LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1986, Page 174

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174 RESOLUTIONS

d. The minutes and essays or a reasonably compre-
hensive summary of the essays accepted by the pastoral
conference and by the teachers conference in plenary
and sectional meetings shall be mailed to the office of
the district president for review and for the district’s
record within one month following such conference.

4.63 Purposes of Official Conferences

Official conferences shall be conducted for the spir-
itual and professional growth of their members. Matters
pertaining to Christian doctrine and practice, to profes-
sional problems, to the proper conduct in office, to pri-
vate study, to the welfare of the respective
congregations and schools, to the work of the Synod,
including the District, or to any other professional mat-
ter should at all times receive due and sympathetic at-
tention. The members of the conferences are to aim to
cultivate positive relationships, to be mutually helpful
in every way possible, and to encourage, instruct, and
admonish one another in a spirit of sincerity and Chris-
tian love. Professional conferences have no synodical
administrative functions.

4.65 Attendance at Official Conferences

Attendance at the official conferences shall be oblig-
atory for ordained and commissioned ministers serving
in congregations and parishes. Those whose offices in
the Synod, district, or other entity imposes professional
or service requirements on which full and regular con-
ference attendance makes undue demands, shall never-
theless, in consultation with their supervisory boards,
arrange for their own partial or occasional attendance
and participation in their own official conferences.

4.67 Other Conferences

a. The official pastoral conferences and official
teacher conferences shall be encouraged to meet also
jointly for the purpose of discussing doctrinal, profes-
sional, and practical matters. Such a joint meeting will
not be regarded as an official conference.

b. Ordained and commissioned ministers are also
encouraged to organize smaller conferences in addition
to their official conferences.

c. Intersynodical conferences for the study of theol-
ogy are desirable and are encouraged on a regular basis.

4.69 Circuit Conferences

The circuit counselor shall regularly convene the
pastors of his circuit for circuit conferences. The con-
ferences may consider matters of doctrine, exegesis, and
practical theology, and may be used for promotion of the
basic activities of the church. Circuit conferences are
not official conferences.

23. Section 6.53 a shall be amended to read as follows:

a. The president of a synodical institution shall be
relieved of his presidential responsibility at the end of
the school year at which he reaches the age of 70.

24. Section 6.85 shall be amended to read as follows:

6.85 Eligibility and Assignment of Certain
Church Workers

a. An academic year of supervised internship (vicar-
age) is required of all seminary students before grad-
uation, ordinarily in the second year before graduation.
Every vicar shall be assigned by the Council of Presi-
dents, acting as the Board of Assignments.

b. The faculties of the Synod’s schools shall consider
applications for temporary supply work by their stu-
dents only when such applications have received prior
approval of the respective district president.

25. The words and incorporated district church exten-
sion funds shall be inserted after the word districts in pres-
ent Section 8.03 b.

26. Present sections 8.41 and 8.48 shall be deleted and
replaced with the following:

8.41 Suspension and Expulsion
See Bylaw sections 2.27-2.29.

27. Present section 8.71 is to be deleted because the
content is dealt with in proposed new Bylaw 2.29 d.

28. Present chapters 2, 3, 4, 12, and 13, as amended by
the convention will be redesignated chapters 3, 4, 5, 13,
and 14, respectively, and all sections renumbered accord-

ingly.

Action: Adopted as amended (13).

(Before presenting the resolution the committee had deleted
a proposal which called for insertion of the word “general” before
“Synod” in Bylaws 2.73a and 2.101 e. In original number 13, now
12, it had also stricken the words, “the word ‘general’ is to be
added before the word ’synodicaY in present section 2.563 1 and
6 and.” Number 26 of the original proposal was also deleted since
colloquy bylaws were adopted in Res. 6-25A and 6-26A.)

* * *

P. To Adopt Miscellaneous Bylaws

1. Amend Bylaws regarding the circuit counselor in or-
der to enhance his work and effectiveness as follows:

4.13 Functions

a. The circuit counselor shall hold his position by
virtue of his election. He shall serve as the primary
spokesman for the district president when so authorized
and directed and shall assist him in doctrinal and spir-
itual supervision.

b. He shall strengthen the spirit of unity among con-
gregations to effect mission and ministry and shall seek
to strengthen and support the spirit of fellowship.

d. He shall serve in a servant role and seek to remind
and encourage members of the circuit of their respon-
sibilities as God’s people and the privilege they have in
being about His mission.

e. He shall be available as a resource person to var-
jous circuit committees, pastors, teachers, and congre-
gations of the circuit.

f. He shall work through the Circuit Forum to pro-
vide resources, opportunities, and assistance, SO God’s
people can grow in their faith in their Lord and Savior
Jesus Christ.

g. He shall ordinarily serve as chairman of the Cir-
cuit Forum. The forum may elect another member to
serve in that capacity. He shall serve as chairman 0
the circuit gatherings and convocations.

h. He shall assist congregations, pastors, and
teachers to fulfill their ministry.

j. He may serve as a mediator to effect reconciliation
of disputes within the circuit not under synodical ad-
judication and outlined in section VIII of the Bylaws.

j. He shall seek to strengthen the spirit of cooperation
among pastors, teachers, and congregations.

k. He shall be conversant with and supportive of
synodwide and district resolutions and programs.

1. He shall appoint, from member congregations of
the circuit, pastors, teachers, or lay persons to assist
him in fulfilling his responsibilities.

4.15 Relation to District President

(Remains the same.)

4.17 Relation to Member Congregations

(Present 4.17 is deleted.) The new 4.17 is as follows:
a. The circuit counselor shall visit each congregation
once in three years and otherwise as he deems it nec
essary.

b. The congregation of a circuit counselor shall be
visited by the district president or by one of the district

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