The Homeschool Movement: Michael Farris, Patrick Henry College and His Response to a LGBT Group

You all might feel like a yo-yo today because I'm going to go down an entirely different path today.  This post has to do with Michael Farris, but not about Reconstructionism or Patriarchy.   I did, however, think it was important to understand his background and also the vision of Patrick Henry College leading into today's article.  Today, we will be discussing the recent behavior of this Christian leader.  

If you were not able to read the previous two posts, we discussed about Michael Harris who founded Patrick Henry College, a conservative Christian college geared primarily for homeschooled students with a vision of impacting the world for Christ.  Presently he serves as Chancellor of Patrick Henry College (PHC).  For the record, I know a student who attended PHC.  This student had life-long goals of becoming an attorney and the school seemed to do well for him, as he recently passed his bar exam.  I'm sure there are fine professors there. 

Apparently there is an underground group that has formed and has connections with Patrick Henry College (PHC).   The LGBT group began a Facebook page and also a blog (QueerPHC) and Michael Farris found out about it.  The group used the name "Patrick Henry" in the title and that did not go over too well, to say the least.   

PHC has very clear policies regarding homosexuality in their student handbook:

We choose to limit our student body, board, and staff to those who are committed to our statement of faith. PHC is committed to a non-discriminatory policy in so far as it is consistent with our statement of faith. The practice of homosexual conduct or other extra-marital sexual relations is inconsistent with our faith position.

and

While we seek to avoid rules that suggest legalistic righteousness, for the good of institutional order and to convey a message that is consistent with the community we represent, we will always have student rules of conduct that will set us apart from the amoral, secular world. 

Here is a pledge students must adhere to:

We, the students of Patrick Henry College, fully aware of our daily dependence on the grace of God, commit to set ourselves apart in thought, word, and deed, to honor Jesus Christ, and to love our neighbor. We passionately aspire to live our best for the Lord by conducting ourselves in the spirit of Titus 2:11-12: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.” 

Therefore, I pledge, by the grace of God, to submit to proper authorities, to be honest, to respect the property of others, and to speak edifying words. I will refrain from using any substances, such as alcohol, tobacco, and drugs, in any way prohibited by proper authority such as the government, church, family, or school. I will reserve sexual activity for marriage, shun sexually explicit material, and seek parental counsel when pursuing a romantic relationship. Finally, I will seek biblical resolution and reconciliation in my conflicts. I pledge to hold my fellow students accountable to these principles and ask that they do the same for me, in order that Jesus Christ might be honored and glorified.

And here are more specific guidelines referring to sexuality:

Students will not advocate non-Biblical sexual practices, such as extra-marital sex, homosexuality or homosexual “marriage” (e.g., Is 5:20, Romans 1:26-27). (Supporting a candidate for public office who advocates such practices does not in itself constitute the advocacy of such practices.) 

Jurisdiction: These Biblically-based standards apply to all PHC students at all times, both on and off campus, without exception; they are binding from enrollment until Commencement, even during the summer and College breaks.

Students will dress modestly out of consideration for one another.  Also, students will not dress in a way that will cause others to mistake them for a member of the other sex (e.g., 1 Tim 2:9; Deut 22:5).

So, evidently, this new LGBC blog began last summer and recently added a Facebook page.  This screenshot comes from the group's Facebook page:

Now, I don't want to get confused on issues here, but want to focus solely on the behavior we see by this homeschool and Christian leader.  It is perfectly within a private institution's right to enforce a code of conduct for their students.  If students sign some sort of commitment, the institution has every right to take appropriate measures to resolve the issue.  Patrick Henry College has very clear guidelines in their student handbook.  They make it very clear that the homosexual lifestyle is against the Biblical standards they adhere to.  I have no problem with that.  If I had my own college, I would also have a code of conduct and it might look similar to PHC's.

Image is very important to people.  That is understandable.   It makes sense that Farris would have an issue with a group using the name "Patrick Henry" in connection with "LGBT" because the LGBT lifestyle is contrary to the moral code of PHC and its core biblical beliefs.  But . . . . . how did Harris handle this conflict?  Because he demonstrated his behavior publicly, I am addressing it publicly.  

Part of the agenda on this blog is to point out patterns of behavior in church leaders or Christian authority figures that I find troubling, heavy-handed or even abusive.     

Let's take a look at the actions and behavior as a result of the LGBT blog and Facebook page.

Patrick Henry College is an institution which teaches students critical thinking skills.  Students are taught how to debate and argue with the finest, how to lobby and engage lawmakers.  They learn about First Amendment rights.  They are taught how to use the law for religious freedoms and homeschool freedoms, but apparently only when it lines up with their morality.  PHC does not like the freedom some of their students have exercised in forming their own online groups outside the school campus.  In fact, the powers that be at PHC  blocked the LGBT group's blog from the school servers.  Take a look at what happens when you try to access the site:

Source

Did PHC not realize that by censoring, they were actually promoting the site?  This is titillating news for students.  Most likely the news of this banned site was spread far more than if they had ignored it.  A school that teaches students how to debate is afraid of a little conflict and censors?  Rather than banning the site, they could have used it as a discussion tool.  Let's not forget that most of these students are adults.  Oy!  Moving right along.  

So, not only was the site censored, Chancellor Michael Farris publicly posted a comment on their Facebook wall threatening legal action:

Ok, this comment touched a big nerve with me.  As most of my readers are aware, my former pastor bullied me, trying to force me to take down my blog by not only threatening to sue me, but by actually filing a defamation lawsuit against me and four others who commented on my blog or elsewhere.   I want to be clear that I'm talking about behavior of this key leader.  What does God's word have to say to do if you have a problem with someone?  How are you to handle this kind of situation?  

“If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

(Matthew 18:15-17 ESV)

In light of this passage that any seasoned Christian would know, I wondered if Farris had made any attempt to contact this group privately either on their blog or Facebook page before publicly posting his comment above, so I sent a private message via Facebook to "Kate" from the group.  Here is my quick note and the response from Kate:

The bloggers had this public response to Farris' legal threat:

There’s not much to add, except that our message is intrinsically tied to the name Patrick Henry College. We are students of Patrick Henry College. We share about our experiences at Patrick Henry College. We reach out to other students at Patrick Henry College. The demand that we stop using the school’s name is really a thinly disguised demand that we shut up.

Snark meter is in full throttle now:  You don't imagine I'd have personal Freedom of Speech issues, would I?  Yes, it appears that Mr. Farris doesn't like people exercising their rights to Free Speech.  So, let me get this straight, when First Amendment rights benefits Mr. Farris and his agenda, he uses it, but when it conflicts with his agenda or morals, he gets to act like a bully and threaten someone with a lawsuit.   Where's the love, Mr. Farris?

These students are not dumb.  They sought legal assistance with Public Citizen who also reported this story:

The students reached out to Public Citizen for assistance, and before drafting a letter in response to his threat, I called Farris to inquire whether he was represented by counsel. Within a few minutes, Farris had posted on his Facebook page a retraction of this threats, saying in tortured English that “while we believe in the inappropriate nature of the use of our trademarked name, litigation is not appropriate.” (The retraction may also have been the result of an inquiry from New York Magazine).

Farris must have had a big reality check with that response and issued this retraction on the group's Facebook page:

Well, yes, Mr. Farris, litigation is not appropriate.  But the most inappropriate part of this whole ordeal was your behavior.  The issue of lawsuits is discussed plainly in Romans.  Christians should not be suing one another.  Why were you so quick to take this situation public in the civil courts when you failed to address the conflict appropriately or in a biblical fashion?  

This really brought back flashbacks of my lawsuit.  Can you imagine being a young student and then the top leader from your school threatening you with a lawsuit - without ever having spoken to you to work it out?  This is bully behavior.  I feel very bad for those current and former students who were threatened like that.  This should not have happened.  

My pastor did not like me exercising my right to free speech.   My speaking out and naming his name and church's name tarnished the image.  He used all sorts of methods to shut me down, removed Google reviews, and eventually filing a lawsuit.  He was concerned about his image and reputation and used inappropriate methods of dealing with the conflict.  He refused to try to work out our grievances one on one, with an arbitrator, but instead took it to the public arena, going against scripture in filing a lawsuit against Believers.  

I have one question for Mr. Farris:  how would Christ have handled this situation?  Would he have gone public or threatened a lawsuit?  I don't think so.

Telling a group of people that you are going to sue them is not kind and loving, especially if you have not made any effort to connect.   In an attempt to keep the image of PHC untarnished, he behaved like a bully. I'm glad he has retracted his statement; however, the appropriate response would have been a public apology.  

After I hit "publish", I will tweet this article and tag HSLDA and Patrick Henry College.  Please do the right thing, Mr. Farris, it's never too late to apologize.   

Here are more links on this situation:

Chancellor of Patrick Henry College Withdraws Short-Lived Threat to Sue Student-Run Gay Blog

Leader of Ultra-Christian College Threatens to Sue Student-Run LGBT Blog... Then Changes His Mind

If This Be Censorious Asshattery, Let Michael Farris Make The Most Of It

Bogus trademark claim from Patrick Henry College

The Homeschool Movement: Reconstructionist Movement, Michael Farris, HSLDA, and Patrick Henry College

Continuing with last article's theme of Reconstructionist ideology as in the homeschool movement, I'd like to give you some history on Michael Farris, one of the key pillars in the homeschool movement.  I cannot say whether Farris would call himself a Reconstructionist, but as I shared in the last post, many times people adopt Reconstructionist ideologybh without even knowing they are a Reconstructionist.  We can see a lot of evidence that he has been influenced by the ideals of Reconstructionist:  full-quiver, teaching children at home, involvement in government, education, etc.

Here is part of his bio from the group he founded in 1983, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) (website):

Michael Farris is the chancellor of Patrick Henry College and chairman of the Home School Legal Defense Association. He was the founding president of each organization.

Farris is a constitutional appellate litigator who has served as lead counsel in the United States Supreme Court, eight federal circuit courts, and the appellate courts of 13 states.

and

He has been a leader on Capitol Hill for over 30 years and is widely known for his leadership on homeschooling, religious freedom, and the preservation of American sovereignty. 

And this last sentence is important to note:

Mike and Vickie Farris have 10 children and 14 grandchildren.

Michael Farris has the picture-perfect family for the homeschool movement and Reconstructionist ideology.  Because of his key position in the homeschooling movement, it's good to see what has influenced him and observe his actions and how he influences others.  

To remind again what this Reconstructionist ideology looks like, I found the quote below by author David Barton.  Barton is well known in the homeschooling community and his history books have been sold in homeschool catalogs for years.  He serves on the Board of Advisors of the Providence Foundation, a group which promotes Reconstructionist ideas.  (Ok, JA snark:  just now as I have been researching more on this the background of the Providence Foundation, I have found more connections with Reconstructionism on the very curriculum we have used in our home with our children.  These books are still on my shelf.  I want to burn them, but I may have to keep them to use for future blog posts!  This ideology did not come from just leaders in the homeschooling community, they infiltrated into the very curriculum that we use with our children.  I've been brainwashing my own children into this mindset without knowing it.  I thought I was buying decent history curricula for my children and now I see that it was tainted with this agenda.  Un-freaking-believable!!!  This stuff just keeps going and going and going.)  Read what David Barton has to say on this subject of the Reconstructionists:  

"The Christian goal for the world is the universal development of Biblical theocratic republics, in which every area of life is redeemed and placed under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and the rule of God's law."

When Christian families decide to educate their children at home, I don't think they realize that these Reconstructionist roots exist in the homeschool movement.   The next quote comes from a very informative article, Reconstruction Theology and Home Education and discusses what a "Reconstructed America" would look like from the mindset of Reconstructionists:

In his excellent 1996 book, With God on Our Side, William Martin used a sampling of the views of several noted Reconstructionists to give a sense of how a Reconstructed America would be: "The federal government would play no role in regulating business, public education, or welfare…[S]ome government would be visible at the level of counties…but citizens would be answerable to church authorities on most matters subject to regulation…income taxes would not exceed ten percent - the biblical tithe - and social security would disappear…[P]ublic schools would be abolished in favor of home-schooling arrangements, and families would operate on a strict patriarchal pattern. The only people permitted to vote would be members of 'biblically correct' churches. Most notably, a theonomic order would make homosexuality, adultery, blasphemy, propagation of false doctrine, and incorrigible behavior by disobedient children subject to the death penalty, preferably administered by stoning…a reconstructed America would have little room for Jews, Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, atheists, or even non-Reconstructionist Christians. 'The Christian', one Reconstructionist author has asserted, 'must realize that pluralism is a myth…R.J. Rushdoony, also regards pluralism as a heresy, since, in the name of toleration, the believer is asked to associate on a common level of total acceptance with the atheist, the pervert, the criminal, and the adherents of other religions."

So, again,  with this Reconstructionist background, let's take a look at Farris.  He's an ordained pastor, an attorney, very active in legal matters, founded Homeschool Legal Defense Association in 1983:

Home School Legal Defense Association is a 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.

Promoting the homeschooling agenda and being active in the legal system are definitely ideals in the Reconstructionist movement.  

You might ask:  Julie Anne, what is your beef?  You homeschool - - don't you appreciate Farris' efforts for the homeschooling community?  Where would homeschoolers be today if HSLDA hadn't helped with lobbying efforts and made sure all 50 states had decent laws ensuring homeschooling freedoms?  Good questions.  I'm glad you asked :)

We found out about HSLDA through a homeschool convention and discovered most of our homeschooling friends belonged to this organization.  Paying a membership fee ($115 p/year) gives homeschooling the peace of mind that should their family ever have any legal entanglements with their local public  government school, HSLDA would be there to help.  They also have helped families in cases where Children's Protective Services and other government "intrusions" may have crossed the lines.  

Included in our HSLDA membership, we received a magazine each month, The Home School Report.  This magazine listed key legal issues involving homeschooling in each state.  They also reported current stories of families with legal issues sometimes involving government intrusion, child custody issues, etc.  We were kept abreast of various laws in states with contact information to make our voices count.  

At one point, this magazine had a tear-out section listing what to do if a government official (police, school official, CPS, etc) came to our door making demands or asking for information.  We were instructed to hang this list in a location (ie, inside a kitchen cupboard) so it would be handy.  In addition to providing important phone numbers, the page included instructions like:  do not allow a government official to come in your house, instructions to advise the official that you are calling your attorney, etc.  I wish I saved a copy now, but it certainly promoted a fear of the government, that the government was not on our side.  The stories in the articles were frightening, including stories of the government's intrusion in private citizen's lives, taking children away from parents, forcing children to go to public government schools (in the homeschooling movement, people don't say "public" school, but "government school" - JA's snark meter is going crazy just typing this).  

HSLDA had a way of convincing homeschooling families that we needed them and their services.  If we did not take advantage of their service, we were risking government intrusion in our lives, worst-case scenarios were described of government officials coming to our home and removing and/or taking custody of our children.  If we did not pay our membership fee each year, we were risking unsurmountable legal fees if we got in trouble with our school district or government.  HSLDA would defend us in court if we needed them.  HSLDA would speak on our behalf.  They would fight to keep laws so we could have the freedom to homeschool. 

Here is a good example of the tone we got from HSLDA.  It is involving a specific case that HSLDA defended.  When you are about to venture into an unknown territory and experienced homeschool leaders present themselves to you in a way that they will help you, make sure you are safe from the evil government who wants to interfere with your right to homeschool, you tend to want to believe them.  Watching a video like the one below can send a fear message that there is something huge going on in the government that may threaten you as you try to teach your children at home.  It makes perfect sense to send in the $100+ membership fee and let them take care of you.  You feel safe in their hands when you write out that check, because you never know when someone will come knocking at your front door.

Did you notice the ominous music in the background?  There was a purpose - it invokes an emotional response.  It is manipulation.  This stuff drives me crazy. They spoke for all homeschoolers.  

But wait . . . do they speak for all homeschoolers?  In 2000, when we were about to move to Oregon, I joined a homeschool e-mail group to get a feel for the homeschooling environment in Oregon.  This homeschool e-mail group was a mixed group with Christians and non-Christians.  On that e-mail group I heard for the first time that HSLDA did not speak on behalf of all homeschoolers.  In fact, a lot of homeschoolers were quite upset that HSLDA presumed to speak on their behalf.  They didn't like the way HSLDA had changed some laws and thought they were interfering with their homeschool freedoms and promoting their own agenda.  Wow!    

This is when I took a closer look and saw that there was some sort of agenda going on.  It was also when I stopped paying our membership fees.  Since canceling our membership, we've had no government intrusion in our life and in fact, we've had no problems whatsoever with the two public school systems with which we have dealt.    (Not to say that there are never legal homeschooling problems, but our experience has been fine.)

While searching around for more info on Farris today, I discovered a new group geared to teens founded by Farris and HSLDA.  Here we go again.  It is a group called Generation Joshua with the intended purpose to equip teens in the political process (if it looks like Reconstructionist agenda, walks like Reconstructionist agenda . . .).  Here is the scoop:

Inspired by Mike Farris’ book The Joshua Generation, Generation Joshua was founded in 2003 by Farris, Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA) President Mike Smith, and the HSLDA Board of Trustees.

In the book, Farris casts a vision for this next generation to build on the foundation their parents built. 

Generation Joshua is a 501(c)(4) member organization and works with the HSLDA-PAC, an advocacy group. This allows Generation Joshua to conduct non-partisan educational activities while also being able to participate actively in the election process through the HSLDA-PAC. Since it was founded in 2003, Generation Joshua has grown to over 7,500 members and has established over 100 clubs nationwide. 

As the Generation Joshua Program continues to grow, more conservative godly youth get involved in the political system making a real difference in our nation. The future of Generation Joshua will continue to be an exciting journey as the next generation shapes this nation and becomes tomorrow’s leaders.

This group was alive and well during this year's elections.  Here is a promotional video Generation Joshua produced for the occasion:

Ok, that's a brief history of some of Michael Farris' groups, HSLDA and Joshua Generation, including our experience with HSLDA over the years.  Let's now move along to Patrick Henry College which Mike Farris founded in 2000.  Read their mission and vision statements (keeping in mind the Reconstructionist agenda):

The Mission of Patrick Henry College is to prepare Christian men and women who will lead our nation and shape our culture with timeless biblical values and fidelity to the spirit of the American founding.  Educating students according to a classical liberal arts curriculum and training them with apprenticeship methodology, the College provides academically excellent baccalaureate level higher education with a biblical worldview.

The Vision of Patrick Henry College is to aid in the transformation of American society by training Christian students to serve God and mankind with a passion for righteousness justice, and mercy, through careers of public service and culture influence. 

We cannot dismiss the fact that Patrick Henry College is strategically located in close proximity to our Nation's capital so students are able to participate in political meetings, hearings, lobbying efforts, meet government officials, etc.  Yes, indeed, not only does Farris personally work within the legal system, he has been raising up homeschool warriors to infiltrate the system.  This fits the agenda to a tee.

Prior to 2000, in the homeschool movement, we heard from top leaders that there are other alternatives to college for our homeschooled students. Colleges were sometimes labeled as evil influences, even conservative Christian institutions, and girls especially should not go to college, but remain at home under the protection of their patriarchal fathers.  But strangely, something happened overnight in 2000.  Somehow, Mike Farris got a free pass and convinced homeschool parents that the new college would be different.  I remember the big build-up of this college even before the groundbreaking.  This was to be the first college that would be specifically tailored for homeschoolers.  Other students would be able to attend, but first priority would be to homeschool students.  He made PHC okay for not only homeschoolers in general, but young ladies as well.  Remember, he comes from the Patriarchal camp where young daughters typically remain at home until their daddies find them appropriate spouses through the courtship process.  I don't know how Mike and patriarchal homeschool daddy's wrestled this issue, but there are in fact young ladies who attend this college.   

JA snark:  I guess if you are part of this agenda and God tells you a patriarchal daddy that his daughter might be a special daughter who can infiltrate the government for God's glory, then daddies are able to cut the cord and let those special daughters do their good works.  But . . . what happens if those young ladies find a young man without their daddy around?  Who will oversee her while she is away at college?  Who will make sure the relationship meets daddy's criteria?  

Stay tuned for the next post on what originally got me worked up and what led to this series on Reconstructionism.