour of leading publications. Statements attributable to named individuals and organisations lend credibility.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
Claims about the Church of England’s guidance and related controversies are plausible and align with ongoing debates in UK education and faith sectors. No implausible claims detected. Changes in terminology and legal context are verifiable and reflect current trends.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is current, quotes are attributed, and claims are plausible and consistent with recent developments. Reliability is supported by named sources, though the outlet is niche. No major factual issues detected.
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