Group Publishing's VBS-in-a-can a dud

[Jerome]

Christian curriculum producer yanks multiple offensive portions of their 2019 'Roar' safari-themed Vacation Bible School kit.

It:

referred to Africa as a country (said to be a misprint)
had children role-playing slavery to teach the lesson "When life is unfair, God is good!"
had children mimicking so-called "click languages" by adding "clicks" to their names

Church Leaders • This Is Why People Have a Problem with This Year's Group Publishing VBS

"the publishing company issued a public statement via its Facebook page, apparently in response to all the pushback it was receiving concerning the curriculum....they announced they had created 'modifications and revisions' to the curriculum that is available for download."

 

[Jerome]

Group VBS Facebook

We are very sorry and apologize....We are committed to redouble our efforts in future programs to create and vet materials that are inclusive, respectful, loving, and focused on Jesus.

Group Publishing staff posing for a photo at the company's headquarters in Loveland, Colorado

 

[Jerome]

This is reminiscent of Lifeway's demeaning Rickshaw Ralley VBS some years back, for which the Southern Baptist entity's head Thom Rainer later repented:

"I am sincerely sorry stereotypes were used in our material, and I apologize for the pain they caused. I agree with those who have helped us understand the offensive nature of that material, and I agree, evangelical church and ministry leaders, particularly those of us who are white, need to commit to assuring, as best we can, these offenses stop."

video of Rainer's apology