Access Ministries has distanced itself from the distribution of a Biblezine at the centre of a controversy which has led to restrictions on religious education volunteers in Victorian schools.

The Biblezine

In 2013, a Biblezine containing material which goes against Education Department guidelines was distributed at Torquay College as a graduation present at a Christmas presentation.

The US-based Biblezines contain passages of New Testament text and other Christian material. The particular Biblezine at the centre of this controversy reportedly offered dating advice to teenagers around what they wore and who to date, including the instruction not to date anyone of the same sex.

When it came to light the Biblezine had been distributed, the Victorian Department of Education commissioned Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PWC) to conduct an independent report into the incident.

The ABC reports PWC found Access Ministries was in breach of a number of regulations. The report states:

“The content and distribution of the Biblezines is inconsistent with the relevant Volunteer Agreement and Team Leader’s Guide; the Education and Training Reform Act 2006; and the Department’s School Policy and Advisory Guide (SPAG), Supporting Sexual Diversity in Schools Policy and Human Resources Policy on Same-sex Attracted Employees.”

Not long after the incident came to light, Access Ministries wrote on its website:

“We understand that for a number of years the combined Churches of Torquay have generously donated Bibles to those students graduating from the ACCESS ministries Christian Religious Education (CRE) program, this was done with the permission of the Principal. Children can only attend CRE with parental consent.

In 2013, for reasons we are still investigating, this alternative material was distributed to a small number of students in error.

ACCESS ministries want to make it clear it did not authorise the distribution of this material. The ACCESS ministries CRE agreed curriculum teaches the basic beliefs of the Christian faith and does not stray into areas of sexuality at all.”

Today Access Ministries has released a statement claiming the organisation has been denied access to the report and has put in a Freedom of Information Request.

The statement reiterates ACCESS ministries didn’t approve the distribution of the Biblezines, and that someone didn’t follow Departmental or ACCESS policies, but doesn’t name who that someone is.

As a result of the PWC report, CRE volunteers in Victoria can no longer attend Christmas presentations and must only be present at schools for SRI classes.

At the same time, Access Ministries has threatened legal action against the parents’ activist group ‘Fairness in Religion in Schools’ (FIRIS) after it posted samples of the ACCESS Ministries curriculum on its website. ACCESS claims it is a breach of copyright.

“We are very disappointed to see this clear breach of copyright law,” says the statement. “In line with our rights under law we have asked that the material be removed within 21 days. We feel that no one is above the law and that this obvious breach by FIRIS required a response by us. If our reasonable request to remove the material is complied with, no further action will need to be taken.

“An overview and samples of CRE material are made available on our website for parents to review as they choose to enrol a child in the CRE program. There is a small cost involved in purchasing materials when children enrol.”