Gay Melbourne Grammar School Captain On Presbyterian Church’s Anti-LGBT Views
Image: Melbourne Grammar School Captain Daniel Cash.
A school captain from the Melbourne Grammar School has spoken out against the Presbyterian Church of Australia’s plans to ban gay and sexually active heterosexual students from leadership positions.
Daniel Cash recently penned an opinion piece to the Sydney Morning Herald, shedding a light on the issue from a student’s perspective.
“I write this as captain of Melbourne Grammar School. I write this as someone who is gay, a fact about myself which I cannot change,” he wrote.
The church has said their reasons for the discrimination against the sexually active gay and heterosexual students is that they “would not be able to give appropriate Christian leadership in a Christian school which requires modelling Christian living,”
“Would He Divide Them?”
Cash points out the confusion on this reasoning, stating that “surely “modelling Christian living” is not well exemplified in the practice of exclusion or discrimination?”
“The Christian faith is built on the example Christ set in his life. His revolutionary compassion, so radical then as it still is now – care for the outcasts, the lepers, the unclean – inform the values of Christianity and direct the moral constitution of the Church,” he wrote.
“His example leads me to wonder what Christ would make of this situation. If he was confronted with a body of young people – all, to remind the Presbyterian leaders, made in the image of God, in the imago dei – would he divide them and cast inequality among their ranks?”
The school captain also pointed out that his fellow students did not care about his sexuality, just as they had no reaction to other student’s sexuality.
“His example leads me to wonder what Christ would make of this situation. If he was confronted with a body of young people – all, to remind the Presbyterian leaders, made in the image of God, in the imago dei – would he divide them and cast inequality among their ranks?” he wrote.
Social Media Sends Their Support
Users on a Reddit post that linked the opinion piece spoke up and shared their support of Cash, with many saying that they are proud of him.
“I go to this school and I’m very proud to have him as our captain, and good on him for taking a stand!” one user wrote.
Comment
by u/Leading_Frosting9655 from discussion “I’m Melbourne Grammar’s school captain and I’m gay. The Presbyterian Church would have me sacked” – school captain takes a stand on oppressive new church declarations.
in melbourne
Comment
by u/Kinguke from discussion “I’m Melbourne Grammar’s school captain and I’m gay. The Presbyterian Church would have me sacked” – school captain takes a stand on oppressive new church declarations.
in melbourne
“Give him a pat on the back, and don’t let the loud voices get to him,” another wrote.
I for one am very happy to see this brave young man take a stand against centuries of oppression and bigotry he has my absolute support and l am glad to see that he understands the implications of the church’s stand on these matters because it is not upto them to judge anyone it is up to god because at the end of everything god makes the final decision so l say to him and others like him don’t give in to there bullying, intimidation or lies keep your faith if you can but always march forward in your belief in quality and the right to be who and what you are, Professor Tony Waugh, United Nations Envoy.
Dear Daniel,
I have just been so pleased to read your thoughts. Number one: the quality of your writing is so impressive. But number two (and even more importantly) what you have to say is so logical and caring. I was brought up Methodist (I am 65), and I went to Sunday School and church for 15 years. The focus was always on parables, and on Jesus and his great compassion for everyone, and the changes he was trying to make in the world. I don’t remember them ever disparaging gay people or people who had premarital sex! I am just so happy that you felt you could bring your very logical arguments to the media, and hopefully to influence those who are being so unaccepting at the moment. I will watch out for what you do and say from now on, as I can see you have a bright future and can be very influential where it matters.