School Ministries: News and Information

RELEASED TIME FEATURED ON CHUCK COLSON'S BREAKPOINT

Dismissed! To Study the Bible
Released Time Programs

Read Chuck Colson's thoughts in the effectiveness of Released Time Bible Education.

SOUTH CAROLINA CREDIT ACT

Spring 2007, for the first time, two Released Time Bible Education (RTBE) programs in South Carolina are being offered for elective academic credit at the high school level. These programs in Clarendon and Horry C.A.R.E.S. were made possible because the Legislature passed the South Carolina Released Time Credit Act in 2006. The initiative for this action was provided by a group of organizations lead by School Ministries and was precipitated by the fact that no RTBE program had ever been approved for credit under the transfer credit provision allowed for in state law. The Act specifies requirements which must be met in addition to those applicable to all RTBE programs including the course being taught by a currently certified teacher.

Released Bible education programs have operated in South Carolina for over 60 years bringing evangelistic Bible education to public school students primarily at the elementary and middle school levels. There has been a strong desire among individuals who run these programs and parents to see released time programs at the high school level. While high school programs have existed, they have served less than 1,000 students statewide. The difficulty in reaching high school students with the released time program is that the typical high school student’s schedule is full, because of the number of credit hours that are required for high school students to graduate. To address this situation, the only feasible approach was to obtain an addition to South Carolina law that would provide a legal way to allow high school students to obtain elective academic credit for attending released time programs.

It is hoped that the success of this SC effort will encourage Christians in other states to promote similar legislation. To email for more information, Click Here, or phone School Ministries at 803-772-5224.

NEW DEVOTIONAL & WORLDVIEW MATERIAL AVAILABLE

School Ministries is pleased to extend its ministry with materials designed for use in Released Time Bible Education RTBE programs as well as in high schools and churches. Having access to high quality materials that are challenging and proven, can both enrich programs and help make the “sell” to school administrators much easier. Current materials are available at the 5-8 and high school levels. For more information, Click Here.

TIME ARTICLE SUPPORTS BIBLE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

TIME Magazine:April 2, 2007: Why We Should Teach The Bible In Public School

The front cover for the April 2, 2007, issue of TIME raises the issue of: “Why We Should Teach The Bible in Public School.” The lead article, written by David Van Biema, makes the case that the Bible should be taught, because it is the bedrock of Western culture. He further makes the case that such teaching is constitutional as long as the Bible is taught not preached.

Due to his national leadership role in promoting Bible Literacy, Chuck Stetson, Chair of the School Ministries Board, is quoted a number times in the lengthy article. THE BIBLE AND ITS INFLUENCE, which was co-authored by Stetson and Cullen Schippe, is one listed as one of the two major sellers of secularly acceptable Bible textbooks currently on the market. For more information on this book and its accompanying devotional materials, Click Here.

All those interested in promoting the teaching of the Bible in schools should read this article and share it with others—including your local school administrators.
Click here to read the entire article.

News, Articles and Press Releases