American Association of Christian Schools

The American Association of Christian Schools (AACS) is a United States organization, based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, that unifies individual conservative Protestant Christian schools and statewide Christian school associations across the country for the purpose of accreditation, competition, and group benefits.

For other AACS uses, see AACS.
American Association of Christian Schools
AbbreviationAACS
Formation1972
Legal statusActive
PurposeAACS aids in promoting, establishing, advancing, and developing Christian schools and Christian education in America.
Location
  • National Office 6170 Shallowford Road Suite 103 Chattanooga, TN 37421

Members subscribe to a Statement of Faith based on biblical literalism, creationism, and rejection of ecumenism.[1]

History

The American Association of Christian Schools began in August 1972 in Miami, Florida. Instrumental in the founding of AACS, Al Janney, president and founder of the Florida Association of Christian Schools, was president of AACS from 1972 to 1992. The first recorded AACS board meeting was held in Dallas, Texas, on November 30, 1972... During this time, the Christian school movement in the United States [grew] rapidly and [experienced] opposition. AACS provided its membership leadership, legislative protection, and high-quality educational programs.

AACS expanded services as its membership increased throughout the 1970s. In 1978 Arno (Bud) Weniger, Jr., became executive vice president and assumed responsibility for day-to-day operations, and the office was moved from Hialeah, Florida, to Normal, Illinois. The nonprofit, tax-exempt organizational status of AACS was clarified in 1980. When Gerry Carlson was promoted to executive director in 1985, AACS opened a DC-area office in Fairfax, Virginia. Under Dr. Weniger’s leadership (1978–1988), AACS continued to grow, with the number of member schools passing the 1,000 mark in 1982.

Upon Dr. Janney’s retirement in 1992, the AACS national office moved to Independence, Missouri, and Carl Herbster became president. Under his leadership (1992–2003), AACS services and schools expanded. Directed by Charles Walker, the AACS education office opened in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1993. The AACS legal office was established in Atlanta, Georgia, in May 1996. In 1998, AACS purchased a four-level building in the Capitol Hill Historic District within one block of the U.S. House of Representatives office buildings to house the AACS office in Washington, D.C.

In 2003, Keith Wiebe became the third president of AACS, and Charles Walker was appointed to serve as executive director. The national office was moved from Kansas City to Chattanooga, Tennessee, in September 2003. In 2009, Dr. Walker resigned as executive director and education director, and Jeff Walton became the executive director of AACS."[2]

State associations

The AACS includes 37 associations, each representing the AACS schools in its state.[3]

Public policy advocacy

The AACS has an active lobbying program in Washington and sends periodic communications to its members providing news and recommended positions on current federal and state legislative proposals in the areas it describes as "education, religious liberty, pro-family issues, and pro-life issues."[4]

Land letter

In 2002 AACS president Carl D. Herbster was one of five evangelical Protestant leaders who signed the "Land letter" to President George W. Bush, outlining their theological support for a pre-emptive invasion of Iraq as a just war.[5]

References
  1. http://www.aacs.org/statement-of-faith/
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2015-02-22. Retrieved 2015-02-21.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "AACS State Associations". Archived from the original on 2010-09-17. Retrieved 2010-07-13.
  4. AACS Legislative Services Archived 2007-10-13 at the Wayback Machine (accessed November 11, 2007)
  5. The so-called “Land Letter” Archived 2007-11-27 at the Wayback Machine, Oct 3, 2002
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