All CHEAGD members must agree to follow the principles and procedures set forth in the CHEAGD bylaws below.

BYLAWS

Christian Home Educators Association of Greater Durham (CHEAGD) is a Christian homeschool support group serving the Greater Durham area of North Carolina.

Article I - Name

The name of this organization is Christian Home Educators Association of Greater Durham (CHEAGD).

Article II - Purpose

The purpose of CHEAGD shall be to:

A. Honor Jesus Christ
B. Provide Christian encouragement and support to families choosing home education
C. Provide communication and fellowship through meetings, newsletters, the Internet, and a membership directory/handbook
D. Provide educational experiences through field trips and activities
E. Promote homeschooling in our community as an educational alternative

Article III - Ideals of Home Education

The ideals of home education are:

A. Parents’ God-given authority over their children and responsibility for their education and discipline
B. Educational excellence
C. Protection and promotion of the “traditional” family
D. Diligence in moral and ethical instruction and behavior
E. Responsible citizenship
F. Preservation of freedom of choice in education

Article IV - Statement of Faith

A. We believe the Bible is verbally inspired of God and is inerrant and infallible in the original writings. We believe it is the only and final authority for faith and conduct. (II Timothy 3:16, II Peter 1:21)
B. We believe in one God, who is Creator of all things by a direct act, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons - Father, Son and Holy Spirit. (Genesis 1:1, John 10:30, John 10:37-38)
C. 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 as a substitutionary sacrifice and rose bodily from the dead for our justification. We believe He is now 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 and that we are awaiting His bodily return. (Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, Luke 1:35, Hebrews 4:15, Hebrews 7:25, Hebrews 9:12, John 2:11, John 11:25, Acts 1:11, Revelations 19:11-16)
D. We believe that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ and that He convicts the world of sin, regenerates the believing sinner, and baptizes him into the Body of Christ. We believe in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer by whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a Godly life which is our holy calling. (Ephesians 5:18, Ephesians 4:1, Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20) We believe that salvation is the free gift of God (neither merited nor secured in part or in whole by any virtue or work of man) to be received only by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, in whom all true believers have, as a present possession, the gift of eternal life, a perfect righteousness, sonship in the family of God, deliverance and security from all condemnation, every spiritual resource needed for life and godliness and the divine guarantee that they will never perish. (John 3:16-19, John 5:24, Romans 3:19, Ephesians 2:8-19, Titus 3:5-6)
E. 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 and which is inherited by every member of Adam’s race. (Romans 5:12-21)
F. We believe that the true Church is composed of all who have been regenerated by the Holy Spirit and thereby constitute a spiritual unity of believers, the Body of Christ. (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:12-13, Galatians 3:26-28)
G. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost -- they who are saved unto eternal life and those who are lost unto eternal damnation. (John 5:28-29)

Article V - Membership

A. CHEAGD is an ethnically diverse group, welcoming members of all races.
B. CHEAGD is a Christian group that is open to all homeschool families, regardless of religion, who agree to honor the Christian principles in the Statement of Faith (see Article IV - Statement of Faith).
C. Members must be home schooling in the greater Durham area, in accordance with North Carolina law. Any exceptions must be approved by the Chair.
D. There is only one type of membership - family membership. Membership runs annually from July 1st through June 30th and must be renewed each year.
E. Annual membership dues are $20.00 (payable to "CHEAGD"). Dues are non-refundable. Renewing members should return the membership application and pay their dues by July 31st. The membership dues for those joining after January 1st are half price. Scholarships for membership are available on a needs basis. Membership dues are not tax deductible.
F. Each family will contribute to the work effort for at least one activity during the year. When a family is dealing with a difficult year, but still needs the support that CHEAGD offers, it is understandable and
allowable (with the permission of the Leadership Chair) for this requirement to be waived.
G. Members agree to honor the Christian principles set forth in the Statement of Faith (see Article IV - Statement of Faith). Profession of the Christian faith personally is not required. Those of other faiths are respectfully asked to refrain from proselytizing within the group.
H. Members will completely fill out and return the Membership Application. This includes reading and agreeing to the Bylaws of CHEAGD and the E-mail List Rules of Conduct.
I. Members are responsible for reading the printed materials provided to them, especially the newsletters.
J. It is mandatory that at least one parent from each family attend the September Kickoff meeting.
K. The Leadership Chair, with the concurrence of a majority of the Board, may expel a CHEAGD member for cause. Valid causes include, but are not limited to:
• Failure to meet the membership requirements
• Conduct that brings dishonor to CHEAGD or to home schooling in general
• Conduct that is abusive, disruptive, or divisive to CHEAGD or its members
• Violation of the E-Mail List Rules of Conduct

Article VI - Board

A. The Board is the primary governing committee of CHEAGD.
B. The Board will be made up of those members serving in leadership positions, also known as leaders. The leadership positions include the Leadership Chair, the Support Team, and the Coordinators.
C. Each leader will have a personal commitment to Christ and subscribe to the Statement of Faith (see Article IV - Statement of Faith).
D. Each Leader must be a member of CHEAGD in good standing.
E. In April and May, CHEAGD will seek volunteers to fill the leadership positions for the next year. Those currently in a leadership position can serve in their positions again or can recommend members to fill their positions. Members are encouraged to volunteer for leadership positions. The Board approves each leader for the next year.
F. Leaders serve from July 1st through June 30th, but the month of June is considered a transition month where the previous year's leaders provide training and assistance to the next year's leaders.
G. Leaders can serve in their positions alone or can create a team of leaders to help distribute the workload.
H. Leaders are the point of contact for their area of service and may have a committee of members that they manage in their area of service.
I. Leaders should maintain good records to help those that will be in their position in the future. If a leader has to step down during the year, it is primarily that leader's responsibility to find and train a replacement.

Article VII - Leadership Chair

A. The Leadership Chair heads up the Board, providing direction and support to those serving in leadership positions. The Leadership Chair is encouraged to take an active role in encouraging others to develop as godly leaders. It is strongly recommended that the Leadership Chair have been a member of CHEAGD for at least 2 years and have served on the Board previously.
B. The Leadership Chair chairs meetings of the Board, chairs the "Kickoff" (September) and "Keep In Touch" (January) meetings, encourages and exhorts those in leadership positions, evaluates how CHEAGD is meetings its goals, and serves as CHEAGD's representative at regional and state meetings.
C. The Leadership Chair chooses the Rising Chair for the coming year, with the approval of the Board.

Article VIII - Support Team

A. The Support Team handles areas of service that are essential to the continued functioning of CHEAGD as a support group. Positions include Treasurer, Secretary, Membership, Meetings, Newsletter Editor, Webmaster, E-mail List Moderator, and Librarian.

Article IX - Coordinators

A. Coordinators have a particular area of service, usually having to do with regular activities. Coordinator positions can be added or eliminated, depending upon the needs of the group. Coordinator positions can include Enrichment, Field Trips, Middle/High Schools, Fellowship, Special Events, and Athletics.

Article IX – E-Mail List

A. One privilege of membership is participation in the group e-mail list. The Leadership Chair, with the concurrence of a majority of the Board, approves the Rules of Conduct for the e-mail list. The Loop Moderator will maintain and publish the Rules of Conduct.
B. The Leadership Chair delegates authority to the E-mail List Moderator for administering the e-mail list and enforcing its Rules of Conduct. The E-mail List Moderator may in turn delegate authority to one or more Assistant Moderators

Article X - Changes to Bylaws

A. Proposal(s) for changes to the Bylaws must be submitted in writing to the Leadership Chair by April 1st. The Leadership Chair will arrange a meeting to discuss the proposal(s). The meeting should be scheduled in May or early June. The proposal(s) and meeting will be announced in the May newsletter so that all members are aware of the proposal(s) and meeting.
B. All members serving on the current Board and those that will be serving on the next year's Board are strongly encouraged to attend the meeting. All members are also welcomed to attend and participate in the meeting.
C. An affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of those attending the meeting shall constitute adopting the changes to the Bylaws.

Article XI - Termination

A. In the event that CHEAGD ceases, any and all assets would be donated to a nonprofit organization.

Updated July 2, 2006