LCHE By-Laws

Lincoln County Home Educators By-Laws
 

Lincoln County Home Educators, Inc. (LCHE) is a Christian homeschool support group in Lincoln County, North Carolina, and surrounding areas.  For purposes of this document “homeschool” is defined as “a non-public school in which one or more children of not more than two families or households receive academic instruction from parents or guardians, or a member of either household.”  (North Carolina General Statutes 115C-563)
 

LCHE is a diverse and inclusive group, and welcomes members regardless of ethnicity, faith, or marital status who agree to respect the Christian principles in the Statement of Faith(see Article VI) and LCHE Guidelines for Activities and LCHE Teen Guidelines as approved by the Board.

In the event that LCHE dissolves, all assets shall be distributed to a charitable or religious corporation that is exempt under Internal Revenue Code 501©(3) or any successor section.

Article I:                       Name: The name of this organization is Lincoln County Home Educators, Inc.  (LCHE).
 

Article II:                      Purpose: LCHE purposes to help new and continuing home educators by:

A.    helping and encouraging parents to fulfill their God-given rights and responsibilities to teach their
        own children;

B.    providing direction to information on the legal aspects of home education (e.g., contact information
       for the North Carolina General Statutes, North Carolina Division of Non-Public Education, North
       Carolinians for Home Education, Home School Legal Defense Association);

C.    providing information on curricula and other resource materials;

D.    providing timely information about LCHE events;

E.    offering peer support, encouragement, and networking opportunities to families choosing home education for
        their children;

F.    providing opportunities for growth and education of the whole person – mind, body, and spirit;

G.   promoting home education as an excellent educational alternative.

Article III:                      Ideals of Home Education: LCHE holds that the ideals of home education are:

A.    the parents’ God-given authority over their children and responsibility for their education and discipline;

B.    educational excellence;

C.    protection and promotion of the family;

D.    diligence in moral and ethical instruction;

E.     responsible citizenship; and

F.     freedom of choice among education alternatives.
 

Article IV:                        Membership

A.    All those wishing to become members of LCHE must agree (by signing the annual membership form) to:

        1.    respect Christian principles and LCHE Statement of Faith AND

        2.    honor the ideals of home education AND

        3.    abide by the LCHE Guidelines for Activities and LCHE Teen Guidelines, if applicable, as established by
                the Board.

B.    Membership is offered on a household basis.

C.    To qualify for membership, applicants must:

        1.    live in Lincoln County or any surrounding county AND

        2.    have child(ren) who is/are:

               a.    school age OR

               b.    currently enrolled in a homeschool that is registered with DNPE and/or in full compliance with North
                      Carolina homseschooling law OR

               c.    graduated from homeschooling.

D.    Annual membership dues and a completed membership form will provide for membership from August 1st
        through the following May 31st.  The cost of dues will be determined by the Board.  Hardship membership dues
        may be approved by the Board.

E.    Membership may be revoked by a two-thirds vote of the Board upon violation of the LCHE Guidelines for
       Activities, LCHE Teen Guidelines, or any other written provision approved by the Board.

Article V:                          Board

A.    The Board is the primary governing body of LCHE.

B.    The Board will consist of five members – three by title (Treasurer, Secretary, Communications Director) and
        two at-large.

C.    Requirements of Board Members:

        1.    Board members must respect, believe, and sign the Statement of Faith for LCHE AND

        2.    be a member of LCHE in good standing for at least two years, attend a variety of activities, and serve
               responsibly in two areas of service.

        3.   It is strongly recommended, but not required, that Board members also be members of NCHE.

D.    Board members will serve for one full school year with elections occurring annually.  There will be no
        term limits.

E.    Replacement of Board Members:

       1.    To fill a vacancy on the Board, the current Board will nominate, interview, and discuss qualified members.

       2.    The Board votes on potential members requiring approval by a majority vote.

       3.    Mid-term vacancies will be filled by Board appointment.

F.    A Board member must resign if she/he no longer meets the qualifications of membership or Board membership.

G.   The Board may remove a Board member by two-thirds vote.

Article VI:                           Statement of Faith

A.   We believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God and is inerrant and infallible in the original writings.
            (II Timothy 3: 16;   II Peter 1: 21)

B.   We believe in the Trinity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1-2;   John 1: 1, 10:30, 37-38)

C.   We believe that the Godhead created the heavens and the earth and everything in them.  (Genesis 1: 1–31)

D.   We believe by the miracle of the virgin birth that the Lord Jesus Christ, eternal Son of God, became man
      without ceasing to be God, in order to reveal God and to redeem man, that He died for our sins and rose
            bodily from the dead for our justification.  We believe He now is exalted at the right hand of God, that He is
            the Head of the Church, the Lord of the individual believer, that He is ministering as our Great High Priest
            and Advocate.  We are awaiting His bodily return.  (Isaiah 7: 14;   Matthew 1: 18 –23;   Luke 1: 35;
            John 1: 14, 18;   Hebrews 4: 14 –15, 7: 25 –27; Romans 4: 25;  Acts 1: 11;  Ephesians 1: 20 –23)

E.   We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and that He reproves the
            world of sin, regenerates the believing sinner, and baptizes him into the Body of Christ.  (John 16: 7-8, 13-15;
            Titus 3: 5-6;   I Corinthians 12: 12-13)

F.  We believe that man was created in the image of God, but that he sinned, incurring not only physical death,
            but also spiritual death, which is separation from God.  (Genesis 1: 27, 2: 16-17;   Romans 5: 12-14)

G.  We believe that salvation is the free gift of God to be received only by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and by
            which we are restored to eternal life.  (John 3: 16, 5: 24, 11: 25;   Romans 5: 15-21;   Ephesians 2: 8-10)

H.   We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and
            thereby constitutes a spiritual unity of believers, the Body of Christ.  (Romans 8: 9-11; 
            I Corinthians 12: 12-13;   Galatians 3: 26-28)

I.    We believe that God ordained marriage to be a lifetime commitment between one man and one woman and
      that marriage provides the divine context for having children and multiplying a godly legacy.  Marriage is a
      living picture of the intimate relationship between Jesus Christ and His followers. (Genesis 2:18;
      Genesis 1:28a; Ephesians 5:22-23)

J.          We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost, and in the final judgment.  (John 5: 28-29)

Article VII:                           Amending By-Laws  

A.    Proposed amendments must be submitted in writing to the Board.

B.    Proposed amendments will be accepted upon the approval of two-thirds of the Board.