Parents outraged after church worker allegedly suggests gay students could face hell

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Parents outraged after church worker allegedly suggests gay students could face hell

Daily Mail · 3 hours ago

Parents at St Peters Lutheran College in Brisbane have expressed outrage after a guest speaker's chapel address allegedly suggested that gay students, and those who delayed converting to Christianity, could go to hell. Jonathan Vickers, a trainee gospel worker from St Lucia Bible Church, delivered the speech on 24 August, prompting distressed students to report the incident and parents to describe it as harmful to already anxious teenagers. The episode has raised concerns about the vetting of external speakers at faith-based schools and how such institutions balance religious teaching with student welfare.

Following complaints, the college sent parents three memos distancing itself from the remarks, with a co-ordinator stressing the school includes LGBTQ+ community members and that the intent behind the talk should be separated from its harmful impact. Vickers maintained his comments were taken out of context and that he had not targeted any specific group, saying all students were simply urged to repent and follow Jesus. The school's head, Tim Kotzur, said it regretted the distress caused and was reviewing its process for selecting external speakers, adding that faith should never be communicated through fear or shame.

  • Speaker's chapel talk implied gay students could go to hell
  • School sent parents memos distancing itself from the remarks
  • St Peters is now reviewing how it selects external speakers

World

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