More Information.

Released-Time Christian Education is time set aside during the public school day when parents may have their children released from a related arts class to go off school premises to receive biblical instruction.

Released-time classes are held one day a week for Greenville County public school students at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels. The students are not considered absent from school; however, they must make up any school work missed.

Our teachers are qualified individuals who profess faith in Jesus Christ. They have a firm command of the Bible and a superior ability to relate to our students. A State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) Background Check is required before any teacher is placed in a released-time classroom. A SLED Background Check is also required for the organization's leadership and all volunteers who work directly with public school students enrolled in the Released-Time Christian Education program.

This program is a great way for schools, parents, and churches to work together for the benefit of the children.

Public schools in Greenville County now accommodate specific moral or religious training without contradicting the current understanding of separation of church and state through Released-Time Christian Education. This is a  concept that was  declared constitutional by the United States Supreme Court in 1952. We, as servants of Christ, need only to add our love, concern, and hard work on behalf of those who mean so much to us--our children.



From the Executive Director


Greetings Friends and Neighbors,

My name is Janice Butler, and I am the Executive Director for Christian Learning Centers of Greenville County. This is a God-given privilege, and I am honored to serve my community in this way.

Released-Time Christian Education is an excellent and useful program for the Christian community. Through it, we are able to touch the lives of our young people and their families in a positive way. It provides an open door for us to share God's word with Christians and non-Christians alike. As a result of doing this, we grow with our families and our community. May God be forever praised for this opportunity.

In our classes, we teach the Bible. It is our aim to teach the whole counsel of God, including skills that will enable young people to understand the Bible for themselves. Current issues such as citizenship, civic responsibility, peer pressure, self esteem, sexuality, substance abuse, family issues and conflict resolution will be considered from a Biblical perspective. We also share the Gospel with students during each class session.

We recruit qualified teachers. All of our teachers must meet the qualification criteria established by our Board of Directors. Most importantly, our teachers are professed believers of the Christian faith, and they have a passion for reaching young people for Christ.

The benefits of the program are many! We help young people understand God, His love, and His will for their lives. Also, we help children grow to cherish and care for themselves and others. We instill values such as honesty, compassion, integrity, loyalty, and belief in human worth and dignity. It is our desire to teach young people social skills from a spiritual perspective. They need these skills to function productively in our society.

Any public school student may attend our classes regardless of race, religion, sex, age, national origin or handicap. Students must obtain parental permission to participate in our program. Our released-time classes are offered so that students can fit the program into their schedules without sacrificing required classes. Our volunteers escort the students off school property and returned them to school after the released-time class. Our organization carries all necessary insurance, and we are legally responsible when students leave school property.

Finally, we exist because we (compelled by the love of God) want to be a positive, dynamic force in Greenville County. We want to serve as a catalyst for change in the lives of others. We want this change to begin in Greenville and extend throughout South Carolina and, ultimately, the nation. We will succeed. However, our confidence is not based on our abilities. Our trust is in God; this is His work.

It is inevitable. Through Released-Time Christian Education and the passion of committed servants, many public school students will learn and decide to live according to Biblical principles and, thus, make an eternal difference in their family, school, and community environments.

I look forward to the service before us.

In Christ's love,
Janice
 
     
©2005 Christian Learning Centers of Greenville County, South Carolina USA