The Rationalist Society of Australia is seeking answers from New South Wales education minister Prue Car about a Christian group’s promotion of proselytising in a public school.

In June, Scripture Union published a video on its social media in which two senior students talk about how they urge other students, including non-Christians, to take part in lunchtime religious activities. The RSA has chosen not to name the school publicly.

The state’s Department of Education has an explicit policy banning proselytising for ‘voluntary student activities of a religious nature’ in schools – such as lunchtime activities.

In the Scripture Union video, one student says: 

“We go around to the juniors, we talk to them about what lunchtime group is and that they should be coming to it, regardless of whether they are Christian or not. I think it’s really good for the girls to come and it’s really insightful to, I guess, question their own beliefs and get to know who Jesus is…”

Another student says:

“Being year 12 girls we are the oldest there. We’ve got that responsibility and also that passion to spread the word to younger girls as well, and also inspire them to keep coming, just as we have been.”

In a letter to Minister Car (pictured) last month, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman asked her what steps the Department of Education had taken against Scripture Union as a consequence of its contravention of the prohibition on proselytising in public schools.

Mr Gladman also asked her to provide information about the processes the department uses to monitor and ensure compliance with the prohibition.

In the days since the RSA sent the letter to Minister Car, Scripture Union has removed the video from its Facebook page.

The RSA also submitted a complaint with the Department of Education.

Scripture Union’s website says about 2000 students participate in its 140 lunchtime groups operating each week in New South Wales’ public schools.

Scripture Union also sends missionaries into public schools to instruct children in Christian dogma as part of the Special Religious Education (SRE) program, which interrupts the normal learning time of large and increasing majorities in many schools.

As reported by the RSA in 2023, the Minns government has ruled out reforming SRE in line with Victoria, where it was moved to outside class time.

Minister Car has previously dismissed the RSA’s concerns about the teaching of creationism, anti-evolution content and hellfire in SRE classes.

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Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.