Give a gift of any amount to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive In the House of Friends: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in Christian Churches by Kenneth Garrett. Im putting in all these hours away from my family at meetings, and not getting anything out of it, Bothur said in a phone interview. This displays both a total lack of empathy but also for basic justice. Once my children began moving into the Challenge classes, our enjoyment disappeared. Classical Conversations, Cease and Desist, Legal Threats, No Talk *** NOTE: This is part of a series that began with these earlier posts: Classical Conversations #1: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly Classical Conversations #2: What Led You to Join a Classical Conversations Homeschool Community? Im thankful my oldest is graduating from Ch 4 with the ability to debate and the wisdom to discern the difference between truth and lies. I truly miss the community of moms, the fellowship we had, and the early years in Foundations and Essentials. As for the silenced parents there was not possibly enough information shared about the situation to really understand why the legal letter was sent to Palmer for instance. CORPORATE INCOME FROM CAMPUSES: However, the county assessors office still challenged whether the CC groups use of the church was valid since the county did not consider educational usage as worship.. I get paid directly by the parents and send a portion to CC. The idea that there is a Truth higher than our own, that man is not the final authority was thrown under the bus. A word about tuition parents think it all stays in the community for Directors and tutors, but that is not true for Challenge, where $320 of it goes to CC Inc in licensing fees in addition to the registration fee. Topp said two months later, CC COO Keith Denton called and recommended Topp license the book exclusively to CC. (For the sake of privacy, we are not reporting the directors names with their income.). Data was submitted by students in a random sampling of Classical Conversations graduates. However, both he and the company declined to answer specific questions regarding specific incidents described in this report. Jessie Johnson, teaching pastor at Immanuel Bible Church in Springfield, Virginia, rejects the idea of a Christian nation. We have fallen back on our own founding documents as the yardstick by which to measure right and wrong. Christian-based education offered through homeschool communities constitutes worship and supports the religious purpose associated with the use of church property., For reference: Submitting first our own bodies, minds, and spirits to the work of Christ as we join the great classical conversations of history. I just left a CC community and will never return. $15.50 I am asking you to independently think about it and study Gods word on this. From its origins in 1997 with eleven students and parents in the basement of Leigh Bortins North Carolina home to proudly serving over 45,000 families now enrolled in its programs spread over 50 countries globally, Classical Conversations always was and always will be about family. She found that aggressive goals written into contractsupdated annually by CCensured her successful team hardly benefited from the education corporations growth. An educational philosophy I believed in AND a roadmap to do it! According to Veale, SRs and ARs have to make bonuses to earn a decent wagebut CC sets bonuses just out of reach. The Classical Conversations marketing team is seeking a creative Graphic Designer that can translate concepts into clear, compelling graphics for print and digital applications to support . I am using these for my calculations to try and be conservative and accurate. After all, free speech really only applies if it conforms to cultural norms. In my opinion his ignorance is culpable and embarrassing. Application Fees (based on average fee) for Essentials Students: 25,000 x $115 = $2,875,000 we absolutely love CC. However, CCs hired PR firm provided a statement which reads in part: We regularly consult with our legal and tax advisors to ensure we are acting with integrity and in compliance.. I am a conservative and I love homeschooling. So this brings me back to James, the brother of Jesus, question: can such a faith, one without empathy or concern for justice for others whom you are not profiting with, actually save you? There is empathy in what they say and a concern for true justice to be carried out on earth because this is a very foundation of the throne and the rule of Jesus Christ on this earth. Prorating may not be applicable if the law states an all or nothing presumption. And I dont say that with any sense of being disgruntled! When sending the refunded amount back to CC, Brown restated his argument in a letter to Bortins, who requested permission to share the letter with the CC network. When Directors ask the wrong questions, they get kicked out of groups and have their comments deleted. I feel confident teaching my children hard subjects! AVERAGE DIRECTOR / TUTOR INCOME PER COMMUNITY: $26,857, TOTAL INCOME (CORPORATE, DIRECTORS, TUTORS): $87,210,000 To keep the facility fee down, CC needs cheap locations and for years, churches have been willing to host CC businesses for free, or at least below market value. Was she raising concerns in a state/county where the tax law didnt actually pose a threat? That comment referred to the book of James where it asks the question can a faith that does not do what Jesus commands of us really save anyone? On its website, CC defines ADFs role as (helping) churches navigate and understand the issues relating to use of church property by homeschooling communities and its real property tax exemption.. We have benefitted from seasoned home educators pouring into us as a young family and now find satisfaction sharing our strengths and struggles with others. The purpose of education is to know God and to make Him known. He did not. In 2016, she resigned from her role with CC. Give a gift of any amount to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive "In the House of Friends: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in Christian Churches" by Kenneth Garrett. We have fallen back on our own founding documents as the yardstick by which to measure right and wrong. Just for disclosure, my calculations do include assumptions and are made in good faith on the data / information available to me and some logical guesses. Olivia Garden this is a comment from the Facebook group Let Us Reason For Real. 2,500 communities, The company hasnt disclosed that all the liability for this business model is placed on the directors, Buckland said. Pregntenos por cualquier producto! I dont want to see that. As to weddings or funerals, those activities are germane to a churchs purpose as nonprofit attorney Michelle Adams addressed. $145 / 55 Application Fee (first student / subsequent students) goes to corporate $16.99 + $4.29 shipping . thought that maybe we were doing some things wrong and didnt really understand what the law (meant). Wasnt accurate in particular instances like Palmers and why the email wasnt warranted? I have observed a pattern that is visible here in these comments too. Then again, we would not have expected to hear anyone advocating the abandonment of the Bible. Again, all my opinions and my calculations are indeed based on very limited data posted by CC on their site and are certainly subject to inaccuracy because of that limit though I did my best to try and most accurately represent what I believe to be good assumptions and calculations. The real truth is that monogamous, loving, homosexual relationships are pleasing to God. An hour into the first information meeting I went to, I was blown away. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? No one is making CC Directors stay, right? When Ive signed on as CC director for a season, I only feel pressure to hold their plumb line with great integrity.. Some CC directors and contractors have realized the potential risk CC poses to churches and have sought to warn them. In 2019, Bothur resigned as local director. Those left holding the bag include one desperate mom and CC director who contacted her in late 2019. Churches assume they will get the full exemption, but its dependent on how the property is used, Sacramento County Chief Appraiser Jill Dolce said in a phone interview. Our own wisdom? Among the countless benefits of homeschooling is flexible scheduling. What other curriculum has weekly modeling lessons for us parents? Thats when Calvary Chapel received a $27,000 property tax bill related to a local CC chapter that used the church building for weekly homeschool meetings. . However, several MLM companies whose business practices exploited participants have been fined or shut downoften for exhibiting a high level of control over licensees and lack of full disclosure. I always knew that at best it would cover the costs of my own kids being in the program, and at worst Id be a little under water. ___________________________________________________________________________________________, 2 Internal memo sent to DOJ managers in advance of LGBT Pride Month, found at, <>. Thats entirely understandable and within their rights as US citizens. Classical Conversations #5: Classical Conversations #5: Leaders Threaten to Use Legal Force to Silence a Concerned Parent. God trusts parents with their children, and so should we. CC is the Bortins family business and they dont want to offer control to a non-profit board. First is intimidation. So, our biblical foundations have been discarded. For the first two years, my older two students loved their time in CC classes. You dealt with me unethically, and I sure hope you change in the future how you deal with churches. Dispute: Did God really say? Deny: He didnt really say that. Its like a ministry. May I suggest . Brown said Bortins responded by promptly paying the entire $85,000 tax assessment. (The percentage CC received varied due to discounts given families with multiple children enrolled.). I have had an uneasy feeling past couple of years with their practices. I found your article to be rank with smear primarily motivated by some kind of ideological stance (as I do most of the Roys Report articles Ive engaged with). 92%. The battle they will face is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil5. $30 Supply Fee (used to pay for supplies, but I have been informed it is income to the director), Challenge: Dispute: "Did God really say?" Deny: He didn't really say that. They get put on SMART plans. After 22 years as an Air Force pilot, God poked Brian in the chest and said, You will homeschool!Within two months of his retirement, he was tutoring Challenge B with his eldest son. Amir Jaima on the Power of Literature 31. . But they seem more focused on keeping the company financially strong than on supporting and coming alongside their directors., Recalling her seven years working in various CC roles with little return, Veale spoke frankly: You only do that when youre incredibly committed to groupthinkand I was for many years.. In the interim, we have also succumbed to the attractive idea that man is the ultimate authority, autonomously knowing good and evil. When you hear the word rhetoric, what do you think of? We dont want tuition raised. There are instances when Christians have made intentional decisions to disobey state laws. It is hard, but homeschooling is hard. I could focus on enjoying learning alongside my children! This is a textbook self-centered and self-righteous comment. Most of these directors and similar are the suckers in the middle. And now, even our Constitution is in the crosshairs, ready to be discarded. Shes quit Youve quit. The directors reported that they worked on CC programs for approximately 20 hours per week and made an average of $2,811 annual profit. My accountant asked, OK, wheres the six percent service charge youre supposed to be charging on the tuition? It turns out every director in our state had been operating outside of the law for years, she told me. After all, pursuing happiness is really only valid if your definition of happiness agrees with the one outlined by the government. you make it what you want. CCs business model hinges on local groups, which resemble a typical homeschool co-op. Some of these things are required, some are not. Well, that was a read. Where the you and the Roys Report seem like youve simplified things, all you have really done is eroded my trust in CC by fooling me into thinking the situation isnt complex and that everyone understands our tax laws because they arent draconian after all. I dont think its unethical to be clever in how you work within draconian tax lawsespecially where they are make assumptions about whether education is worship-related or not (like seriously, how dare they?) Also, any comments with profanity, name-calling, and/or a nasty tone will be deleted. More unethical behavior from Christians. I am sure these same people will be reporting you for not wearing a mask. Built on FamilyBuilt for Families Classical Conversations is a proven Christian homeschool program created by parents for parents. Directors are licensees and receive a license to use our brand and copyrights to offer services and materials within the licensed CC programs. The first three videos are designed to help you understand more about our classical model of education. Over the years, he moved up with his eldest son, tutoring Challenge B, Challenge I, Challenge II, Challenge III, and Challenge IV. Were the homeschool program that helps you cultivate an inquisitive, thoughtful child through an intentional, community-based approach. They do not. He clarified his remarks, stating CCs corporate office covered charges assessed on the churches. Yes. I find it shameful and one-sided. Now, Ive homeschooled two children through high school. If you want your children to learn youre going to have to work hard. The Department of Justice can distribute an internal memo directing employees to verbally acknowledge homosexuality as a valid lifestyle, because silence on the matter will be interpreted as disapproval 2. Fortunately, we know our enemy, and his tactics have not changed since the beginning of time. Can you confirm the tax law situation in Austin for us? Nearly five years later, the potential risks are still not being fully disclosed to either CC local directors or CC partner churches according to all evidence. The parents directly get affected. We should really take pause and let that sink it. I was surrounded by parents who had a desire to educate excellently, helping me be my best. They express zero empathy for anyone other than themselves and their immediate friends and family. Brian and his wife, Jenny, have been married for 28 years. 50,000 families. One commenter on here who is defending CC insinuates that those critical of CC were let go or kicked out. Former Director. Classical education prepares us to accept the responsibilities of Christian freedom. Ive always felt freedom to be able to move in and out of these roles, she said. That is a different matter than a church seeking to comply with state and local laws, yet being thwarted in that. The moms, Tutors and Director have truly been encouraging and most accepting of this old grandma and her granddaughter. Homeschooled parents and children are sometimes exploited. Brown then remembered information CC had sent Calvary Chapel when the church first began hosting the CC program, stating that the church now had membership with Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a legal group which defends challenges to religious freedom. The commercialization of making God known.. When Ive come into conflict with CC leadership, heres the bottom line: fire me and find someone else, or deal with my decision. Give the Biblical and Constitutional reasons why you think churches should be tax-free Remember what Jesus said about rendering of taxes unto Caeser? I also have no regrets in those 9 years with CC either. Every bit of it and more. About 24,500 Challenge students. They are the family who supported me emotionally and mentally when my husband passed away. After all, the latter was built on the former. Serving as a CC director since 2012, Annie Ferguson of Niceville, Florida, said she has made only $2,000 to $3,000 per year. // https://cchomeoffice.com/business-practice-faq/, Tax laws like these are almost always in as state of contest and geographic complexity After reading the article it seems that this tax situation is muddy enough to say that your claims of misrepresentation could also simply be an uncharitable way of denying the responsibility of Churches to understand the situation of a third party using their space *or* not taking into consideration the ways laws like these seem to be under contest (was it the failure of the CC chapter to know and make known their situation in particular, or Browns failure to do a quick google search? Education is the responsibility of the family, with support from fellow believers. Do we want to see CFA in a church? So lets talk about it. Hows this for a definition of exploit? By her third year, Bothur began to think she was set up to fail. According to her, many of those clients have been liable for unpaid state and federal income taxes. I couldnt tolerate the corporate leaderships lying, manipulative tactics, and the lack of attention given to the begging and pleas of directors like me who saw problems, tried to bring them up while we were still in CC and committed to our roles, and begged them to consider some solutions we proposed (at the time I felt very alone; I know now that I have been one of MANY). you will be like God, knowing good and evil." And the final result? Another point you said why not just convert to non-profit for communities? and thats a really great question. 19,000 Tutors and Directors, It is estimated, based on information provided to me, that the numbers break down as follows: $60 Supply Fee (used to pay for supplies, but I have been informed it is income to the director), Essentials: Officials at CC headquarters near Raleigh, N.C. became aware of these e-mails. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. Im all for capitalism, but this is exploitation., Annie Ferguson, whos a CC enthusiast and remains a CC director, also admitted, It was frustrating and intimidating for me when I started. The specific group targeting CC in this situation is hard to pin down but the tactics are similar to other groups who dislike classical education. She took in thousands of dollars in registration and tuition fees from parentsa hefty percentage going to CC corporatebut her income was nearly nothing. https://docdro.id/ncBKRI6. They communicate a clear and very selfish pragmatism, this is working for me so why is anyone else having a problem with it? They shoot the messenger as if Julie or whomever wrote up the story is evil and THE problem, because in their own eyes they are. I was no longer spending energy trying to find a curriculum and support group that would work. So the lack of support and promotion for this option from corporate tells me that its not really an option at all. Homeschoolers with their flexible schedules can be exploited. CCs handout to churches posted on their website says nothing about potential tax issues this arrangement may raise. Do we see LifeWay bookstores in churches? I directed her Challenge A class. *IF* education is truly ministry, why doesnt CC corporate become non-profit themselves? We must persevere so they will be girded with the belt of truth, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit4. Now Im much more selective about how much I let outsiders interfere in our school day. 125,000 students. CC provides a one stop shop for all of my homeschooling needs. henderson funeral home rome, ga; pubg battleground near berlin. After all, religious freedom, If a child in California or New Jersey struggles with gender confusion issues, the government now says it is illegal for a professional counselor to attempt to restore peace in that childs soul. EXPLORING THE WORLD THROUGH CARTOGRAPHY $34.99 In stock Add to cart CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN EDUCATION MADE APPROACHABLE $10.00 3302 In stock Add to cart Copper Lodge Library: SENATORS OF ROME $14.95 7234 In stock Add to cart Copper Lodge Library: TANGLEWOOD TALES $11.99 So does that mean that while a few are going after CC that they are going after all other groups? Give a gift of any amount to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive In the House of Friends: Understanding and Healing from Spiritual Abuse in Christian Churches by Kenneth Garrett. Toward that end, the site requires that people use their full name when commenting. . God knows that when you eat from it you will be like God, knowing good and evil. And the final result? Adam and Eve discarded Gods words. Finding a director in most places around me is like trapping a unicorn. That is not almost nothing or not much money as it is often described and justified. If they do inquire about how I keep my kids socialized, I get to tell them about the amazing community God brought into our lives with Classical Conversations. I was also bothered by the insistence that all of my children had to be enrolled in CC in order for me to become anything more than a tutor. This is critical for the two responses I see over and over again here regardless of who the story targets and what the issues are or what particular individuals have claimed to been taken advantage of: 1) Some commenters sound like Jesus. With this, they pull in millions in fees, CCC subscriptions, and book sales. The Roys Report also reached out to ADF to request an interview about their involvement with CC and partner churches, but ADFs media relations contact said the legal group has no comment at this time. I was afraid to homeschool, I had family that tried it and thought, If they cant do it, how can I? At an information meeting, I learned CC would support me, provide a community and teach ME. We have not had any issues (with) churches getting fines or anything like that, said CEO Robert Bortins Jr. last year during a webinar for CC directors. Topp remains skeptical that CC will reform business practices: Theyre doing quite well financially, so why would they change?, Similarly, Palmer expressed doubts that CC will change its policies. Thank you for speaking out and revealing truth. In response, CCs hired law firm has sent cease-and-desist letters. National Memory Master. Unfortunately, many moms are duped, Topp said. I enjoy learning from those before me in their journey, encouraging those beside me, and sharing with those coming behind. In reporting a survey last year of CC directors, Bortins said that the number one issue reported by directors was the business training aspects of CC programs. This arrangement with churches is expressly encouraged by CC. These are warning signs that Topp has seen with CC for years. Developing curriculum and services which ensure Classical Conversations families are equipped to conquer any obstacle in their pursuit of Christ. In 2013, Jamie Buckland of Beckley, West Virginia, became a CC director to homeschool her four children and to help other homeschool moms. In the meantime, I find this article to be very manipulative and no better than the way the media spins other stories about Christianity. The insidious, slippery departure from biblical principle has brought with it an unintended consequence. We believe that you are the best educator for your student, and we make the homeschool journey doable. Supply Fee Paid for Foundation Students: 74,000 x $60 = $4,440,000 CC did not reply to inquiries about specific issues. However, it seems there are things that need to be addressed. Buckland said that when her family decided to exit the CC network, they also chose to leave their longtime church home. Foundations and essentials arent wasted time, its building strong blocks of memory to serve later. On two occasions, CCs cut was as much as 33% to 60% of a directors total revenue. Some legal responsibilities directors must assume include doing background checks, managing tutors, making payroll, securing daycare licensing, and entering into a lease agreement with a church (or other venue). I am doing my best to let the churches in my area know, because hosting a for-profit business could have tax consequences for any non-profit church.. Four days later, Palmer agreed via correspondence to stand down and not send further e-mails. Jesus Himself brought up concerns he saw in the religious systems of his day and validated them as real. Also, there is confusion about tax issues. They did what was right in their own eyes. Yes the material is garbage, but I transferred to a director who knew how to run the campus at least even with the learning material being what it was. Please, I beg you, do something to stop this.. I would think not. Im not getting income out of it. In 2020, a CC representative in North Carolina tried to use Browns same argument with his local taxing body, but it did not work. Classical Conversations Business Practice FAQ page only went live in December 2019, according to multiple reports from former CC directors. Easily answered from an outside perspective because of control. Bortins Jr. told The Roys Report that CC has about 130 employees. Some did, but the reality is the majority of Directors are already consumed to the Max with child rearing responsibilities and rarely peruse the corporate webpage looking forward information that should have been broadcast widely. The statement on their website above seems to be pretty indicative that a blanket statement about tax liability simply isnt appropriate, nor should it be. It would be entirely appropriate for Classical Conversations Inc. to disclose the statements that tax assessors in North Carolina and in California (both linked above) have made regarding the specific issue of faith-based homeschooling groups using tax-exempt church spaces. It was impossible to guess the data size, so to be conservative and for ease, I used the numbers for the rest of the country. By May 2016, Palmer had learned about potential liabilities that churches incur by hosting local CC groups. Every meaningful conversation has to start somewhere. There is no compulsion that could not be avoided simply by not joining. Its that way because jesusssss isssss lordddd. They do not. I have slightly edited it for length, but it may help you understand the amount of $ floating through this company: It has been placed on my heart lately to really examine the income that is being generated in our churches. My director and fellow parents are tutors are more than colleagues; theyre friends. In January 2012, CC recruited Veale to direct their first local chapter in Arizona. When averaged, the directors collected about $20,000 in tuition and fees during a school year. Critics say thats because the company fuses spiritual language into its business dealings with contractors, creating a culture of religious obligation. Encouraging parents to develop the confidence to lead Christs natural classroom: the family. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. I am not without experience or a newbie to the homeschool world, nor do I lack the giving of grace when I know were all a hot mess who need Jesus every second of our lives. Yet most CC programs meet in churches. (Topp has since rewritten this ebook, which is available at her website.). Friday, 20 September, 2013 in Big Ideas: Truth, Beauty, Goodness and more! They are an extension of my family and make a difference in my success as a homeschooler. I am not asking you to agree with me at all. We equip homeschool parents with the confidence to raise bright, observant students who have a lifelong love of learning.