I. NAME

The name of this support group is Christian Home Educators of Laurens County (CHELC).  

II. DEFINITION

CHELC is a Christian organization, the members of which are like-minded Christian home  educators dedicated to observing the Biblical commands of Deuteronomy 6:4-10, Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4 and Malachi 4:6.  CHELC is not a church nor is this organization meant to replace the ministry of the local church to the home education family.  CHELC is primarily a group led by women who have placed themselves under the authority of God and the leadership of their husbands.

III. PURPOSE

The purpose of Christian Home Educators of Laurens County (CHELC) shall include but not be limited to:

A.  Helping parents fulfill their God-given responsibilities and privileges to educate their own children.

B.  Promoting educational excellence that will result in responsible citizenship.

C.  Representing home education to the general public, educators, legislators, etc. through personal contact, interviews, newspapers, lectures, seminars, workshops, newsletters, etc.

D. Providing a variety of information (including possible curriculum resources) to home schooling parents regarding home education and Christian family life.

E.   Encouraging the educational growth of home schooling parents through seminars, cassettes, information on home education conferences and conventions, etc.

F.   Providing a variety of opportunities for positive social interaction for home educated children.

G. Providing information regarding S.C. laws, pending legislation and names of attorneys specializing in helping home educators.

H.  Keeping in touch with our state and national home education organizations.

I.     Encouraging families to prioritize their lives (including putting their families and their local church fellowships before commitments to the local support group).

IV. STATEMENT OF FAITH

The officers of CHELC have purposed that the organization and all of its activities and publications will be consistently and forthrightly Christian.  All members will subscribe to the doctrinal statement printed below:

A.  The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God and constitutes completed and final revelation.  The Bible, in its original autograph, is without error in whole and in part; including theological concepts as well as geographical and historical details.

B.  God has existed from all eternity in three persons:  God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ was God come in human flesh being fully god and fully man except without sin.

C.  All men are in violation of God’s righteous requirements and His holy character, both by nature and act; and are therefore under His wrath and just condemnation.  The central purpose of the coming of Jesus Christ was to pay the penalty for man’s sin through His substitutionary death on the cross – the successful accomplishment of which was attested to by His subsequent visible, bodily resurrection.

D. Salvation is offered as a gift; free to the sinner.  This gift must be responded to in individual faith, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, but the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ alone.

                                (Doctrinal statement taken from The Teaching Home magazine.)

V. MEMBERSHIP

A.  Specifications

Membership is open to all Christian home educators who:

1. profess the Christian faith.

2. are in agreement with and sign the Statement of Faith.

3. are currently engaged in the home education of their children.

4. pay dues assessed by the Association.

5. perform at least one duty as assigned by the Board, with the exception of first year home schoolers.

B.  Expectations

It is expected that all members will support CHELC with annual dues in the amount set by the Board to cover operational expenses, and in the work of the Association to ensure that its purposes are met.  Further, it is expected that all members will conduct themselves in a manner consistent with Statement of Faith and purpose of CHELC in order to contribute to a positive image of our group in the community.

C.  Applying for Membership

Each Christian home educator interested in membership shall read and sign the application containing the Statement of Faith and Purpose.  If one spouse is unable to sign the Statement of Faith, this spouse may accompany the family for CHELC activities, but would have no voice in discussion or vote in meetings.  Payment of dues establishes a membership in the Association.

D. Terms of Membership

Members will be required to renew their membership on an annual basis at the beginning of each new year by signing the Statement of Faith and paying dues, reaffirming their commitment.  The year shall be taken to be August 1 through July 31.  At this time, updated membership rolls and any changes in leadership will be noted.

VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS (OR FACILITATORS)

A.  The Executive Board shall consist of:

1. President

2. Vice President

3. Secretary-Treasurer

B.  A Board member must be a practicing Christian of high moral standards.

C.  The new executive officers are nominated by the Board and elected by the full membership of the support group.  If possible, at least one officer should continue in office for another term to provide continuity.

D. A Board member shall agree to endorse and support the Statement of Faith and this constitution.

E.   Executive officers must have been home schooling their own children for at least one school year.

F.   The new Board members shall serve a 2 year term, be nominated at an annual April meeting, and be elected and introduced at the Spring Festival.

G. If any Board member terminates his membership (or is terminated for failure to uphold the Constitution) on the Board before his term is up, the member shall be replaced by the Board at a regularly scheduled meeting.

H.  Board member should attend the scheduled Board meeting regularly.

I.     All committees are subject to the final authority of the executive officers of the Board.

J.    A brief summary of proceedings of all meetings of the Board of Directors shall be published in the newsletter

VII.  DUTIES OF THE EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE BOARD

A.  The President shall:

1. Preside at the meetings of the Board.

2. Guide the support group within the provisions of this constitution.

3. Seek to keep up with current affairs and have an over-all view of the direction home education is going in the local county, the state, and the U.S.

4. Be a primary spokesman for the support group.

5. Be an Ex-Officio member of each committee (attendance at all meetings is not necessary), help guide the committees, keep the committees accountable on a regular basis.

6. Set up programs that help fulfill the goals of the Constitution.

7. Seek to be available to serve on an Advisory Board of the State Association of Educators as a representative of this local support group (or support a Board member to serve who will report to the officers of the Board).

8. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board.

B.  The Vice-President shall:

1. Perform the duties of the President in the event of the latter’s absence.

2. Assist the President at the latter’s request.

3. Work with President in setting up meeting/programs.

4. Perform other duties as assigned by the Board.

C.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall:

1. Record and maintain minutes of all the meetings of the Board.

2. Type and distribute copies of the minutes to the Board members.

3. Answer correspondence.

4. Notify members of Board meetings.

5. Maintain a record of addresses and phone numbers of home educators in and around our district.

6. Provide the safe deposit and proper distribution of the money (for the proper functioning of the support group) in accord with the instructions of the Board.

7. Keep an accurate record of all financial transactions and submit a report at each Board meeting of all current expenditures and income.

8. Be ready to submit financial records to an independent “auditor” annually at a designated time.

9. Be responsible for the financial business of the support group including (but not limited to) appointing other persons and regulating financial procedures for any of the support group activities.

10. Submit to the executive officers for approval any unusual expenditures over $25.00.

VIII. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD

A.  To act, both individually and as a group, with a high Christian standard of morals, both privately and in public.

B.  To administer the affairs of the Christian Home Educators of Laurens County.

C.  To hold regularly scheduled meetings.

D. To publicly/visually represent home schooling to the community in conformity with the support group’s Statement of Faith and Purpose.

E.     To form such committees as are necessary to conduct the business of the support group.

F.   To provide/facilitate spiritual and moral support/encouragement to parents who want to have a wholesome family life, especially those who are seeking to educate a child at home.

G. To provide educational opportunities that would be difficult for parents to provide by themselves.

H.  To offer counseling whenever possible, including linking up families that can help each other (e.g. Families using the same curriculum, new home schooler with a more experienced home schooler, etc.).

I.     To make wise decisions in line with Christian principles.

IX. BOARD MEETINGS

A.  Regularly scheduled Board meetings shall be held 4 times a year (October, January, April, July) and other times as needed.

B.  Board meeting shall be held at location agreed upon by the Board members.

C.  Association members may attend Board meetings and express their views unless the Board meets in Executive Session, which shall be open only to the Board and those expressly invited.

D. The meeting Board to nominate new Board members shall be in April of each year.

E.   All meetings shall be opened and closed with prayer.

F.   All committees must notify the President about any meetings they may hold and submit written report after such meetings.  The report should include any information relating to their committee.

G. Normally all business shall be conducted by consensus.

X. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to this Constitution must be proposed by a resolution from a Board member and submitted to the officers of the Board to be voted on at the next regularly-scheduled meeting.  It must be passed/approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board members.  Notice must be given 10 days prior to any vote on amendments.  Amendments become effective upon approval.

XI. DISSOLUTION

In the event that the association disbands, after all local obligations have been met, any remaining funds shall go to an existing Christian state home schooling organization, as determined by the Board.

XII. FINANCES

A.  Compensation:  No part of the earning of CHELC shall insure to the benefit of, to be distribute to, its members, trustees, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article III and VI above.

B.  Yearly dues will help provide for services such as these:  monthly newsletter, periodic guest speakers, representatives being sent to state or national leadership meetings, etc.  The yearly dues shall be determined for the following year by the Board in the April meeting, announced in the June newsletter and be paid by August 1.

XII. AMENDMENTS

Amendments 1 through 5 approved April, 2005.

1.   Advisory Board Member – This member attends all board meetings and offers input as desired.  This position has no vote in any board vote.

2.   The qualifying executive officers are nominated by the members at large and elected by the full membership of the support group. The election will be held by secret ballot with votes being counted by the sitting board.

3.   Executive officers must have home schooled their own children for at least two school years (grades 1-12) and be members of CHELC for at least two years.

4.   The new board members shall be nominated in April, be finalized at the April board meeting, and be elected and announced in late April/early May.  The new board will replace the sitting board by the end of May.  The new board determines the location of the annual August meeting.