‘Free Presbyterians: Paul Givan’s decision to withdraw trans guidance is consistent with scriptural truth’
Letter published in the ‘Belfast Newsletter’ – 11th Sep 2025.
“The Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster welcomes the news of the withdrawal of the current transgender guidance to schools by Stormont’s education minister (‘Paul Givan: I have ordered the immediate removal of trans guidance for schools in NI,’ Sept 8).
We trust that this decision, which is consistent with both scriptural truth and scientific fact, will help our society to honour God and His Word, celebrate the beauty of His creative design and offer a pathway of hope to those who have become mired in the falsehood and misery of transgender ideology.
We still of course are campaigning for the removal of RSE from the schools curriculum.”
Rev Ian Brown
Free Presbyterian Church
Dr Brown makes no reference to the shameful fact that the ‘Guidelines’ on transgenderism and other perversions were administered by the ‘Education Authority’ which was chaired by a Free Presbyterian elder, Mr Mervyn Storey!
Mr Storey was, and is, in complete defiance of ‘Scriptural Truth’ by occupying and remaining in such a post, since there is no evidence, on the part of the body he chairs, of repentance and rejection of the wicked advice and counsel it administered to schoolchildren.
Free Presbyterian elders swear an oath at their ordination to ‘Be zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in working for the purity and peace of the church, whatever persecution or opposition may arise unto you on that account.’
They also swear to ‘Maintain with all the strength God shall give you the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.’
Chairing a body which administered the perverted guidelines promoting the evil perversions of today, falls far short of being ‘zealous and faithful in maintaining the truths of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ’ and maintaining ‘the position on Biblical separation from apostasy as taken by the Free Presbyterian Church of Ulster in 1951 at the time of its secession from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland.’
Furthermore, the removal most certainly is not consistent with ‘scriptural truth’. The removal is not complete nor is the essence of the ‘Guidelines’ removed as they still exist in printed form and also in the minds of those teachers who were most happy to press them upon their pupils.
The removal of the ‘Guidelines’ from a website is mere ‘window dressing’ and Dr Brown ought not to give the impression that something scriptural and substantial has been accomplished for it has not! Mr Storey and any other Christians on the ‘Education Authority’ are still within ’touching distance’ of the corruption promoted by that body!
Dr Brown’s hailing this ‘sham’ as a great victory for truth on behalf of ‘all Free Presbyterians’ is a misrepresenting of the views of many and indicates either his gullibility or the view that he holds of the gullibility of the average faithful Free Presbyterian!
This is the Bible’s position on withdrawal from sin.
“Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? . . . Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not (a very slight contact) the unclean thing; and I will receive you,” 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17.
Anything short of this is not to be rejoiced in or proclaimed as a blessing or seen as being ‘consistent with scriptural truth’!
Rev Ivan Foster (Rtd)
12th September 2025