STATEMENT OF FAITH

Rome LEAH By-Laws and Statement of Faith

Article One NAME

The name of this organization is Rome LEAH, also known as Loving Education At Home, Rome Chapter.

This chapter will be referred to as Rome LEAH throughout these By-Laws.

Article Two DEFINITION

Rome LEAH is a local chapter of New York State Loving Education At Home. Rome LEAH exists to support Christian families who choose to home educate their child(ren). Rome LEAH is dedicated to supporting and encouraging families to be obedient to the Lord’s commands to teach our children. Proverbs 22:6 says: Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Ephesians 6:4 says Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

We believe that every family has the God given legal and constitutional right to home school, regardless of their religious affiliation.

Article Three PRIMARY PURPOSES

Rome LEAH is organized primarily for the purpose of providing information and support to its members within the chapter including but not limited to the following ways:

1. Provide information on how to begin and be encouraged in providing a rich educational experience for your family.

2. Provide information regarding legal issues regarding home schooling in NYS and encourage members to join Home School Legal Defense Association.

3. Encourage people to know their rights regarding home schooling in NYS.

4. Encourage people to respect and follow the NYS laws regarding home schooling.

5. Promote the benefits of home education over alternative forms of education outside the home.

6. Publish a monthly newsletter to inform members of opportunities available to them through membership.

7. Provide opportunities to enrich their home school experience through field trips, classes and parties.

8.Encourage good community spirit through volunteer activities and good will gestures.

9. Encourage members to be good examples to the community of the success of home education. E.g. our children’s behavior out in public as well as respect for authority and others.

10. Institute whatever other programs in the future as leadership deems necessary

Rome LEAH’s SECONDARY PURPOSE is to assist others outside the organization interested in home education.

Article Four MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to all home schooling families. That being stated, however, members are expected to be aware of and comply with the by-laws of Rome LEAH. It is important for prospective and active members to know and understand that Rome LEAH is a Christian support group. Any member trying to alter the Biblical standard of the group will have their membership revoked.

Each member family is expected to pay annual membership dues in order that they may enjoy the benefits of membership. Consideration will be given to those families who are having difficult financial times.

Article Five PARTICIPATION IN LEAH AND ITS EVENTS/PROGRAMS

1.It is encouraged and expected that members with us for one year or more will be active members of the group.

2. Member families with us for less than one year are encouraged to use Rome LEAH as a tool to help support you in your home school mission.

3. Rome LEAH requires good behavior on behalf of the children at all events. This is important for the other parents and children to enjoy the event as well as setting a good example of home education to the public.

4. Parents are expected to be with their children at all Rome LEAH events unless they have made other arrangements with another parent.

5. It is understood that our monthly meetings and annual picnics are open to non-members interested in home educating their child(ren). All other events, classes, parties, trips and newsletter are benefits received through membership.

Article Six STATEMENT OF FAITH

Rome LEAH is in agreement with and has adopted the NYS LEAH Statement of Faith as follows. We believe:

1. The Bible to be the inspired, infallible, divinely preserved Word of God, the supreme and final authority for all faith and life.

2. That there is one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

3. In the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His miracles, His vicarious and atoning death through His shed blood on the cross, His bodily resurrection, His ascension, and His imminent bodily return in power and glory.

4. That man was created in the image of God, but fell into sin and is therefore lost, and only those who put their faith in Jesus Christ alone, not trusting in any personal works whatsoever, can be saved.

5. Salvation is the free gift of God brought to the sinner by grace and received by personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Whose substitutionary death on the cross paid the penalty for man’s sin.

6. That the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict mankind; indwell, guide, instruct, and empower the believer for godly living and service.

7. In the spiritual unity of believers through our common faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and that the individual doctrinal differences which may exist, outside of the aforementioned, should not hinder the unity of Christian home educators.

8. We believe that God created man and woman after His own image, and that God has ordained marriage, consisting of one man and one woman, to be the foundation of the family and to be the only legitimate and Godly expression of sexuality.