LCMS Convention Proceedings St. Louis, Missouri — 1989, Page 137

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aster Response Program, a cooperative endeavor of the
LCMS and the ELCA as well as with its own World
Relief domestic grant funds;

d. provide advisory services to the program boards
in order that their materials and programs will cultivate
congregation members in their concern for human care;

e. provide materials and programs that will assist
congregations and their members in responding to hu-
man needs and providing for human care;

e: f. maintain liaison and cooperation with the ap-
propriate units of

eations; other church adion with  opproved inter-Lu-
theran agencies, with recognized service organizations
and domestic projects endorsed by Districts;

£ g. sponsor and participate in World Relief activities
for the alleviation of human suffering through cooper-
ation with Lutheran World Relief, with Lutheran Im-
migration and Refugee Services, with the Board for
Mission Services, and with domestic projects endorsed
by Districts;

gh. promote the health and healing ministry of the
Gospel throughout the Synod;

i. serve as a channel for the love and compassion of
the church for helping the homeless, the persecuted, the
sick, and the needy as a witness to our faith in Jesus

hrist.

Action: Adopted as amended (14).

(By common consent the words through a publication going to
the members of the Synod and to the congregations was added in
the second paragraph of 3.945 a. By formal motion the words,
simple majority, were substituted for two thirds in the second

paragraph of 3.949.)

To Amend Bylaw re Nomination Election,
and Functions of Circuit Counselors

RESOLUTION 5-13
Overtures 5-11, 8-51 (CW, pp. 221-24, 282-83)

Wuereas, The present procedure for electing Circuit
Counselors has proven, in some instances, to be difficult
for congregations; and

Wuereas, Attention may likewise be given to the de-
scription of the functions of the office of Circuit Counselor
in the light of present-day needs; therefore be it

Resolved, That Bylaw 5.11 be amended as follows;

a. Every voting congregation of each Circuit shall
nominate as a candidate for the office of Circuit Coun-
selor two 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 Nomi-
nating Committee through the secretary of the District.
If no candidate has received a majority, the District sec-
retary shall mait forward to each congregation in that
Circuit a-baltet-eonteining-the names of the two men or
more in the case of a tie receiving the highest number
of v votes. s. Phe Nominating Committee shail arrange a

or-the-second-choice of the Cirenit ifhe is net. A Circuit
caucus shall be held during an early session of the con-
vention 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 candidate(s) no longer be available for this office, the
Circuit caucus shall have the right to act on behalf of
the congregations to nominate a replacement. FheDis-

triet-President-shall-fill the siate-where-neither-man-is
stil-evailable. The convention shall have the right to

STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION 137

alter the slate by amendment. The convention shall then
ratify the slate of Circuit Counselors, which ratification
shall constitute election.

b. Vacancies which occur in the office of Circuit Coun-
selor between conventions shall be filled by appointment
by the District President;

and be it further

Resolved, That Bylaws involving the function and re-
lation of Circuit Counselors be amended as follows:

5.13 Function of Circuit Counselors

a. The Circuit Counselor shail hold his position by
virtue of his election. He shall serve under the direction
of and be accountable to the District President and shall
serve as his spokesman when so authorized and directed
and shall assist him in doctrinal and spiritual
supervision.

b. 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. In doing so, he should keep in
mind the glory and responsibility of the universal priest-
hood 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.

c. Through his visitation to the congregations, he
shall endeavor to strengthen the spirit of unity among
congregations to effect mission and ministry and shall
seek to strengthen and support the spirit of fellowship.

d. In his visits he shall discuss attendance at services,
at communion, and at voters’ meetings; the salaries of