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Defenders 3:15 Speaking boldly, changing the world for Christ. Stoa Speech and Debate “But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts…” “…always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for for the hope that is in you…” “…yet with gentleness and reverence.” 1 Peter 3:15
 

D315 Club Policies

Defenders 3:15 Mission Statement:

Our mission is to help students discover fundamental truths of scripture through biblical apologetics. To sharpen within them character of the highest integrity and to help them develop the skills they need to be competent communicators. All for the glory of God.


Club Policies


  1. Qualifications for membership:
    1. Both parents must be interviewed by D315 Leadership.
    2. Parents and all students must attend D315 orientation.
    3. All students must be privately home-educated (See Stoausa.org for details).
    4. Parents and students must agree to the Statement of Faith that D315 and Stoa subscribe to.
    5. Parents and students agree to abide by D315’s code of conduct and dress code.
    6. All member students must be between the age of 12-18yrs as of October 1st of the current competition season.
    7. Membership dues are paid in full.
    8. Member families must have a current Stoa membership (additional fees apply).
    9. Members must be able to meet D315 expectations of membership listed below.
    10. All parents must pass a criminal background check.
    11. All members must sign a release of liability form.
  2. Member families:
    1. D315 membership includes each qualified member of the family and their parents from the same household.
    2. Every student from the member family who competes in Stoa must be a member of D315.
  3. Club Governance:
    1. Director: The club director oversees Defenders 3:15 club policies, general operations, meetings, and events.
    2. Board of Directors: The Board of Directors will be comprised of the Director, the Treasurer, and at least 1 other board members. The Board will help and support the club director with financial expenditures, conflict resolution, and the big-picture direction of Defenders 3:15.

Expectation of membership: We wish to be as transparent as possible so that you can make an informed decision about whether D315 will be a good fit for your family. At D315, we hold ourselves to a high standard; as a member, your family represents not only Defenders 3:15, but you are also representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 2:20).


  1. Club Expectations:
    1. Members (students and at least one parent) must attend weekly club meetings. Club meetings run from late August through the last tournament in April. We encourage everyone to attend club meetings leading up to NITOC (in May).
    2. Members are permitted two unexcused absences each year.
      1. Excused absences include illness, attending an out-of-town tournament, and family vacations. For other exceptions, contact club leadership for approval.
    3. Club meetings are for members only. No younger siblings are permitted. Should the ability arise, we may add a junior division for younger siblings of current club members.
    4. Visitors will be permitted on a limited basis with prior permission from club leadership.
    5. Students must participate in Apologetics and at least one other speech or debate event.
      1. Exceptions: Students who are in their first year of Stoa membership may, with their parent's permission, choose not to compete in Apologetics; however, they will be required to complete weekly Apol assignments as if they were going to compete. They must compete in at least two other speech events.
      2. All platform and Interpretation topics/literature choices must be approved by D315 Leadership.
    6. Students must participate in all club activities.
    7. Students are to invest time into their speeches and debate cases at home during the week. It is recommended that parents work speech/debate into their regular school routine.
    8. Parents are to participate in club.
      1. Parents will listen to speeches and debate rounds each week and provide feedback to the students.
      2. Parents will learn alongside their students.
      3. Parents and students will help with set-up and clean-up each week.
  2. Student Protection Plan:
    1. All parents and coaches will be required to pass a background check.
    2. Students may not be in any room without adult supervision.
    3. No adult may be alone in a closed room with any non-related student.
    4. You may not attend club if a parent or student shows signs of illness. You must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to club.
  3. Tournament expectations and Policies.
    1. Each student must Compete in a minimum of two events at three tournaments per competition season.
      1. NOTE: There are usually a minimum of 4 tournaments in the DFW area each year, but you may also choose to travel to meet this requirement.
    2. Each second+ year student must compete in Apologetics and at least one additional event.
    3. All students must compete under the club name Defenders 3:15.
    4. Partnerships must be with D315 club mates and approved by D315 Leadership.
    5. Partnerships with students outside of D315 may be approved in limited circumstances. Please submit a request to D315 Leadership for consideration.
    6. All scripts must be approved by D315 Leadership before tournament registration.
    7. At least one parent must attend each tournament their student participates in.
    8. Parents are expected to judge as many rounds as possible at each tournament. At least every other round.
      1. Exception: If the tournament director asks you to serve in some other capacity for the tournament, you will not be expected to judge during the time you serve.
    9. Families are expected to stay and judge for the tournament, even if their students do not break to finals. Students who don’t break to finals should watch finals.
    10. Each competing student is expected to attend the tournament award ceremony in tournament attire, even if they do not expect to receive an award.
    11. D315 families should sit together for awards so that we can celebrate together.
    12. Tournaments are not about winning; they are about growing your skills and character (both parents and students). Therefore, we will celebrate each victory, no matter how small.

Code of Conduct:

  1. Behave in a manner that brings glory to God:
    1. Be respectful of others; including, but not limited to being on time, respecting your club mates, coaches and parents, facility staff, other Stoa members, facility property, etc. (1 Peter 2:13-17, Matthew 7:12)
    2. All speeches will be God-honoring. No profanity.
    3. No electronics at club. (Ecc 4:9-12, Heb 10:25)
    4. Be in your place. If you’re not sure where that is, ask. (1Cor 10:13)
    5. Conflicts are to be resolved biblically. No gossiping. We will always strive for the unity of the Body. (Matt 18:15-18, Ps. 133:1, Col 3:14)
    6. No romantic public displays of affection (PDAs). Treat all students as brothers and sisters in the Lord (Rom 12:9)
  2. Dress code for club meetings and activities:
    1. Modest dress is required.
    2. Shorts must have no less than a 5” inseam.
    3. Skirts and dresses must be no more than 3” above the knees while standing. Skirts that come to your fingertips may be worn with leggings.
    4. No leggings are to be worn as pants.
    5. Shorts/pants rest at the natural waistline.
    6. Shirts must cover well—no spaghetti straps, cleavage, see-through, or midriff showing.
    7. All images/wording must be God-honoring.
    8. Let's honor the Lord with our attire. D315 Leadership will send you home to change if necessary.
    9. Tournament dress code is modest business attire. Each tournament will state its dress code on its website. D315 Leadership will enforce modest tournament attire for all D315 members. (Deut. 22:5, 1 Tim 2:9-10, 1 Cor 6:19-20, Rom 14:13-15)
  3. Keep all private D315 information private:
    1. Club contact information is for personal or Stoa-related business.
    2. Do not share contact information with anyone outside of our group without permission.
    3. Do not use the contact list for marketing purposes.
    4. Do not share any D315 information or documents without permission.

NOTE: Because it is impossible to include every potential violation in this document, Defenders 3:15 Leadership reserves the right to use their best judgment regarding possible infringements. Our commitment is to bring glory to God in all that we do.

Statement of Faith:

  1. D315 Statement of faith: The families of Defenders 3:15 adhere to classic Protestant evangelical theology, which is different than and distinguished from other beliefs such as the views of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), the Jehovah's Witnesses, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
    1. There is one God eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
    2. Man is sinful and therefore separated from God, who is holy and perfect. (Isaiah 53:5-9, Romans 3:23, I Peter1:15-16)
    3. Jesus Christ paid the eternal penalties for our sins through His death on the cross (Luke 24:46, I Peter 2:21)
    4. Jesus Christ also resurrected bodily and ascended into heaven and will return one day to fulfill His kingdom. (Matthew 28:6, Revelation 19:11)
    5. Only through Jesus Christ and the grace of His provision of salvation may we be saved from eternal punishment, enter into God’s family, and receive eternal life. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:11, I John 1:9)
    6. The Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the old and new Testaments, is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God and the truth for Christian faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 17:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Psalm 19:7-11, John 6:67-69)
    7. We affirm that God creates each person as male or female and that an individual's gender corresponds with his or her God-given biological gender. (Psalms 139:14, Genesis 1:27)
    8. The term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25, Ephesians 5:25).
    9. We affirm that within marriage exclusively is the rightful expression of sexual intimacy. (Philippians 2:14-16, 1 Thessalonian 5:22, 1 Corinthians 6:16-18)

Club Policies

  1. Qualifications for membership:
    1. Both parents must be interviewed by D315 leadership.
    2. All parents and students must attend D315 orientation.
    3. All students must be privately home-educated (See Stoausa.org for details).
    4. Parents and students must agree to the Statement of Faith that D315 and Stoa subscribe to.
    5. Parents and students agree to abide by D315’s code of conduct and dress code.
    6. All member students must be between the age of 12-18yrs as of October 1st of the current competition season.
    7. Membership dues are paid in full.
    8. Member families must have a current Stoa membership (additional fees apply).
    9. Members must be able to meet D315 expectations of membership listed below.
    10. All parents must pass a criminal background check.
    11. All members must sign a release of liability form.
  2. Member families:
    1. D315 membership includes each qualified member of the family and their parents from the same household.
    2. Every student from the member family who competes in Stoa must be a member of D315.

Expectation of membership: We wish to be as transparent as possible so that you can make an informed decision about whether D315 will be a good fit for your family. At D315 we hold ourselves to a high standard; as a member, your family represents not only Defenders 3:15, but you are also representees of the Lord Jesus Christ (Gal 2:20).

  1. Club Expectations:
    1. Members (Students and at least one parent) must attend weekly club meetings. Club meetings run from late August through the last tournament in April. We encourage everyone to attend club meetings leading up to NITOC (in May).
    2. Members are permitted two unexcused absences each year.

Excused absences include Illness, attending an out-of-town tournament, and family vacation. For other exceptions, contact club leadership for approval.

    1. Club meetings are for members only. No younger siblings are permitted. Should the ability arise, we may add a junior division for younger siblings of current club members.
    2. Visitors will be permitted on a limited basis with prior permission from club leadership.
    3. Students must participate in Apologetics and at least one other speech or debate event.
      1. Exceptions: Students who are in their first year of Stoa membership may, with their parent's permission, choose not to compete in Apologetics; however, they will be required to complete weekly Apol assignments as if they were going to compete. They must compete in at least two other speech events.
      2. All platform and Interpretation topics/literature choices must be approved by D315 leadership.
    4. Students must participate in all club activities.
    5. Students are to invest time into their speeches and debate cases at home during the week. It is recommended that parents work speech/debate into their normal school routine.
    1. Parents are to participate in club.
      1. Parents will listen to speeches and debate rounds each week and provide feedback to the students.
      2. Parents will learn alongside their students.
      3. Parents and students will help with set-up and clean-up each week.
  3. Student Protection Plan:
    1. All parents and coaches will be required to pass a background check.
    2. Students may not be in any room without adult supervision.
    3. No adult may be alone in a closed room with any non-related student.
    4. If a parent or student is showing signs of illness, you may not attend club. You must be symptom-free for 24 hours before returning to club.
  4. Tournament expectations and Policies.
    1. Each student must Compete in a minimum of two events at three tournaments per competition season.
      1. NOTE: There are usually a minimum of 4 tournaments in the DFW area each year, but you may also choose to travel to meet this requirement.
    2. Each second+ year student must compete in Apologetics and at least one additional event.
    3. All students must compete under the club name Defenders 3:15.
    4. Partnerships must be with D315 club mates and must be approved by D315 Leadership.
    5. Partnerships with students outside of D315 may be approved in limited circumstances. Please submit a request to D315 leadership for consideration.
    6. All scripts must be approved by D315 Leadership prior to tournament registration.
    7. At least one parent must attend each tournament their student participates in.
    8. Parents are expected to judge as many rounds as possible at each tournament. At least every other round.
      1. Exception: If the tournament director asks you to serve in some other capacity for the tournament, you will not be expected to judge during the time you serve.
    9. Families are expected to stay and judge for the entire tournament, even if their students do not break to finals. Students who don’t break to finals should WATCH FINALS.
    10. Each competing student is expected to attend the tournament award ceremony in tournament attire, even if they do not expect to receive an award.
    11. D315 families should sit together for awards so that we can celebrate together.
    12. Tournaments are not about winning; they are about growing your skills and your character (both parents and students). We will celebrate each victory, no matter how small.

Code of Conduct:

  1. Behave in a manner that brings glory to God:
    1. Be respectful of others; including, but not limited being on time, respecting your club mates, coaches and parents, facility staff, other Stoa members, facility property, etc. (1 Peter 2:13-17, Matthew 7:12)
    2. All speeches will be God-honoring. No profanity.
    3. No electronics at club. (Ecc 4:9-12, Heb 10:25)
    4. Be in your place. If you’re not sure where that it, ask. (1Cor 10:13)
    5. Conflicts are to be resolved biblically. No gossiping. We will always strive for the unity of the Body. (Matt 18:15-18, Ps. 133:1, Col 3:14)
    6. No romantic public displays of affection (PDA’s). Treat all students as brothers and sisters in the Lord (Rom 12:9)
  2. Dress code for club meetings and activities:
    1. Modest dress is required.
    2. Shorts must have no less than a 5” inseam.
    3. Skirts and dresses must be no more than 3” above the knees while standing. Skirts that come to your fingertips may be worn with leggings.
    4. No leggings are to be worn as pants.
    5. Shorts/pants rest at the natural waistline.
    6. Shirts must cover well. No spaghetti straps, no cleavage, no see-through, no midriff showing.
    7. All images/wording must be God-honoring.
    8. Let’s honor the Lord with our attire. D315 leadership will send you home to change if necessary.
    9. The tournament dress code is modest business attire. Each tournament will state its dress code on its website. D315 leadership will enforce modest tournament attire for all D315 members. (Deut. 22:5, 1 Tim 2:9-10, 1 Cor 6:19-20, Rom 14:13-15)
  3. Keep all private D315 information private:
    1. Club contact information is for personal or Stoa-related business.
    2. Do not share contact information with anyone outside of our group without permission.
    3. Do not use the contact list for marketing purposes.
    4. Do not share any D315 information or documents without permission.

NOTE: Because it is impossible to include every potential violation in this document, Defenders 3:15 leadership reserves the right to use their best judgment regarding potential violations. Our commitment is to bring glory to God in all that we do.

Statement of Faith:

  1. The families of Defenders 3:15 adhere to classic Protestant evangelical theology, which is different than and distinguished from other beliefs such as the views of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), the Jehovah’s Witnesses, and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
    1. There is one God eternally existing in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:16, Matthew 28:19, John 10:30, 2 Corinthians 13:14)
    2. Man is sinful and therefore separated from God, who is holy and perfect. (Isaiah 53:5-9, Romans 3:23, I Peter1:15-16)
    3. Jesus Christ paid the eternal penalties for our sins through His death on the cross (Luke 24:46, I Peter 2:21)
    4. Jesus Christ also resurrected bodily and ascended into heaven and will return one day to fulfill His kingdom. (Matthew 28:6, Revelation 19:11)
    5. Only through Jesus Christ and the grace of His provision of salvation may we be saved from eternal punishment, enter into God’s family, and receive eternal life. (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 6:23, Romans 8:11, I John 1:9)
    6. The Bible, consisting of the 66 books of the old and new Testaments, is the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God and the truth for Christian faith and practice. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, 2 Peter 1:20-21, John 17:17, 1 Thessalonians 2:13, Psalm 19:7-11, John 6:67-69)
    7. We affirm that God creates each person as male or female and that an individual's gender corresponds with his or her God-given biological gender. (Psalms 139:14, Genesis 1:27)
    8. The term "marriage" has only one meaning: the uniting of one man and one woman in a single, exclusive union, as delineated in scripture. (Genesis 2:18-25, Ephesians 5:25).
    9. We affirm that within marriage exclusively is the rightful expression of sexual intimacy. (Philippians 2:14-16, 1 Thessalonian 5:22, 1 Corinthians 6:16-18)