Collection › LCMS Convention Workbook (St. Louis, Missouri) › 2001 · 61st Convention › Page 107
LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2001, Page 107

Scan: The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod
Transcription machine transcription, uncorrected

SYNODICAL REPORTS 107

i. He shall be conversant with and supportive of synodwide and
District resolutions and programs and shall be responsible for com-
municating them to the congregations of the Circuit.

J. He may appoint from member congregations of the Circuit,
by and with the approval of the District President, pastors, teachers,
or laypersons to assist him in fulfilling his responsibilities.

k. Official visits shall be arranged in advance by the Circuit
Counselor with the respective pastor and congregation, except
under extraordinary circumstances. If he deems it necessary, the
Circuit Counselor may on his own initiative through the proper
channels arrange for a special meeting of the congregation.

5.15 Official Visits

a. The Circuit Counselor shall visit each congregation once in
three years and otherwise as he deems it necessary.

b. The Circuit Counselor shall seek to bring about to the great-
est possible degree the achievement of the Synod’s objectives as
expressed in Article III of the Constitution.

c. The congregation of a Circuit Counselor shall be visited by
the District President or by one of the District Vice-Presidents or
by another Circuit Counselor designated by the District President.

5.17 Relation to District President

a. Each Circuit Counselor, by virtue of his office, shall assist
the District President within the Circuit. Therefore the District
President shall meet with the Circuit Counselors of the District at
least once a year for the purpose of discussing the work of the Cir-
cuit Counselor.

b. The Circuit Counselor shall regularly report on his activities
to the District President.

5.19 Relation to Nonmember Congregations

The jurisdiction of Circuit Counselors shall include nonmember
congregations whose pastors are members of the Synod, but for
the purpose of official visits in such a congregation the consent of
the congregation shall first be secured.

5.21 Relation to Pastors

a. The Circuit Counselor shall conduct his official visits in an
evangelical manner and not resort to legalistic measures.

b. He shall come to the pastor as a brotherly adviser, reminding
him of the glory of the ministry and of its great responsibilities.

c. He shall ascertain whether the pastor is faithful in preaching
the Law and the Gospel in their purity, properly dividing and ap-
plying them, whether he privately ministers to the needs of the in-
dividuals, exercises church discipline in an evangelical manner,
and properly supervises all Christian education and training in his
parish.

d. He shall in a brotherly manner discuss the spiritual life, home
life, and studies of the pastor with him, also his library and profes-
sional studies and professional growth.

5.25 Expenses

The Circuit Counselor is authorized to draw on the District trea-
sury for his expenses.

h. He shall be conversant with and supportive of synodwide and
District resolutions and programs.

i. He may appoint from member congregations of the Circuit,
with the approval of the District President, pastors, teachers, or
laypersons to assist him in fulfilling his responsibilities.

j. When the Circuit Counselor is requested to make an official
visit to a congregation by the District President, he shall arrange
for such visits in advance with the respective pastor and congre-
gation, except under extraordinary circumstances. He may, if he
deems it necessary, on his own initiative and through the proper
channels arrange for a special meeting of the congregation.

[Note: Much of this material has been moved to proposed
Bylaw 4.71]

5.15 Relation to District President

a. Each Circuit Counselor shall assist the District President
within the Circuit.

b. The District President shall meet with the Circuit Counselors
of the District at least once per year for the purpose of discussing
and encouraging them in their work and to conduct ongoing train-
ing for congregational and pastoral visits.

c. The Circuit Counselor shall regularly report on his activities
to the District President.

[Note: This material moved to proposed Bylaw 4.71.]

5.17 Relation to Pastors

a. The Circuit Counselor shall serve the pastors of the Circuit as
a collegial and brotherly advisor, reminding them of the joy of the
ministry and its great responsibilities.

b. He shall encourage the fellow pastors of the Circuit in their
preaching and teaching; in the exercise of church discipline in an
evangelical manner; and in their supervision of Christian educa-
tion and training in the parish.

c. He shall encourage, in a brotherly manner, the pastors of the
Circuit in their spiritual and family life.

d. He shall encourage the pastors of the Circuit to continue both
formal and informal continuing professional education.

5.19 Relation to Other Called Workers

The Circuit Counselor shall assist the District President, as as-
signed, in the ecclesiastical supervision of the other members of the
Synod in the Circuit. He may, as noted in Bylaw 5 13 1, appoint ap-
propriate persons to assist him in fulfilling his responsibilities.
5.21 Expenses

CURRENT 5.25 UNCHANGED BUT RENUMBERED.

2001 Convention Workbook