Sydney Christian school slaps down anti-gay parents: 'Love is not an optional extra'
A Sydney Christian school is being lauded for its public response to complaints from families about homosexual teachers.
Kambala Anglican girls school school council president Sally Herman in Sydney took an unorthodox approach to two letters complaining about the influence of gay teachers on their daughters.
Instead of responding individually, Ms Herman decided to write an open letter to the entire school community, Fairfax Media reports.
"In recent days, two families have stridently expressed their displeasure at Kambala for, in their opinion, not living up to our Christian values by hiring and retaining teachers who are gay,” Ms Herman wrote.
"At the core of their displeasure is a concern that their daughters may be exposed to messages or values that they do not personally agree with."
News Corp reports Ms Hermann invoked scripture in her response, including a quote from Corinthians and insisting, “love is not an optional extra” at Kambala.
“We practice love even when it is hard to do. We take the command of Christ seriously when He said, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself”, she wrote.
She went on to quote the Bible, "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."
There does not appear to have been a response from the parents behind the original letters by Ms Herman has had no shortage of support from around the country as news of her letter spreads.
The school principal Debra Kelliher told News Corp she stood behind her school president's comments.
“It’s about reminding people of our common humanity and that we are very much a contemporary, inclusive school and I hope the culture of our school reflects that,” Ms Kelliher said.
“This is 2016 and our parents are sophisticated and many of them work in places with strong diversity policies so they expect the school to respect the society our girls move in.”
According to Fairfax, one parent wrote online that she was shocked to learn there had been complaints about homosexual teachers when receiving Ms Herman’s letter.
"How disappointing that parents would complain about a person's sexual orientation. They don't speak for me. Well done Sally Herman."
A flood of similar sentiment has been flowing on social media as well as from experts who have applauded the principal for taking a stand against an attitude that had the potential to harm homosexual students.
Yahoo7 has contacted Kambala for comment.
News break – August 26
