Protestant partnership on Education


Since 1993, the Partnership has sought to represent Judeo-Christian values within the context of the contemporary school system. Since the year 2000, with the “deconfessionalization” of schools (Bill 118), the Partnership has and continues to represent Protestant parents before the Ministry of Education.

In a context where religious education, as we have known it, is now a thing of the past, the Partnership is redefining its mission, objectives and actions, within a unifying Protestant vision for the future.

By gathering together the best Protestant resources in Québec, the Partnership wants to guarantee that Protestant values continue to be expressed in a coherent manner. It seeks to inform and influence Protestant communities, as well as the general population concerning the main issues of education. It also desires to train teachers, parents and church leaders so they can live and teach with wisdom, justice and godliness.

Basic Principles

We affirm that the spiritual dimension of every individual is an essential element in education. As human beings, we live according to a set of beliefs, values and ideas that direct our actions. Religious and spiritual beliefs form an integral part of our vision of reality.

We consider the family to be the principal educator and the home to be the most important place for religious education. Therefore, parents and the home play the primary role in the child’s education and they are encouraged to participate actively in school life.

We defend the rights of Protestants to continue to have a voice in the system in a spirit of receptivity, harmony and openness to its diversity. The Protestant presence in the school system helps to maintain Christian values and to mobilize parents and church leaders concerning education.

We insist on adequate training for the educators of the new “Ethics and Religious Culture” (ERC) Program in order to ensure the quality of teaching. The Protestant worldview must be described without prejudice, with respect to its beliefs and traditions.

Specific Objectives

1. Build a network of people interested in education

• Inform church leaders and parents about the socio-political changes related to education.
• Establish a network of Christians working in primary and secondary schools to reduce isolation.

2. Consult people on issues of education

• Join forces and listen to parents and pastors.

3. Promote the values and principles of the Protestant Christian heritage

• Promote Protestant values and act as a resource with the Ministry of Education, Leisure and Sport.

4. Mobilize the Protestant community on issues relating to education

• Motivate parents, who are the primary educators of their children, to take responsibility for the transmission of their faith in Jesus Christ to their children.
• Help parents express their faith in their children’s school.
• Raise the next generation of Christians to be involved in schools.