Statement of Faith
We believe in the Bible as the authoritative, inspired, inerrant Word of God; one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the vicarious death of Jesus Christ for our sins, His virgin birth, His bodily resurrection, and His personal return; the necessity of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in the work of regeneration and the building of the Body of Christ; the power of prayer; the sanctity of life; the belief that each child is a gift from God and that marriage is established by God as a monogamous, heterosexual relationship between one man and one woman.
These truths are foundational, rather than extraneous, to our mission. To participate in a JAHE-sponsored activity, you need not agree with these statements, but you need to understand that this is the basis from which the JAHE board will work.
Organization
JAHE is governed by a self-perpetuating Board of Directors. and is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization registered with both the federal government and the State of Michigan. As such, it can receive tax-deductible contributions of money or goods. For information about contributions, email the organization's Treasurer.
Board members must meet the following criteria:
* A consistent Christian testimony. Board members are expected to be actively involved in an area church and to have committed Christian homes.
* A particular professional and/or personal contribution to the home schooling community.
* A shared (husband and wife) commitment to the home school enterprise. We believe masculine leadership is consistent with biblical principles.
The Board is responsible for:
1. Setting policy necessary to maintain the orderly and effective function of the organization and maintain its credibility in the community. Setting a budget based on membership fees and reporting income and expenditures to the membership.
2. Coordinating various responsibilities, i.e., publicity programs and various ministries of the group to continue to build up and nurture member families spiritually and academically.
3. Maintaining a communication network at both state and federal government levels in order to:
* Protect the rights and freedom of Christian home schooling families.
* Build relations with legislators so that home schoolers' needs and interests are known and understood
The Board selects its own members as vacancies occur or as the responsibilities of the organization increase.
Behavioral Expectations
We seek to nurture the character of our children and represent Christian values to others. Colossians 4:5-6 states: "Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."
Consequently, both parents and children should respect the following standards while attending any JAHE sanctioned event. If unwilling to do so, they may be asked to leave by the event coordinator or a member of the Board of Directors.
Those who participate in JAHE activities are asked:
* To respect their bodies, dressing modestly and appropriately and abstaining from the use of tobacco, alcohol and all illegal drugs.
o "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's." (I Cor. 6:19-20)
* To speak carefully, honoring the name and character of God by avoiding profane and vulgar speech. (James 5:12)
* To act appropriately, practicing courtesy and respecting the property and regulations of others. Any behavior that is threatening, or can reasonably be perceived as threatening, shall be subject to disciplinary action by the JAHE Board. Consequently, any object considered to be a weapon, or which may reasonably be perceived as such, is prohibited except with prior consent of the Board. Exclusions: pocket knives with blade of three inches or less may be carried by adults without prior consent. Law enforcement officers may carry weapons as may be required by their department.
o "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ..." (Ephesians 5:15-16)
Affiliations
Information Network for Christian Homes (INCH), a non-profit, Michigan-based group whose mission since 1984 has been to serve families interested or involved in home education by providing the information, resources and encouragement needed to teach their children at home, and to work to ensure the continued freedom to do so.
Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), nonprofit advocacy organization established to defend and advance the constitutional right of parents to direct the education of their children and to protect family freedoms. Through annual memberships, HSLDA is tens of thousands of families united in service together, providing a strong voice when and where needed.