The principal of a Queensland religious school interrogated students about whether they knew a teacher was living with her boyfriend, amid concerns the teacher’s “lifestyle” went against its “biblical moral standards”.
Guardian Australia has seen emails and other information confirming that the principal of Livingstone Christian college, Stephen Wilson, launched an investigation into an allegation the teacher had breached her contract by telling a class that she was unmarried and lived with her partner.
The English teacher resigned soon after, saying she felt unable to remain at the school.
The college at Ormeau on the Gold Coast, attended by 1,300 students, has a “statement of faith” similar to the values document that created controversy at Citipointe Christian college earlier this year.
The document describes sexual activity outside heterosexual marriage as “immorality”, and includes anti-trans provisions.
“Marriage is the only context in which human sexuality is to be expressed and in which sexual intimacy is to be experienced,” it said.
The teacher said she was aware the school had a lifestyle document for employees, relating to its Christian values.
But she said she was not asked about her private life when she was hired, more than a year earlier. Nor was she ever told that her private personal relationships would have any bearing on her employment.
Earlier this year, the teacher was summoned to a face-to-face meeting with Wilson. During the meeting, the principal said a family had alleged that the teacher had told a class she lived with her boyfriend, and asked students to keep that information confidential. She denied ever making such a statement to her class.
Wilson then asked the teacher directly about her current relationship status.
The teacher immediately left the meeting and asked Wilson to put the question in writing.
In a subsequent email, Wilson detailed the complaint he said had been made by the parent of a student. He did not repeat in writing the direct question about the teacher’s relationship status.
“It is alleged that you informed the class you were living with your boyfriend, told the class you didn’t think there was anything wrong with that position, and requested confidentiality from the class,” the email said.
In a subsequent email confirming the investigation was closed, Wilson said he had interviewed students in the class who had no recollection of the incident.
“The parent [who complained] is a Christian seeking to raise her child in a Christian school that supports biblical moral standards and was concerned that her child was being exposed to alternative views.
“I understand and support the parent’s views both as a parent and a principal, and Christian Community Ministries schools seek to eliminate this problem through employment contracts which require staff to sign a lifestyle clause which commits to living in support of biblical morals.
“Based on this report I sought to verify these allegations by interviewing some students.
“No student could recall anything of this nature (including the student from whom the allegation came).”
Wilson closed his investigation, but the teacher said she felt unable to remain at the school.
“I was absolutely horrified at the thought my personal life was any of [the school’s] business,” she told the Guardian.
Religious schools are allowed to discriminate under Queensland law in circumstances where it is a “genuine occupational requirement” for the person to “act in a way consistent with the employer’s beliefs”.
The Queensland Human Rights Commission has recommended an overhaul of the law, which operates in a “don’t ask, don’t tell” fashion. A religious organisation can discriminate against an employee based on their actions, but not their inherent characteristics or private relationship status.
Guardian Australia sought comment from Wilson and the school’s umbrella body, Christian Community Ministries. Neither responded to questions.
