Windsor Essex Christian Home Educator Connection

Constitution

Article 1 – Definition

1. The Windsor Essex Christian Home Educator Connection (WECHEC) is a Christian organization. It shall base all of its policies and actions on Christian principles and shall take the Bible as its moral and spiritual guide.  Officers of the Board of Directors must be believers in Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.
2. WECHEC shall function as a network in the Windsor and Essex County areas of Ontario that will link together individual home schooling families and home education support. It will endeavour to provide information, encouragement, ideas and resources to all its members through research and dissemination of information at meetings.

Article 2 – Philosophy

1. WECHEC affirms the primacy of parental responsibility for the welfare, socialization and education of their children.
2. WECHEC is dedicated to the education and socialization of children in the natural setting of the family.
3. WECHEC acknowledges that the state has an interest in the education of the young, but asserts that such interest is secondary to the responsibility of parents over education.
4. WECHEC believes that the right to home education includes not merely a right over the place in which education occurs, but a right to determine the content, process and timing of this education.
5. WECHEC holds that student assessment is an integral aspect of the education process, and that therefore parents have the ultimate right and responsibility to determine the methods and instruments to be used.
6. WECHEC holds that the state must exercise its interest in the education of the young by the least intrusive means.
7. WECHEC pursues and recommends, within the framework of its philosophy, a policy of constructive interaction in dealing with officials of the Ministry of Education and local school boards.

Article 3 – Purpose

The purpose of WECHEC is to serve the home education community in the Windsor and Essex County areas of Ontario.

WECHEC exists…

1. To promote Christian home education over alternative forms of education.
2. To promote sound, high quality home education programs, which address the spiritual, intellectual, emotional and physical, needs of children, and contribute to their development of Christ-like character.
3. To provide encouragement and information to those interested in home education.

Article 4 – WECHEC Statement of Faith

Scripture:       We believe the Bible to be the inspired Word of God, the final authority for faith and life, without error in its original writing both in doctrine and historical details, and that all true knowledge is consistent with its revelation. (1)

God:               We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (2)

Jesus:             We believe in the deity of Christ (3), His virgin birth (4), sinless life (5), and miracles.  We believe             in His vicarious and atoning death (6), resurrection from the dead (7), ascension to the right hand of the Father(8), and in His personal return in power and glory.(9)

Man:               We believe that man was created in the image of God. (10) He sinned by disobeying God; thus, he was alienated from his Creator. (11) That historic fall brought all mankind under divine condemnation. Man’s nature is corrupted, and he is thus totally unable to please God. (12) Every man is in need of regeneration and renewal by the Holy Spirit.

Salvation:       We believe that salvation is a free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ alone, ( 13) whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin.(14)

Marriage and Family:            We believe that the God of the Bible established marriage as the exclusive lifetime covenant of union between one man and one woman. (15) He has created people in His image as male and female (16) It is His unique gift that echoes the union of Christ and His church, (17) and is the ideal environment that He has ordained for procreation and for the raising of children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord to the glory of God.(18)
We believe that children belong to God who has given the responsibility and authority for their discipleship and education to their parents. (19)
We believe that there is no neutral academic discipline and that all education is religious in nature since one’s view of the world and life is inevitably involved in teaching.

Government: We believe that civil government has been instituted by God. (20) Such government exists to serve the people through the promotion of justice and order.

Footnotes: (Note all quotes are from the English Standard version of the Bible)

• 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
• Mat 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
• John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
• Matthew 1:18-25 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.   And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly.  But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.”   All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:  “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).   When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.
• Hebrews 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
• Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
• 1 Corinthians 15:1-8 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand,  and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you–unless you believed in vain.  For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures,  and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.  Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.  Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.  Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
• Acts 1:9-11 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.   And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes,  and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”
• Hebrews 9:27-28 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment,  so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.
• Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
• Genesis 3:17-18 And to Adam he said, “Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, ‘You shall not eat of it,’ cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life;  thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field.
• Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
• Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
• Genesis 2:24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
• Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.
• Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.
• Ephesians 6:1-3 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.  “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”
• Deuteronomy 6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
• Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.

WECHEC BY-LAWS

Article 5 – Membership

Section 1:  Subscribing Membership types.

Subscribing Individual Membership is open to all home educators.

Section 2:  Expectations.

It is expected that all members will support WECHEC to ensure that its purposes are met:

1. a) with their annual membership fees, and/or
2. b) by aiding in the work of the organization.

Subscribing members cannot make statements, representations, or take action on behalf of WECHEC without explicit permission from WECHEC.

Section 3:  Use of WECHEC name

The name “Windsor Essex Christian Home Educator Connection”, its short version “WECHEC” and its Logo is the exclusive property of WECHEC.

Section 4:  Applying for Membership

Membership applications with dues, along with a signed Statement of Faith must be submitted to WECHEC.

Section 5:  Term of Membership

Chapter members will be required to make application to renew their membership upon expiry by re-affirming their commitment to the philosophy, purpose and by-laws of WECHEC.

Individual members will be required to renew their membership upon expiry.

Section 6:  Revocation of Membership

If any Chapter or Individual member’s conduct is determined by the Board of Directors to be improper or likely to endanger the interests or the reputation of WECHEC, or if any member is in direct, public non-compliance with the statement of philosophy, purpose or by-laws of this organization, there shall be a meeting with the Board of Directors to consider the matter.  Two weeks prior written notice shall be given to the party or parties involved.  If the matter remains unresolved, the Board of Directors shall have the power by vote of three-fourths of its board to remove the individual from the membership roll.

Article 6 – Board of Directors

Section 1:  Administration

The affairs of WECHEC shall be under the policy direction of a Board of Directors.  This Board shall represent the interests of its membership, in particular, and the Christian home educating community in the Windsor, Essex County area, in general.

Section 2: General Requirements

• Board members shall be at the time of their appointment and throughout their term of office, members of WECHEC, active home educators, or former home educators who are actively involved with their local support group.
• The WECHEC board of directors shall have not less than three (3) and not more than ten (10) members, as may be affirmed by the directors from time to time.
• Each Board Member shall:

1. have signed a statement that they agree with all parts of this Constitution; the definition, Philosophy, Purpose, and By-laws of this organization.
2. have submitted a brief written resume of their Christian experience and its importance in their life.
3. have educated at home for at least two years by the time their term of office begins and must continue to home educate throughout the term of office or must have previously home educated their children and be actively involved in their local support group.
4. have had an interview with a member of the Board of Directors to assess their commitment to the assignment.
5. have demonstrated previously their commitment to serve home educating families locally.

Section 3: Meetings

• The Board of Directors shall meet frequently enough to provide vision and guidance to WECHEC.

Special meetings of the members can be held at the discretion of the President or when called for by a majority of the Board of Directors or one-fourth of the member groups may petition the Board of Directors with a proposed agenda. If petitioned, the Board of Directors shall call a special meeting within thirty days.

Section 4: Quorum

• A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum.
  If all the directors consent, a meeting of directors may be held by means of such telephone or other communication facility that permits all persons in the meeting to hear each other simultaneously. A director participating in such meeting by such means is deemed to be present at that meeting.
• Any action normally taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a resolution in writing setting forth the action to be taken is signed by two-thirds of the Board.
• All questions arising at a Board of Directors meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes unless a greater majority is required elsewhere in this Constitution.
• The act of a majority of Board of Directors members at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board.

Article 7 – Budget

Section 1: Adoption

• The budget shall be approved by the board annually and presented to the membership at the annual meeting.

Section 2: Determination of Dues

• The amount of the dues for Subscribing Individuals can be changed by the Board of Directors.

Section 3: Collection of Dues

• Dues for membership shall be submitted upon expiry with their application for membership or renewal.

Article 8 – Amendments

Section 1: Portion that Cannot be Amended

Article I paragraph 1 and Article 8 section 1.1 may not be amended

Section 2:  Amendment Procedure

Any amendments must not be in conflict with the Ontario Christian Home Educators’ Connection (OCHEC) Constitution, Bylaws or procedures.

This constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the Chapter membership at a Special meeting called by the Board of Directors.  Amendments may be proposed by the Board of Directors or by chapter members provided that notice of such proposed amendment is first submitted in writing to the Board of Directors. The proposed amendment will then be submitted to the Chapter members for consideration at least six weeks prior to the Special Meeting.

Article 9 – Dissolution

Upon the recommendation of the Board of Directors and a majority vote of the Chapter members present at a Special Meeting, this organization shall be dissolved and its activities closed. After payment of all bills and proper claims, remaining assets shall be disposed of in cash or in kind by transfer to Ontario Christian Home Educators’ Connection (OCHEC) or to Home School Legal Defense Association of Canada (HSLDA), as designated by the Board of Directors, seeking to achieve purposes similar to those of WECHEC.