# LCMS Convention Workbook_St. Louis Missouri_2001_S107 # Machine transcription, uncorrected — CHI Digital Archive (demonstration) 106 SYNODICAL REPORTS 2. Circuit Counselor CURRENT 5.03 Relationships: Officers, Forum, Convocation a. The Circuit Counselor is the principal officer of the Circuit and serves in accordance with the duties assigned to this position in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and Districts. The Circuit may select such other officers as it deems neccssary. The Circuit Counselor and these other officers shall have the primary responsi- bility of preparing the agenda for the Circuit Forum and Convoca- tion and maintaining liaison between the Circuit and the Synod. b. The Circuit Forum, consisting of the pastor of each congre- gation and one member of each congregation designated by the congregation, is the group which aids the process of keeping con- gregations, particularly the lay leaders, teachers, and pastors, sup- portive of one another in their common confession and mutually active in developing programs for the good of member congrega- tions, in considering and recommending new work, and in sug- gesting improvements for District and synodical programming. Depending on each Circuit’s adopted objectives, the Circuit may provide for additional representation from each congregation. c. The Circuit Convocation is a larger gathering of members from Circuit congregations during a year in which there is no syn- odical or District convention. d. Conferences, whether official or unofficial, provide a means for ordained and commissioned ministers to relate together on a regular basis. 5.13 Relation to Member Congregations b. He shall serve in a servant role and seek to remind and en- courage members of the Circuit of their responsibilities as God’s people and the privilege they have in being about His mission. In doing so, he should keep in mind the glory and responsibility of the universal priesthood of all believers as it applies to the congre- gations. 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 mar- velous light.” He shall meet with the entire congregation, if possi- ble, rather than with the voting members only. c. Through his visitation to the congregations, he shall endeavor to strengthen the spirit of unity among congregations to effect mis- sion and ministry and shall seek to strengthen and support the spirit of fellowship. d. In his visits he shall discuss attendance at services, at Com- munion, and at voters’ meetings; the salaries of pastors and teach- ers; the participation of congregations in the work of the church-at- large and in missions; the need and opportunities for continuing education; the Christian training of the children, the adequate in- doctrination of adult catechumens; and the maintenance of family devotion. e. He shall work through the Circuit Forum to provide re- sources, opportunities, and assistance so God’s people can grow in their faith in their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. f. He shall ordinarily serve as chairman of the Circuit Forum. The Forum may elect another member to serve in that capacity. He shal] serve as chairman of the Circuit gathering and convocations. g. He may serve as a mediator to effect reconciliation of dis- putes within the Circuit not under synodical adjudication as out- lined in chapter VIII of the Bylaws. h. He shall seek to strengthen the spirit of cooperation among pastors, teachers, and congregations. 2001 Convention Workbook PROPOSED 5.03 Relationships: Officers, Forum, Convocation a. The Circuit Counselor is the principal officer of the Circuit and serves in accordance with the duties assigned to this position in the Constitution and Bylaws of the Synod and Districts. b. The Circuit may select such other officers as it deems neces- sary. The Circuit Counselor and these other officers shall have the primary responsibility of preparing the agenda for the Circuit Forum and Convocation and maintaining liaison between the Cir- cuit and the District and the national Synod. c. The Circuit Forum, consisting of the pastor(s) of each con- gregation and one member of each congregation designated by the congregation, is the group that aids the process of keeping congre- gations, particularly the lay leaders, commissioned ministers, and pastors, supportive of one another in their common confession and mutually active in developing programs for the good of member congregations, in considering and recommending new work, and in suggesting improvements for District and synodical services and programming. Depending on each Circuit’s adopted objectives, the Circuit may provide for additional representation from each con- gregation. d. CURRENT “c” [Ss UNCHANGED, BUT NOW DESIG- NATED “d.” e. CURRENT “d” IS UNCHANGED, BUT NOW DESIG- NATED “e.” 5.13 Relation to Member Congregations b. He shall, when requested to do so by the District President, serve as his representative in the triennial visitation of the congre- gations of the Circuit. c. He shal] serve in a servant role and seek to remind and en- courage members of the Circuit of their responsibilities as God’s people and the privilege they have in being about His mission. In doing so, he should keep in mind the glory and responsibility of the universal priesthood of believers as it applies to the congrega- tions. 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 mar- velous light.” d. He shall endeavor to strengthen the spirit of unity among Cir- cuit congregations to effect mission and ministry and shall seek to strengthen and support the spirit of fellowship. e. He shall endeavor to strengthen the spirit of cooperation among pastors, commissioned ministers, and congregations. f. He shall endeavor to provide resources, opportunities, and assistance so God’s people can grow in their faith, and ordinarily serve as chairman of the Circuit Forum, Circuit Convocation, and other Circuit gatherings. g. He may, when requested to do so by the District President, serve as a mediator to effect reconciliation of disputes within the Circuit not under synodical adjudication as outlined in chapter VIII of the Bylaws.