Exodus Mandate

Exodus Mandate, based in Columbia, South Carolina, USA, is an evangelical Christian effort promoting a mass withdrawal of religious students from the public school system and into evangelical Christian schools or homeschooling. Founded in 1997 by E. Ray Moore, Jr. of Frontline Ministries, the organization's motto is "Christian Children need Christian Education."" [http://www.exodusmandate.org/info-about-us.htm Exodus Mandate - Promoting private home schooling of children and the importance of a Christian education] , Exodus Mandate, online as of 4 May 2007.] The group is active within the Southern Baptist Convention and has introduced a succession of public school-related initiatives within the Convention. [" [http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_christian-education-resolution-sbc.htm 2004 Exodus Mandate Christian Education Resolution press release to the SBC] ," Exodus Mandate, 2004.]

Mission Statement

Exodus Mandate is a Christian ministry to encourage and assist Christian families to leave Pharaoh's school system (i.e. government schools) for the Promised Land of Christian schools or home schooling. It is our prayer and hope that a fresh obedience by Christian families in educating their children according to Biblical mandates will prove to be a key for the revival of our families, our churches and our nation." [http://www.exodusmandate.org/info-about-us.htm Exodus Mandate - Promoting private home schooling of children and the importance of a Christian education] , Exodus Mandate, online as of 4 May 2007.]

Organizational Actions

Since its founding, Exodus Mandate have endorsed the Mission America-spearheaded "School Risk Audit" program to investigate schools for any sign of LGBT tolerance or support. [" [http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_20050509-sbc-resolution.htm 2005 Exodus Mandate press release calling for the Southern Baptist Convention to investigate public schools] ," Exodus Mandate, 9 March 2005.] Examples given include anti-bullying programs and safe-schools programs that include lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered students, and anti-discrimination policies that include LGBT students, faculty, or staff. A version of the Risk Audit published by Concerned Women for America claims that male homosexuality "reduces life expectancy at age 20 by at least 8-20 years" and that female homosexuality "substantially increases the risk of contracting breast cancer." [" [http://www.cwfa.org/images/content/raplan0306.pdf Risk Audit Plan] ," Concerned Women for America, 25 April 2006, p2.] This effort is also supported by a variety of evangelical fundamentalist Christian organizations, including Concerned Women for America, the American Family Association, and the Family Research Council. [" [http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_20060424-pro-family-group-unveil-homosexuality.htm Exodus Mandate announcement of the Homosexuality School Risk Audit program] ," Exodus Mandate, 24 April 2006.]

In May 2007, the group put forth a resolution supporting president Dr. Frank Page's call for SBC churches to found more Christian schools and encourage SBC parents to send their children to these institutions. [" [http://www.exodusmandate.org/art_20070502-resolution-press.htm Resolution Supports SBC President's Call for More Churches to Start Christian Schools] ," Exodus Mandate/Christian Newswire, 2 May 2007.]

External links

* [http://www.exodusmandate.org/ Exodus Mandate website]

References