Christian Home Educators Fellowship (CHEF) of Oklahoma Constitution

ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of the organization shall be Christian Home Educators Fellowship of Oklahoma (CHEF of Oklahoma), a not-for-profit organization. Hereafter in this document referred to as CHEF.

ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

CHEF shall be composed of homeschooling families who desire to affiliate. Membership shall be restricted to those individuals who have attended a new members orientation class or completed our online orientation, and concur with the Statement of Faith and agree to abide by the Constitution of the organization. Membership dues will be exacted per family and will be determined each year by the officers with the approval of the membership in regular business meeting. Special provision will be made for those who desire to be members, but are unable to pay.

Those who cease to agree with the Statement of Faith, or abide by the Constitution, or in some way bring disrepute on the organization shall be biblically confronted by at least three Board members for restoration; but if unsuccessful, they will be excluded from membership (Matt. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 5:1-5; II John 9-11).

ARTICLE III

PURPOSE

The purpose of CHEF is to provide support to parents who educates their children at home. Support will include the CHEF website, alerts on political and legal concerns, basketball program, elementary through high school, a yearly graduation commencement, an annual CHEF picnic, and an annual general CHEF membership meeting.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

The officers of CHEF shall consist of president, vice-presidents (the number to be determined by current board), and a secretary/treasurer (the latter may be separate officers), which shall comprise the Executive Board. The president shall provide the oversight for CHEF through the other officers, and through other persons appointed by him. He shall preside over all meetings of the organization, work with the treasurer in the disbursement of funds, and speak for the organization. The vice president(s) shall assist the president in the performance of his duties and chair special committees set up by the president. The secretary/treasurer will be responsible for keeping a record of each board meeting and business session of general organization and handle any correspondence necessary. He will also receive funds and disburse payments and provide at each Board meeting an accounting of this activity. Records shall be reviewed or audited annually as determined by the Board. The CHEF Board will meet at regularly scheduled meetings called by the CHEF President, either in person or by electronic means, i. e. phone conference or zoom meetings, etc.

The CHEF Board will nominate potential new CHEF Board members. We will meet with the candidates with the purpose of interviewing them and voting on their nomination. After our selections are made and approved by 2/3 of the CHEF Board, they will then be brought before the general CHEF membership for a vote. Nominees must be passed by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of the members who are present. The officers shall be subject to censure or dismissal from office by a 2/3 vote by the members in a regularly called business meeting, or by a unanimous decision of the other members of the Executive Board.

Officers of CHEF shall meet the following qualifications:

1 -Officers shall be men. The reason for this is that the organization is composed of homeschooling families over which men are to provide the leadership according to the Scripture. CHEF is an extension of the home and should mirror the home.

2-Officers shall have educated or have been committed (based on biblical command) to homeschooling for at least one year. This allows the inclusion of those who are not formally or structurally educating their children in the cognitive skills, but are committed to homeschooling. The organization recognizes homeschooling of children to include from pre-birth to the time the children leave the control of the parents or are sent to formal Christian school, whichever comes first.

3-The above qualification requirement is not meant to exclude those who believe it best to place older children into a formal Christian classroom.

4-Officers must be members of CHEF.

ARTICLE V

MEETINGS

The time, date, place and frequency of general meetings shall be decided by a majority vote of the CHEF membership at regularly conducted business meetings if there is a need for a change. All business meetings of CHEF shall be conducted according to Roberts Rules of Order in its most recent edition.

ARTICLE VI

EXECUTION AND AMENDMENT

This Constitution shall become effective upon approval by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting at a general meeting called for that purpose. This Constitution may be amended by a three- fourths (3/4) vote of the members present and voting at a general meeting of the organization provided written notice of the proposed amendment is mailed to all members at least one (1) week in advance of the meeting.

ARTICLE VII

AFFILIATION

Article 7 shall allow CHEF to affiliate with other Christian organizations upon approval of the CHEF membership.

STATEMENT OF FAITH:

I. FAMILY

WE believe that the family is the basic governmental, social and spiritual unit created by God. In it the child gradually learns self-government, social relationships, and develops a relationship to the Creator and Savior (Eph. 6:1-3; Col.3-20). The family also provides protection from overextensive government and overstimulating social involvements.

WE understand family to mean a male and a female parent with one or more children, all related by blood (Gen. 1:26-28), though we realize the exceptions of a single parent and adopted children (James 1:27).

WE reject homosexual marriages or homosexual orientation because it is contrary to Scripture and the intentions of God in Creation (Rom. 1: 18-32), and we believe that such relationships are destructive to children and the very idea of family. As well, we reject transitory cohabitational relationships as being equally in violation of God's laws and incapable of providing the long term nurture and instruction needed by children and commanded by God (Prov. 1:8-9; 2:1 -11; Col. 3:21; Eph. 6:4). In view of this, no homosexual or merely cohabitating "parents" are eligible for membership.

II. PARENTAL RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITY IN EDUCATION

WE believe the ultimate responsibility for the education of children belongs to parents (Deut. 4-.9; 6:1-25; 4:1-4). Thus, we believe this is an inalienable right given by God which the State cannot create, destroy, nor alter. Parents may allow another to teach some of the cognitive information that children need to know, but all education must be under the control and supervision of the parents.

WE believe education in the home to be the best form of education, but we recognize that many parents cannot educate at home for valid reasons and support the right of parents to send their children to private Christian schools.

WE believe that all education is religious in nature since one's view of the world and life inevitably is involved in teaching (Prov. 2:1-8; 3:1-2; 6:20-23; Matt. 28:18-20). Every discipline of knowledge, whether it be subjects such as mathematics, science, or history, will have as its final reference point a theistic or humanistic view of reality (Col I:15-20 and 2:8-15), and there is no neutral academic discipline.

Thus, WE believe that all social, physical, and cognitive knowledge should have as its beginning the fear of God and its end, the glory of God (Prov. 1:7; Rom. 11:33-36).

III. NATURE OF EDUCATION

Thus, WE believe that all social, physical, and cognitive knowledge should have as its beginning the fear of God and its end, the glory of God (Prov. 1:7; Rom. 11:33-36).

IV. ADDITIONAL TENETS OF CHRISTIAN THEOLOGY

WE affirm these additional tenets of Christian theology,

1 -The Bible is the verbally inspired and only infallible, authoritative Word of God, inerrant in the autographs (2 Tim. 3:16, 2 Pet. 1:20-21).

2-God is one Being Who eternally exists as three Persons-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, all of the Persons are equal in power and glory (Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). *

3-Jesus Christ is fully God and man (Jn. 1: 1, 14) born of a virgin (Matt. 1: 18), sinless in His life (Heb. 4:15); He died vicariously on the cross as a substitution for sinful men (Heb. 9:15), He rose bodily from the grave (Jn. 20:1-9, 24-31 ; Acts 2:24); and reigns with the Father (Acts 2:33; Heb. 10: 12); He will return visibly and personally to the earth both in salvation and judgment (Acts 1:11; Heb. 9:28; Matt. 24:30).*

4-All humans are sinful by nature (Rom. 3:23; 5:12ff) and can only be forgiven by the expressions of trust in Jesus as Savior (Jn. 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 by Whose indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life (Rom. 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, and abortion.

*As defined by the Nicene and Athanasian Creeds _________________________________________________________

It is important for Homeschoolers to be affiliated with some type of homeschooling organization which supports their philosophy of teaching their children at home. CHEF will not only provide this support, but also assist the parent/teacher throughout the year if any difficulties are encountered. CHEF seeks to provide encouragement, support, and information for all its members. As a member of CHEF, we strongly suggest that you become a member of our website (www.chefok.org) by registering on the website at no additional cost to you. Our website is where we will keep you up-to-date on events, news regarding homeschooling, and much, much more!

CHEF OF OKLAHOMA

P.O. Box 471363

Tulsa, OK 74147-1363

(Updated 8/30/2024)