A Christian nationalist megachurch and its pastor are behind a series of controversial policies that have been adopted by a school board in California, sparking protests and lawsuits from students, parents, and state officials.
The megachurch is Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, located in the Chino Valley Unified School District. It has more than 10,000 members and a weekly online audience of 30,000. Its pastor is Jack Hibbs, a prominent figure in the conservative Christian movement who has been involved in local politics for years.
Hibbs and his church have supported conservative candidates and causes, such as opposing abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, and COVID-19 restrictions. They have also influenced the school board, which is dominated by Hibbs’ followers, who have passed policies that violate civil rights and endanger LGBTQ+ students.
One of the policies bans pride flags in classrooms, claiming that they are “political symbols” that promote “a divisive agenda”. Another policy forces teachers to inform parents if their children identify as transgender, potentially exposing them to harassment or violence. A third policy allows prayer at school board meetings, despite a court order that prohibits it.
These policies have sparked outrage from students, parents, and state officials, who have sued the school board for violating the First Amendment and the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. They have also organized protests and rallies to demand the resignation of the school board president, Sonja Shaw, a fitness trainer and Hibbs’ acolyte.
Shaw and her allies have defended their actions, saying that they are standing up for their faith and values. They have also accused their critics of being “anti-Christian” and “anti-American”. They have received support from Hibbs and his church, who have rallied behind them.
Hibbs and his church are part of a larger movement of right-wing Christian activists who are trying to reshape public education in California and beyond. They are motivated by a political ideology called Christian nationalism, which seeks to merge American and Christian identities, and to privilege Christianity over other religions and secularism.
Christian nationalists have been targeting public schools as a battleground for their agenda, promoting creationism, prayer, and patriotic symbols, while opposing sex education, evolution, and multiculturalism. They have also been using legal challenges, legislation, and grassroots campaigns to advance their interests.
Experts warn that Christian nationalism is not only a threat to democracy, but also to children’s education. They say that it erases the diversity and complexity of history and society, and imposes a narrow and exclusionary worldview on everyone else.
Relevant articles:
– The California Megachurch Pushing Public Schools to the Far Right, The Daily Beast, September 4, 2023
– Crisis of faith: Christian nationalism and the threat to U.S. democracy, Berkeley News, September 20, 2022
– Column: Christian nationalism threatens US education, Valley News, February 12, 2021
– Christian nationalists target public schools, undermining freedom of religion, Baptist News Global, February 24, 2023
This article is inaccurate and very misleading. I have attended the church for 30 years and I have never heard the term Christian nationalism. I understand it’s easier to simply dismiss people by lumping them all into one category and calling them derogatory names. Better I think to listen to them as individuals. You may find more loving, decent people than you expect.