They were worried about the singling out of gay marriage in the statement,alongside a pledge to resign if those beliefs changed.
The Anglican Diocese of Sydney runs dozens of schools. The so-called jewels in its crown – including Shore,Kings,Abbotsleigh and St Catherine’s School –have boards dominated by representatives of the diocese. Redlands and SCEGGS Darlinghurst also have diocesan board nominees,although they are not a majority.
The Anglican Schools Corporation manages schools such as Roseville College,St Luke’s Grammar and Danebank School. New principals and board members are required to sign the statement as a condition of their appointment.
The principals,who spoke to theHerald on the condition of anonymity,were worried about their gay students and parents,and felt the singling out of gay marriage in an otherwise general statement of Christian faith was “aggressive” and “contrary to the laws of the land”.
They are also worried that the move will significantly decrease an already-small pool of potential candidates for principal positions,and compromise the quality of school leadership.
An advertisement for the top job at St Catherine’s School in Waverley – which is vacant from the end of the year – included a copy of the statement,leaving many in the school community worried that the next head will take the school in a more conservative direction.