A prestigious private school south of Sydney has come under scrutiny as parents withdraw their children due to a controversial statement of faith that opposes same-sex marriage, which incoming staff must sign. The Illawarra Grammar School, run by the Sydney Anglican diocese, updated its statement of faith in 2019 to state that “faith produces obedience in accordance with God’s word, including sexual faithfulness in marriage between a man and a woman, and abstinence in all other circumstances.”
Incoming principals and council members at the 30 schools overseen by the diocese must sign the statement. Some parents have expressed their disapproval of the rule and are taking a stand against it. A submission by a parent to the school’s Parents & Friends Association last month argued that the policy contradicts the values of mainstream Australia and the community the school serves.
The parent wrote, “It is in full alignment with living Christian values to welcome and include all that are different, whether that difference is race, religion, marital status or sexual orientation.” They also noted that the policy could reduce the pool of candidates for staff positions, potentially impacting the school’s leadership.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the head of the school’s council sent a letter to parents this week, assuring them that their concerns would be addressed. Council chairman Anthony Okely stated that the school did not tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment.
Nadine Porter, the mother of a student at the school, told the Goulburn Post that she was withdrawing her daughter because the policy was discriminatory. A group of parents from another school run by the Sydney Anglican diocese, St Catherine’s in Waverley, also opposed the statement in May last year. The interim head at St Catherine’s has not had to sign the statement, and a new principal is expected to be appointed by 2025.