By-Laws

Article I – Name

Leaders in Godly Home Teaching [LIGHT] 

Article II – Vision

To support families who have been called by God to home educate their children in reaching educational excellence and family wholeness.

Article III – Goals

1. Positively encourage new homeschoolers and support families currently homeschooling.
2. Effectively promote the understanding and positive image of homeschooling.
3. Diligently provide resources to strengthen families and their homeschools.
4. Actively develop a Christian mindset and lifestyle among our members.

Article IV - Statement of Faith

1. The Bible is the inerrant, infallible, inspired Word of God from Genesis through Revelation. [2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20-21]
2. God is one being Who eternally exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. All persons are equal in power and glory [Matthew 28:19]
3. Christ is fully God and man [John 1:1-14], born of a virgin [Matthew 1:8] and sinless in His life [Hebrews 4:15]. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us [Romans 5:8]. He rose bodily from the grave [John 25:1-9] and reigns with the Father [Acts 2:33]. He will return visibly and personally to Earth both in salvation and judgment [Acts 1:11; Hebrews 9:28; Matthew 24:35]
4. All humans are sinful by nature [Romans 3:23, 5:12] and can only be forgiven and saved by repentance and the expression of trust in Jesus as Savior [John 3:16], brought about by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit [Titus 3:5-7].
5. We believe in the continuing ministry of the Holy Spirit who indwells the Christian at the point of salvation and enables him to live a godly life [Romans 8:1-17].
6. We reject the anti-Christian tenets of secular humanism, including the general theory of evolution, one-world government, government-mandated sex education, government-mandated parenting courses, modern feminist ideology, abortion, and the promotion of homosexuality/transsexuality as an alternate, acceptable lifestyle.

Article V – Membership

1. Member families must sign the LIGHT statement of faith; if someone other than the parents or legal guardian is the primary instructor they must also sign the LIGHT Statement of Faith.
2. Member families will receive membership privileges when dues are paid in full.
3. Dues will be determined by the leadership team annually. Dues are non-refundable.
4. Member families will be allowed one vote concerning LIGHT business
5. Membership privileges include access to LIGHT-sponsored activities, group communication, and a directory of members.
6. Any claim or dispute arising from or related to membership in LIGHT shall be settled by mediation and, if necessary, legally binding arbitration, in accordance with the Rules of Procedure of the Institute for Christian Conciliation, a division of Peacemaker© Ministries. Judgment upon an arbitration award may be entered in any court otherwise having jurisdiction. The parties understand that these methods shall be the sole remedy for any controversy or claim arising out of membership in LIGHT and expressly waive their right to file a lawsuit in any civil court against one another for such disputes, except to enforce an arbitration decision.
7. Any member homeschooling a child not their own or for which they are not legal guardians of; That child’s family must become a member of LIGHT.

Article VI – Board of Trustees 

Section 1 - Governing Authority

The governing body of the organization shall be known as its Board of Trustees, and it shall have plenary powers to all things necessary and proper to operate and control the organization.

Section 2 - Composition and Qualifications

The Board of Trustees shall be a self-perpetuating body. It shall consist of a minimum of three couples elected by the Board of Trustees. Members of the Board of Trustees shall be current members of the LIGHT. The term ‘member’, relating to the Board of Trustees, refers to a couple and each couple has one (1) vote. It is preferable that the husband and wife attend meetings; however, if only one spouse can attend, the spouse in attendance duly represents the couple and has the ability to vote. Candidates for election to the Board of Trustees must affirm before the Board of Trustees their concurrence with the by-laws of the organization, including the Statement of Faith, and must profess by credible testimony of their faith in Jesus Christ and demonstrate a viable interest in home education.

Section 3 - Term of Service

Members of the Board of Trustees shall be elected for a term of three years.

Section 4 - Manner of Election

Nominations for election to the Board of Trustees shall be submitted to the Board of Trustees by a Trustee at a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees. Nominees shall meet with at least two members of the Board of Trustees for an interview and to comply with provisions of Section 2 of this Article. Election of a nominee to the Board of Trustees shall be by a vote of three quarters (75%) of the members of the Board of Trustees. Upon approval, new members will have a one-year probationary period. During that time the new trustees shall participate in all board meetings and communication but will not vote. At the end of the one-year probationary period, the Board of Trustees will vote to confirm the new members as full Trustees.

Section 5 - Removal

Any Board member may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Trustees whenever in its judgment the best interests of the organization will be served thereby.

Section 6 - Delegation of Authority

The Board of Trustees may delegate to one or more of its members, any of its officers, agents, employees, or to any of its committee’s such powers and duties as it may deem appropriate and proper.  In the absence of such delegation, either generally or specifically, no member of the Board of Trustees shall have any authority to act for the Board of Trustees. Each member of the Board of Trustees shall have status co-equal with that of each other member, and each member shall have the right to vote on any and all questions coming before the Board of Trustees.

Section 7 - Compensation

Members of the Board of Trustees may be reimbursed for actual expenses incurred in the maintenance of their duties. Persons who serve as members and render service to the organization in some capacity other than as a member of the Board of Trustees may be compensated for their services when approved by the Board of Trustees.

Article VII - Board of Trustee Meetings

Section 1 - Quorum

The quorum for all meetings of the Board of Trustees whether regular or special shall be more than one-half (½) of the voting member units.

Section 2 - Regular Meetings

Regular meetings of the Board of Trustees shall be held at times and places established by the Board of Trustees and shall be held at least quarterly.

Section 3 - Special Meetings 

Special meetings of the Board of Trustees may be held upon three days’ notice to members. The President of the Board of Trustees may call such meetings on his own initiative but shall be obligated to call such meetings when requested to do so by at least two other members of the Board of Trustees.

Article VIII - Officers

Section 1 - Designation

The officers of the Board of Trustees of the organization shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. Said officers shall be individuals who are part of a couple who is a member of the Board.

Section 2 - Election and Term of Service

Officers shall be elected each year by the Board of Trustees at its first regular meeting after the meeting at which members of the Board of Trustees were elected. Officers shall serve at will with the pleasure of the Board of Trustees.

Section 3 - Removal

Any officer may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Trustees whenever in its judgment the best interests of the organization will be served thereby.

Section 4 - Vacancies

Any vacancy in any office, however occurring, shall be filled by the Board of Trustees.

Section 5 - President

The President shall be the principal executive officer of the organization and, subject to the control of the Board of Trustees, shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the organization. The President shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Trustees and he may sign, with the Secretary or any other proper officer thereunto authorized by the Board of Trustees, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Trustees has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Trustees or these by-laws to some other officer or agent of the organization or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or executed, and in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Trustees from time to time.

Section 6 - Vice President

The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, preside at meetings of the Board of Trustees and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Trustees.

Section 7 - Secretary

The Secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Trustees; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws or as required by law; (c) be the custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the organization and see that the seal of the organization is affixed to all documents, the execution of which on behalf of the organization under its seal is duly authorized; and (d) in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Trustees.

Section 8 - Treasurer

The Treasurer shall (a) have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the organization; (b) receive and give receipt for monies due and payable to the organization from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in the name of the organization in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected by the Board of Trustees; and (c) in general to perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or by the Board of Trustees.

Article IX - Member Meetings

1. Meetings will be held as needed.
2. One member of the leadership team will be present at each meeting.

Article X – Amendment of Bylaws

1. Bylaws will be reviewed by the leadership team annually.
2. Any proposed changes in the bylaws must be brought before the group for a vote. Members will be given at least a one-month notice of vote and proposed changes. In order for changes to be approved, they must pass by a vote of 2/3 of the members present.

Article XI – Dissolution

Should the LIGHT be dissolved, material possessions and monies shall be given to a like-minded homeschooling organization after any and all bills have been paid. The recipient organization would be chosen by the leadership team.