The consultation document, which is calling for the churches and anyone else, to give evidence, sets out the Government’s plan to stop the spread of extremism. The implication is that this would lead to inspections by Ofsted, of thousands of Sunday Schools, Bible groups, church youth groups, youth choirs, bell ringing circles, scouts, guides, brownie’s and cubs etc, with the effect that it would turn the Department for Education (DfE) and therefore, Ofsted in a ‘state regulator of religion’ in much the same principle as the Chinese. It is reported that David Cameron has expressed his admiration and sees it as a potential way forward.

Does this then become the ‘slippery slope’ effect of state control? When asking this question, have in mind the Bodnariu family in Norway, who, in November had their five children removed from them and placed in foster care by the Norwegian authorities; one of whom is a nursing baby. The stated reason being, that they were teaching Christianity to their children. The Bodnarius’s two daughters were removed from school without their parent’s knowledge and moved to an undisclosed location. Two sons were seized and the mother, Ruth arrested, and both she and her baby son Ezekiel, were taken to the police station. It has been reported that the official’s then attended the workplace of the father, Marius Bodnariu and arrested him. There is an international outcry and an online petition. However, this is not the subject of this article, but shows how we now must stand against the slippery slope of state interference.

Basically, the DfE is wanting the development of the government’s proposals extended to ‘out-of-school education settings’ and as such, these groups must register and be subject to risk-based inspections. The consultation period has been (some may say cynically) come at the busiest time for churches, commencing at Advent and ending on 11 January 2016 – giving very little time to busy church communities to gather the evidence and respond. But respond we must and details of how to respond are given later in the article.

So, what exactly is meant by ‘out-of-school settings?’ The proposal suggests those included are those who have ‘intensive tuition, instruction or training out of school.’ It is for those 19 years of age and younger who attend cumulatively for more than between six and eight hours per week, including evenings and weekends. Therefore, if you are running a Bible or Scripture club where students are studying for examinations and attend an intensive course, you would be caught or even if you hold Bible study on two different evenings and the same young people attend. The same appears to be so for Youth Clubs that run two or three times per week. It would mean that the church or group would have to register and be subject to an inspection by Ofsted, and having just been through an Ofsted inspection with a college where the writer teaches law, this is extremely disconcerting for professional and experienced teachers who are paid to teach and educate their charges. Imagine this for your church, youth club, Bible group etc where you are an unpaid volunteer, albeit professional in your outlook and manner of organising.

Before you breathe a sigh of relif because your church does not run activities lasting between six and eight hours per week; as the proposals currently stand, a single one-off event, lasting a day would also require registration, which would include the Family Fun Day being organised by the Connexion for May next year. The imposition of these proposals on churches, who already fall under Charities legislation, Data Protection legislation and safeguarding legislation where, on the whole, the majority are volunteers who have to hold a DBA Certificate, would be massive. So these proposals would add yet another layer of work, as well as the potential for the eventual state control of our churches.

So what is the purpose of the proposals and will it really affect our churches and if so, what can we do about it? Firstly, the idea is to keep children safe generally from the risk of harm, including emotional harm and to ensure that "British values” are being promoted. How will Ofsted be able to determine what is being taught is ‘un-British’, when it is just the Word of God who calls us to love all our neighbours and be His servants in the world.

Secondly, as stated above, whether we like it or not, these proposals will affect each and every church which have a strong youth base or even just brownie’s etc and don’t forget all those rehearsals for the Christmas Nativity.

In a letter to Nicky Morgan, the Education Secretary; Colin Hart, of the Christian Institute argues that unless steps are taken to limit the plans, they would represent an "unprecedented attack on freedom of religion in our country.” The Evangelical Alliance is active in campaigning against this proposal and is asking the following:

Church leaders to consider whether these proposals will affect your ministries. Would Ofsted regulation limit your activities? Do you consider there is any tension between 'British Values' 'Extremism' and orthodox biblical teaching? Is it possible that a young person participating in the life of your church over a week may meet the time threshold for registration?
Are you concerned about the cost and burden of these proposals? Youth leaders - to consider whether the registering of all events or trips over six hours would restrict your youth work and how this would affect the children in your care.

How would this affect the children in your care? Would limits on what is acceptable to teach affect the way you work? Are you concerned about a complaints process being abused? Would you be less inclined to offer prayer or pastoral support? Teachers to outline the implications this could have for helping out with church activities.

Would the threat of a safeguarding complaint issued against a ministry you're involved in deter you from volunteering due to the implications for your career? Would your church be required to make multiple registrations?

Does your church have the resources to maintain this monitoring process? Would the prospect of an Ofsted inspection make you less likely to help out with supplementary education? Parents to explain the benefits of supplementary education provided by the church and in what way their children have benefited from church activities. Students to list the out-of-school education i.e. youth groups, trips, holiday clubs they have attended in the last year and how they have benefited the student. Are these activities a valuable source of education and enrichment? Do you value the moral teaching provided by churches? Do church youth activities help with the cost of childcare in holiday periods? Have your children made friendships through such groups?

If you think it may be too late to send in your evidence, please send it in anyway, because it may just be that the Evangelical Alliance and the Christian Institute may mount a challenge, in the form of a Judicial Review to the government’s ridiculously short consultation period at the busiest ecumenical time of year, precluding a full and proper consultation. Therefore, any evidence sent after the date of closure may aid such a challenge, as I am aware the magazine may not be received until after the close of the consultation and hope many churches have been able to respond in time. This is the writer’s interpretation and not a view that has come from the Evangelical Alliance or Christian Institute.

The Christian Institute have also responded to the suggestion about the introduction of the Extremism Disruption Orders (EDOs) under the proposed legislation. Indeed, even Keith Porteous of the National Secular Society has joined with Colin Hart of the Christian Institute to fight these proposals, which show the seriousness of the restriction of freedoms being proposed.
Fiona Bruce, a local MP for Warrington and a Christian, known to a number of us, has stated, "The Government have not properly thought through these proposals and needs to go back to the drawing board.” Fiona Bruce has also told the Government that they have provided too little time for the consultation and further stated, "We have seen that traditional Christian teachings can be wrongly sanctioned by local officials who are unfamiliar with Christianity and that makes me very worried about what would happen if we start having Ofsted inspectors inside churches and observing beach missions looking for issues.” www.christian.org.uk

To see the full response of what you need and how you can respond, visit the web page for the Evangelical Alliance at: https://www.eauk.org/current-affairs/politics/evangelical-alliance-calls-members-to-respond-to-extremism-consultation.cfm

Mary Walsh