Christian School Head and Family Receiving Death Threats For Upholding The Bible’s Teaching on LGBTQ

Leaders of a Christian school in Florida have received death threats after saying they will only accept students who identify with their biological gender and sexuality. 

The private Christian school, located in Valrico around 20 miles outside of Tampa, said students found participating in the LGBTQ+ lifestyles will be asked to leave. As a Christian school, the leaders have stood firm on affirming the Bible’s morality which is why they have refused to participate in the LGBTQ+ train.

The school wrote an email to parents on the 6th of June. He wrote, “We believe that God created mankind in His image: male (man) and female (woman), sexually different but with equal dignity. Therefore, one’s biological sex must be affirmed and no attempts should be made to physically change, alter, or disagree with one’s biological gender — including, but not limited to, elective sex reassignment, transvestite, transgender, or non-binary gender fluid acts of conduct (Genesis 1:26-28). Students in school will be referred to by the gender on their birth certificate and be referenced in name in the same fashion.”

“We believe that any form of homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, transgender identity/lifestyle, self-identification, bestiality, incest, fornication, adultery and pornography are sinful in the sight of God and the church (Genesis 2:24; Leviticus 18:1-30; Romans 1:26-29; I Corinthians 5:1; I Corinthians 6:9; I Thessalonians 4:2-7),” he continued. “Students who are found participating in these lifestyles will be asked to leave the school immediately.”

Following this, Barry McKeen, the administrator for Grace Christian School and community pastor, started receiving death threats. This started after news outlets quoted his email on the policy, forcing him to hire extra security at the school. 

However, he asserted that the school would not back down on its policies, regardless of whatever people do. He said God does not change, so they also have no reason to change. Backing down from the procedure also meant that the school would be backing down from what God said to be the truth, and Mckeen said that would never happen.

FLORIDA. US: Despite alleged death threats and being accused of targeting gays and transgenders Grace Christian School will not change its policies.
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— Pastor A.B. Harris (@pastorabharris) August 23, 2022

In addition, McKeen said that the school was not hateful towards the community but was only not getting involved with it as it is against their faith. McKeen recalled that the school is religious, and people cannot expect all schools to entertain the community. 

He added that there are religious schools and many parents send their children there for that purpose. Many of these parents have also shown their support by sending donations to the school and encouraging them to stay strong and keep their faith. 

McKeen noted, “Many of them came to church this morning. They go to other churches normally, but they were here this morning to support. And we’re seeing tremendous support from all over the country even though we’ve been getting a lot of hate calls and hate mail.”

He noted that the policy was also not partial to the LGBTQ community as no unmarried student in the school is expected to be in any sexual relationship. If caught in a sexual relationship, any student could get expelled. He added that it would be hypocritical for them to also accept the LGBTQ, encouraging children to accept their sexuality when they are against all sorts of sexual relationships.