Synopsis & Media Kit
Sex, Gardening and God
Setting Values for Christian Schools
By Dr. Graham Leo · 2007 · Christian Schools Australia
Synopsis
Sex, Gardening and God is a provocative and practical guide to values formation in Christian schools, published by Christian Schools Australia. Written by Dr. Graham Leo while serving as Principal of Emmanuel College — a K-12 school of over 1,700 students — it challenges Christian educators to move beyond surface-level values programmes and engage honestly with the topics that actually matter to young people and their families. The title reflects Graham's argument that authentic values formation requires adults to be honest about the hard topics: human sexuality, creation care (gardening as stewardship of the earth), and the nature of God. Drawing on his daily experience of leading a large school community, Graham argues that values are not taught through programmes but caught through culture — and that culture is built by adults who are willing to live transparently. The book remains widely used in Christian school leadership circles across Australia.
Key Themes
- •Values formation in Christian schools
- •Honesty about difficult topics in education
- •Culture over curriculum in shaping character
- •Human sexuality, creation care, and theology
- •The role of adults in modelling values
- •Practical frameworks for school leaders
Selected Quotes
“If your Christian school does not have better behaviour, better results, better social interactions than the local schools, then it is time to ask why not.”
“God calls us through the Gospel, not merely to be Christians, but to be truly human.”
“A bondservant is a servant who, on being offered freedom, chooses instead to stay with that Master and serve him forever.”
About the Author
Dr. Graham Leo is a writer, speaker, and educator based on the Gold Coast, Australia. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from the Adelaide College of Divinity and trained at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics under Alister McGrath. For 25 years he served as Principal of two independent Christian schools in Queensland, including Emmanuel College — a multi-denominational K-12 school of over 1,700 students. He is the author of eight books spanning theology, fiction, poetry, education, and pastoral care. Graham describes himself as an “organic theologian” — someone homegrown in faith communities who studies Scripture carefully and communicates its truth to others. He is a Fellow of ISCAST, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an international conference speaker with engagements across the USA, UK, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
Media & Review Copies
For review copies, interview requests, or speaking enquiries, contact Graham directly: