# LCMS Convention Proceedings_St. Louis Missouri_1995_S154 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 154 - RESOLUTIONS To Change Bylaw 5.11 re Nomination “and Elections of Circuit Counselors RESOLUTION 7-11 Overtures 7-01, 7-03-04 (CW, pp. 229-30) - Rationale: , - Circuit congregations value the privilege and opportu- nity to be as involved as possible in the selection process of their Circuit Counselor; therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 5.11 a be changed to read as fol- lows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING a. Every voting congregation of each Circuit shall be entitled to nominate as e candidates for the office of Cir- cuit Counselor either one, or two individual pastors of the member congregations of the Circuit or from among the emeriti who hold membership in one of the member congregations of that Circuit, The nominations shall be made at least four months prior to the elections and shall be submitted to the Nominating Committee through the Secretary of the District, The pastor who receives a majority of votes cast on the nominating ballot shall be the nominee. If no candidate has received a ma- jority, the District Secretary shall forward to each con- gregation in that Circuit an additional ballot with the names of the two men, or more in case of a tie, receiving ' the highest number of votes in the initial balloting. The congregations shall then mark their ballot with one name and return it to the District Secretary by the date specified by him. The pastor who receives the majority of votes cast shall be the nominee. If no pastor has re- ceived a majority in the voting, a Circuit caucus shall be held during an early session of the convention at a specified time on the agenda. Balloting shall take place by the pastors and lay delegates of the Circuit until one pastor receives the majority of votes, Should the candi- date(s) no longer be available for this office, the Circuit caucus shall have the right to act on behalf of the con- gregations to nominate a replacement. The convention shall have the right to alter the slate by amendment. The convention shall then ratify the slate of Circuit Counselors, which ratification shall constitute election. Action: Adopted (12). To Change Bylaw 5.13 re Responsibilities of Circuit Counselors in Relation to Member Congregations RESOLUTION 7-12A Overture 7-02 (CW, p. 229) WHEREAS, Circuit Counselors and congregations can benefit from knowing specific ways in which the Circuit Counselor is expected to carry out his charge to assist the District President “in doctrinal and spiritual supervision” (Bylaw 5.13 a); and WHEREAS, Congregations and pastors continue to be tempted by false doctrines and sinful practices which are suggested by the devil, the world, and our sinful flesh; therefore be it Resolved, That Bylaw 5.13 b be changed to read as fol- lows: PRESENT/PROPOSED WORDING b. He shall serve in a servant role and seek to re- mind and encourage members of the Circuit of their re- sponsibilities as God’s people and the privilege they have in being about His mission. He shall also inquire whether the congregations are zealously guarding the purity of doctrine and also inquire what means are being used to guard against the evil influence of sects and organizations which endanger the spiritual life of the congregation. i: He should keep in mind the glory and responsibility of the universal priesthood of all believers as it applies to the congregations. He shall remind them that they are “a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people to show forth the praises of Him who has called them out of darkness into His marvelous light.” He shall meet with the entire congregation, if possible, rather than with the voting members only. Action: Declined (12). To Encourage Congregations, Circuits and Districts to Study and Implement within Their District Appropriate Structural Changes in Order to More Effectively Serve Congregations RESOLUTION 7-13 Report R1-8-07 (CW, pp. 17-22); Overtures 2-14, 7- 26-27, 7-29 (CW, pp. 140, 234-35) , WHEREAS, The 1992 synodical convention in Res. 8-09 asked the Mission and Ministry Council to appoint a task force to study and evaluate, in consultation with the Dis-' tricts, the following issues: 1. The configuration of Districts, 2. The regionalization of District staffs, 3. The regionalization of national staff, and 4. The development of new categories or positions for staffing based on the changing needs of our congregations; and WHEREAS, The Res. 8-09 Task Force was asked to com- plete the initial study and propose a strategic plan for re- view by the Mission and Ministry Council, which plan, if accepted by the Mission and Ministry Council, was to be brought to the 1995 synodical convention for approval and recommendation to congregations, Circuits, and Districts: for study during the next triennium and was to be followed by a final strategic plan from the Res. 8-09 Task Force for action by the Mission and Ministry Council and the 1998 synodical convention; and WHEREAS, The Res. 8-09 Task Force has completed its initial study and presented its findings to the Mission and Ministry Council but has determined, as a result of its study, that it will decline at this time to propose any one Strategic plan for adoption by the synodical convention for the reasons stated in the report of the Res. 8-09 Task Force; therefore be it . Resolved, That congregations, Circuits, and especially Districts of the Synod, through the Board of Directors, be encouraged to study the report and recommendations of the Res. 8-09 Task Force in the areas of structuring to best pro- vide mission and ministry services to and on behalf of con- gregations and in the areas of business services and eccle- sial services, and to study the report and recommendations of the Conference of Congregational Services regarding the functions and staffing of national and District offices in the areas of adult, child, evangelism, family, leadership,