On Monday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, received a petition urging the Church of England to remove its controversial transgender orientation for primary schools.
The petition, which has garnered more than 15,000 signatures, calls on the Church of England to reconsider Value All God’s Children (VAGC), its guidance which holds that children as young as 5 should be affirmed in the opposite sex. if they identify with according to the London-based Christian Legal Center (CLC) which started the petition in October.
CLC has helped a number of people in the UK to obtain legal representation against the Church of England regarding alleged discrimination based on their beliefs about sexuality and gender.
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The petition boxes were dropped off at Lambeth Palace, the London seat of Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby.
(Christian concern)
A spokesman for the Church of England told Fox News Digital that VAGC “is intended to be a document to prevent bullying so that all children have their dignity.”
“This, along with all our policies and guidance documents, is regularly reviewed in light of updated legislation and government guidance,” the spokesperson continued, adding that the petition cited an earlier version of the guidance that was “out of date.” “.
Lay members of the General Synod, from left, Ben John and Rebecca Hunt, and Christian Fathers Nigel and Sally Rowe.
(Christian concern)
In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, CLC cited page 20 of the most recent 2019 guidance, which reads in part: “In creating a school environment that promotes dignity for all and a call to live full lives as exceptionally gifted, students will be equipped to accept difference of all varieties and will be supported to accept their own gender identity or sexual orientation and that of others.
“To do this, it will be essential to provide curricular opportunities where differences are explored, same-sex relationships, same-sex parenting, and transgender issues can be mentioned as a fact of life for some people.” , continue the guide.
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Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby before delivering his Easter sermon on April 17, 2022 in Canterbury, England.
(Holly Adams/Getty Images)
“Children should have the freedom to explore the possibilities of who they could be without [judgment] or ridicule,” the guidance also stipulates, adding that “children must be freed from the expectation of permanence.”
VAGC, which the petition described as “deeply damaging and wrong”, applies to tens of thousands of pupils in more than 4,800 UK primary schools associated with the Church of England.
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The petition was brought to Welby by Isle of Wight parents Nigel and Sally Rowe, who were awarded £22,000 in legal costs in September when they sued after an unnamed Church of England primary school accused their 6-year-old son of being “transphobic.” if he wouldn’t believe that his male classmate is a girl.
UK parents Nigel and Sally Rowe have taken legal action against their country’s Department for Education after a school labeled their young son ‘transphobic’.
(Christian concern)
Rowes’ legal victory prompted the UK Department for Education to commit to reforming its gender guide for students. A Church of England spokesperson told Fox News Digital that “we will engage in that consultation and review VAGC in light of that process.”
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“The Church of England must urgently [recognize] the significant concerns that so many parents have about the dangers of transgender ideology in our schools,” Rowes said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
The Rowes went on to reference Matthew 18:6, in which Jesus warns against causing little children to “stumble.”
“Therefore, we all have a responsibility before God to protect our children, especially church leaders,” Rowes added.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby speaks during a service of prayer and reflection for Queen Elizabeth II at St Paul’s Cathedral in London on September 9, 2022, one day after her death at the age of 96.
(Paul Childs/Pool/AFP)
Benjamin John, who serves as a lay member of the Church of England General Synod, echoed Rowes, issuing a statement obtained by Fox News Digital that read in part: “Children need to hear that we don’t need to believe the lies in the culture or ourselves that we need to change our bodies or get involved in whatever we feel we want.
The petition comes as the Church of England prepares for its General Synod in February, when clergy are expected to vote on the issue of same-sex marriage, which six bishops publicly affirmed in November.
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Leading Church of England clergymen fell silent recently in response to a sermon from the pulpit at Trinity College, Cambridge, during which a junior researcher preached during Evesong about the “trans body” of Jesus Christ and compared the wound in his side to a vagina
