This comment I think purely demonstrates the point I made on my comment which is just a few places higher on this list. Con #3 - Cost. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. When you hear the word rhetoric, what do you think of? What does this teach their kids in this present context? Additionally, it is estimated that another $67,000,000 is being paid to a bunch of individual businesses (tutors and directors) within the churches as well. An error was made in the initial data supplied for the data table, which resulted in slightly different numbers reported at initial publication. 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. These local groups pay reduced or even no rental fees to churches by emphasizing the ministry aspects of their education work. See the complexity? When you homeschool with Classical Conversations, we connect you with a local community of like-minded families who not only learn together, but do life together. Even if the for-profit is only using the building for 8 hours out of 168 in a week & for 24 weeks a year, the tax bill is for the entire property because the non-profit tax exemption is violated. Great investigative article. Both organizations declined to comment, though CCs statement (almost identical to one provided months ago) is included in the story. Communities are limited to the size they are, so if any director had a hard time keeping people it may not be the company that was the issue.7 years Ive have a maxed out community100% full with a wait list and 2 other communities in the same town as me which I constantly referred other families to join. And Jesus was very concerned about those being taken real advantage of by the religious powers of his day. I also have no regrets, but my lack of regrets is due to leaving CC after 9 years. 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? This would also decrease CC Incs income greatly. Ferguson, however, disagreed that the company exerts unhealthy pressure. 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. I do ponder how Jesus would react. . We do this through a Christ-centered and family-friendly approach to homeschooling that makes everything biblical and hospitable, focused on three simple key areas: Classical, Christian and Community. This suppression of religious freedom is the price of citizenship (says the New Mexico Supreme Court Justice). Our churches are integral to the success of CC. They have always been up front about encouraging us on getting legal and financial advice elsewhere. I was asked to continue directing and had to break it to higher-ups that I just couldnt anymore. Would the average church member be pleased to hear their building (which presumably they helped finance) was used as part of a whole to make a corporations tens of millions? These moms dont even have time to school their kids because theyre too busy running a business for CC. There will be consequences to their choices. Data was submitted by students in a random sampling of Classical Conversations graduates. The Rev. (The percentage CC received varied due to discounts given families with multiple children enrolled.). And an Army Chaplains Aid, as well as an Air Force Senior Master Sergeant can be threatened with discharge because they made the unconstitutional mistake of speaking their opinion on the gay marriage issue. I think I will take the article to my third sons Challenge I class and have them find the fallacies and biases. Would you consider making a tax-deductible donation to help our journalists continue to report the truth and restore the church? Do we really want to see churches used this way and argue it is their right to have businesses generating millions and millions of dollars in their walls and all the missions align? To reply to a few specific comments: 1. Over several months, The Roys Reportinterviewed eight former CC contractors across six states. But you could remove any of them and copy and paste them below a different story and they all appear absolutely identical. They are women of goodwill as well and they tend to trust religious people. Each year of our Classical Conversations experience thus far, I have tested new routines, tried hundreds of "solutions" to the myriad problems we faced, and have kept only the good stuff. I am thankful for the encouragement, the mentorship, the accountability, and the curriculum support. It goes much deeper than this, but grateful for the article! CC has always been up front about where the money goes. I would encourage reading the article carefully and looking for missing information. There can be no doubt that our country was founded on biblical principles. Or you may just view them as having more opportunities to earn some hard cash. Well, that was a read. So does that mean that while a few are going after CC that they are going after all other groups? The battle they will face is not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual forces of evil5. (We) worked with them and got that issue resolved. The knowledge that my hard work in laboring to direct and tutor is not lining Robert Bortins pocket book is just an icing on the cake. They are the family who can truly understand my daily struggles as a homeschooling mom. Calculations are based on the current numbers, using the new fee structure and are indicative of GROSS profit. That said, after the spring and summer preparation that comes as tutor or director, my experience with the program is 100% a rewarding albeit challenging experience. Classical Conversations Is not my job. . They do not. Despite this, CC continues to grow. Though property tax exemptions vary and are determined by state and sometimes county laws. So I am still left to wonder why anyone would mail letters to every church specifically hosting a CC across the country making a blanket statement that had absolutely no bearing because the author of these letters, as well as the information above these determinations can only be made on local county and state levelsnot by one person deciding it all for everyone If they have to be for-profit, and flexibly non-profit, in order to best support this subversive act more power to em). Dispute, deny, distort. If I did, I never got through all the review I was required to do. They are the family who supported me emotionally and mentally when my husband passed away. 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. Classical Learning Cohort October Flash Sale 2022 Morning Time Bundles Hot Items! Over the years, dozens of former CC contractors have called out CCs alleged exploitative business practices, including on The Spiritual Sounding Board, Kristi Bothurs blog and JJ Veales blog. (At least one former CC director has also received a cease-and-desist letter from CC, according to Palmer and former CC area director JJ Veale, who claim theyve seen the letter.). I love Jesus and HIs CHURCH more. Then again, we would not have expected to hear anyone advocating the abandonment of the Bible. 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 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). There is no quality filter on free. Even the casual observer will recognize that our culture is losingmore likely, has lostits basis for Truth. My theory is this: at some point in the near future, the increasingly outrageous anti-biblical and anti-constitutional incidents occurring in our country will force Christians out of their complacent woodwork and into the spotlight. They get put on SMART plans. We have lost our basis for Truth. 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. We see this is the third article this month youve found worth reading. So the lack of support and promotion for this option from corporate tells me that its not really an option at all. The reason CC community businesses dont just convert to nonprofits is bc they cant stand the transparency/scrutiny (financial and ethical) that a true nonprofit board would bring. 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 . The breaking point for her was having to attend CC meetings hours away from home, once again to recruit people to the network. Meals were provided, children were picked up and dropped off, and we were flooded with calls, emails, and notes of encouragement from our leadership and friends. They already homeschool, money or no money. 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. Palmer sent emails to 10 churches in the Austin area on May 18, 2016, stating in part: Some churches are not aware that these CC homeschooling communities are for-profit businesses. According to Veale, SRs and ARs have to make bonuses to earn a decent wagebut CC sets bonuses just out of reach. Thinking about it all has led me to believe it is important to take a hard look at the commercial activity and the value of that commerce being done in our churches. Foundations: Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. How often, I cannot say. Supply Fee Paid for Foundation Students: 74,000 x $60 = $4,440,000 Furthermore, while Foundations/Essentials keeps the entire family on the same page, Challenge splinters the family in too many directions. . Now, Ive homeschooled two children through high school. Im the CPA mentioned in the article. 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.. $60 Supply Fee (used to pay for supplies, but I have been informed it is income to the director). I did not enjoy tutoring Foundations because we were not able to have conversations in class. Despite these documented cases, CC has denied that churches hosting their local communities have been assessed property taxes. 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 . 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. It seems that whenever I tell someone I homeschool the only word they hear is home. In a three-page memo obtained by The Roys Report, Wing states that any time a church allows a for-profit group to use facilities, even if incidental and religious in nature, property taxes can be assessed. Classical Conversations, Inc. (CC) bills itself as a leading faith-based homeschool education company that enables homeschooling parents, upon being contracted as local CC directors, to make extra income while providing an important local ministry. 2,500 communities, The 2020 edition of CCs Directors Licensing Guide references oft-misused passage Matthew 18 on behalf of contractor compliance. In 2020, a CC representative in North Carolina tried to use Browns same argument with his local taxing body, but it did not work. Ars have to make bonuses to earn a decent wagebut CC sets bonuses just out reach! To comment, though CCs statement ( almost identical to one provided months ago is... 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