Scripture Union Queensland (SU QLD) will again defend national school chaplaincy in the High Court of Australia this month, with the first directions hearing to be held in Sydney on 20 September.

Ron Williams, the man behind the High Court Challenge, announced on his Facebook page in August that a Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim had been issued to the Commonwealth of Australia (First Defendant), the Minister for Education (Second Defendant) and SU QLD (Third Defendant). At the time, however, SU QLD were unable to comment.

Today the organisation, which has 570 chaplains placed in 750 schools, has issued a statement, saying they will defend “the second attempt by a Toowoomba resident [Ron Williams] to prevent federal government funding for the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP).”

“Chaplains provide social, emotional, practical and spiritual support in Australian schools,” says SU QLD. “They work in prevention and support; helping students find a positive way to deal with issues ranging from relationship and social problems, family breakdown and loneliness to support through grief, natural disaster and personal tragedy.

“Hundreds of thousands of school children each year turn to their school chaplains for practical help, but also for the non-coercive spiritual element chaplains’ offer.”

In June 2012, the High Court ruled that funding for the school chaplaincy program—which offers schools up to $20,000 a year to introduce or extend chaplaincy services—was invalid as it exceeds the funding authority of the Commonwealth Government. The High Court dismissed a further ground put up by Williams that suggested the program violated religious freedom protected by the Constitution, unanimously declaring the chaplaincy program did not impact on religious freedom as chaplains were not employed or appointed by the Government.

The High Court decision impacted more than just the School Chaplains program, with programs constituting up to 10 per cent of the total Commonwealth funding, including overseas aid, education grants, drought assistance and infrastructure projects all affected. As a result, the Government introduced ’emergency legislation’ in Parliament last year to protect the programs, which was introduced and passed with bi-partisan support shortly after the High Court’s decision.

Now, Ron Williams is taking the Government and SU QLD back to court, challenging the new funding model.

SU QLD says that with current funding support, schools can “decide for themselves to have a chaplain as a member of their student support department.  Without funding, that choice disappears for most schools.”

The organisation also points to the 450 other federal spending programs in jeopardy if the plaintiff succeeds in having the High Court declare the funding model invalid.

Tony Abbott, in his role as Leader of the Opposition, strongly supported the Schools Chaplaincy program, saying “We invented the program, we support the program, we want it to continue.” But the program has enjoyed bi-partisan support throughout the first High Court challenge.

SU QLD is calling for support from Christians around Australia. In 2011-2012, 85,000 Australians showed their support for the program by signing an online statement of support. The organisation is again asking for support at backourchappies.com.au.

Image: SU QLD