Thank you for your interest in Santa Barbara Christian Homesteaders. We pray that this site helps you in your search for information about private Christian homeschooling. If you determine that SBCHI would be a good fit for your family, we would be very pleased to have you apply for participation. May the Lord richly bless you on your homeschooling journey!
Mission Statement
Santa Barbara Christian Homesteaders (SBCHI) is a non-profit corporation whose specific purpose is to support and encourage those who desire to privately educate their children at home in accordance with Christian principles.
History
SBCHI was started by pioneer homeschooling families and has been in existence for over 40 years. It is an incorporated Christian support group of traditional families with their own schools. There is a Board made up of four couples and a Leadership Team of women in positions of major responsibilities. There are no paid employees in the organization. SBCHI belongs to the CHEA (Christian Home Educators of California) Support Network.
Statement of Faith
Christian Home Educators Association of California (CHEA) operates under the following Statement of Faith. CHEA members are not asked to sign any agreement, but they are expected to understand that CHEA functions as a Christian organization, seeking to glorify God in all they do.
Santa Barbara Christian Homesteaders, Inc., as a CHEA Support Network member support group, also operates under this Statement of Faith. We require that all parents, or at least the primary teaching parent of each family, sign this Statement of Faith. Board Members and those who have positions of responsibility in SBCHI must be Christians in belief and conduct and are required to sign the Statement of Faith.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, the final authority of faith and life, without error in its original writing both in doctrine and historical details, and that all true knowledge is consistent with its revelation. (II Pet 1:21)
We believe that there is one self-existent God who has always been and will always be, manifest in three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and that knowing Him truly is the foundation of all knowledge, wisdom and understanding. We believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God manifest in the flesh, born of a virgin, that He is the Savior of mankind through His death on the cross, that He rose from the dead and ascended to heaven, and that He will return again and will raise those who have believed in Him to reign with Him in power and glory throughout all eternity. (I Cor 8:6; John 1:1-3,14-18; John 10:27-30; Luke 1:35; John 11:25; I Cor 15:4; Acts 1:11)
We believe all people are sinners by nature and choice and are spiritually dead. We also believe that those who repent of sin and trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord are regenerated by the Holy Spirit. (Rom 3:23; Rom 5:8-9; Tit 3:5; Acts 3:19-21; Rom 10:9-10; 1 Cor 6:9-11; Eph 2:1-10)
We believe in the brotherhood of all believers who, through faith, have received the salvation provided by God's grace through the death of Jesus Christ. (John 3:16-19; John 5:24)
We believe God originally created persons, male and female, in the image of God and free from sin. We affirm that gender is determined by our biological sex. God who made male and female in His image graciously provides our sexual identity at our conception. (Gen 1:26-27; Matt 19:4-5)
We believe God established marriage to be a lifelong monogamous covenant relationship between one man and one woman. Marriage so defined is the only permissible context for intimate sexual expression and is the foundation for the human family. (Gen 2:24; I Cor 7:11; Heb 13:4; I Tim 3:12)
We further believe that human life is precious and should be protected from beginning, at fertilization, until natural death. (Ps 127:3; Ps 139:13-16; Gen 9:5-6; Ex 20:13)
We believe that children belong to God, who has given the responsibility and authority for their upbringing and education to their parents, and that it is their responsibility to protect this parental right. (Gen 33:5; Pro 22:6; Proverbs 29:17; Deut 6:7; I Tim 3:4)
SBCHI Participation Agreement
Code of Conduct
Santa Barbara Christian Homesteaders, Inc. believes that the Bible is the inspired word of God, and that its authority should govern our behavior. We expect support group participants to conduct themselves according to the principles of Christian living set forth in the Bible*.
This Christian conduct should be evident in all areas of our lives. As Christian home educators, we should be especially careful in how we conduct ourselves before the world and our Christian brothers and sisters. Our choices in clothing should be honoring to self and sensitive to others.
As responsible Christian parents, we should be diligent in teaching our children to behave toward everyone in a manner worthy of our Christian calling. Our children should behave respectfully to their own parents, to parents within the SBCHI support group, and to other adults who are in a position of authority during SBCHI group-sponsored functions.
Parents are responsible for their own children’s behavior. Organizers of events and activities may remind other children within the group to refrain from behavior not in keeping with the Code of Conduct and the Guidelines for SBCHI activities.
The Santa Barbara Christian Homesteaders’ Code of Conduct governs all SBCHI support group functions.
*Biblical references that govern our behavior: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 9; 6:1-2, 6-8, 11:18-21; Proverbs 22:6; Matthew 7:12; Romans 12; I Corinthians 10:31-11:1; Galatians 5:13-26; Philippians 2:1-5, 14-15; Colossians 3:17; II Timothy 3:16-17; I Peter 2:11-17
Conciliation Clause
Any claim or dispute arising from or related to this agreement shall be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration in accordance with the Rules of Procedure for Christian Conciliation of the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker® Ministries. Judgment upon an arbitration decision may be entered in any court otherwise having jurisdiction. The parties understand that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of this agreement and expressly waive their right to file a lawsuit in any civil court against one another for such disputes, except to enforce an arbitration decision. http://peacemaker.net/project/rule-24-rules-procedure-guidelines-christian-conciliation-litigation/
Guidelines for SBCHI Official Field Trips and Events
1. Please be punctual.
2. Parents are responsible for their children's behavior and safety for the duration of the activity. This responsibility may be delegated to another parent if necessary. No drop-offs are allowed.
3. All field trip fees must be paid in advance and are non-refundable. If you need to cancel a field trip reservation, contact the field trip organizer immediately. You are still responsible for the ticket price unless you can arrange for someone else to take your place.
4. Dress should be modest and appropriate for the occasion.
5. Be respectful of both private and public property.
6. Please clean up after yourself at all events.
7. Thank the individuals who made the event possible.