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LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 2013, Page 252

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

252

Structure and Ecclesiastical Matters

Resolved, That those they supervise would endeavor to make this
service a joy and not a burden, committing themselves to study and
be fully subject to the Word of God in all things, and, recognizing this
as the chief duty of their ecclesiastical supervisors as men who will
give an account, committing themselves to building the unity that is
of the Spirit, in the bond of peace, by speaking the truth in love (Eph.
4); and be it further
Resolved, That the Montana District in convention give thanks to
God for the faithful and diligent care afforded to each of her members through her district presidents, past and present, and for the
atmosphere of brotherly love and concern among her ministers and
sisterly love and concern among her congregations, all of which are
furthered by her constitution as a district of reasonable and viable
size, and pray that these benefits may continue and flourish among
us; and be it finally
Resolved, That the Montana District in convention memorialize
the 2013 LCMS convention to adopt as its own this resolution, with
an appropriately generalized thanksgiving for the faithful and diligent
service of our district presidents as ecclesiastical supervisors, and to
pray that it may continue and flourish among us.
Montana District
7-08

To Study the Definition of Electoral Circuits
Whereas, An electoral circuit is defined in Bylaw 3.1.2 (a) as
consisting of “7 to 20 member congregations, involving an aggregate communicant membership ranging from 1,500 to 10,000”; and
Whereas, In many districts of the Synod, such electoral circuits
can be established only by joining adjacent circuits, as is stated in
Bylaw 3.1.2 (a); and
Whereas, It becomes increasingly more difficult in some districts to realign circuits to meet the appropriate criteria for electoral
circuits to exist properly; and
Whereas, Congregational size, population trends, geographic
issues, and other such considerations continue to make the matter
of establishing electoral circuits challenging throughout the Synod;
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Iowa District West in convention June 24–26,
2012, petition The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to study
the definition of electoral circuits so that circuits might function
effectively.
Iowa District West
7-09

To Restore Bylaw Language re Circuit Counselor
Nominations
Whereas, The 2010 revision of the Bylaws of The Lutheran
Church—Missouri Synod omitted language from Bylaw 5.2.2, which
defined those eligible for nominations for circuit counselor, the process for making nominations, and limitations on nominations; and
Whereas, The omitted language was helpful in guiding congregations in the nomination process, and its absence makes possible
the nomination and election of a circuit counselor from outside the
circuit, which would be detrimental to the purpose and spirit of the
circuit counselor office and circuit structure in the vast majority of
cases; therefore be it
Resolved, That the following bylaw changes be adopted by the
2013 LCMS convention:
2013 Convention Workbook

Bylaw 5.2.2 (b) Nominations for candidates for the office of circuit
counselor may be submitted by a voting congregation of the circuit and
suggested by the district president, in consultation with the praesidium
of the district.
(1) Every voting congregation of each circuit shall be entitled to nominate as a candidate for the office of circuit counselor 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.
(2) The nominations shall be made prior to the meeting of the circuit
forum for selection of the circuit counselor and submitted to the current circuit counselor by or at that meeting.
(3) Suggestions from the district president shall also be individual pastors of the member congregations of the circuit or emeriti who hold
membership in one of the member congregations of that circuit, and
shall be submitted to the current circuit counselor by or at the meeting of the circuit forum for selection of the circuit counselor.
[(c) remains the same]
(d) All pastors nominated in accordance with the procedure outlined in
paragraph (b) above shall be eligible for election in accordance with
section 4.3 of these Bylaws. [The rest of paragraph (d) and following
remains the same.]

and be it further
Resolved, That the Southern Illinois District convention refer this
overture to the 2013 LCMS convention.
Southern Illinois District
7-10

To Change Meeting Requirements for Circuit
Forums
Whereas, LCMS Bylaw 5.2.2 (c) states, “Selection of the circuit
counselor shall be by election by written ballot,” implying a need for
a face-to-face meeting to elect the circuit counselor; and
Whereas, Bylaw 5.2.2 implies that the election of the circuit
counselor takes place at a time before the district convention, so eliminating a meeting of the circuit at said convention for election of
circuit counselors; and
Whereas, For circuits comprised of large geographical areas, a
short meeting to elect the circuit counselor requires a long drive and
considerable time and expense; and
Whereas, Because of said distance, time, and expense for a short
meeting, many congregations choose not to participate in the election; and
Whereas, Congregations have access to conference-call services
and the Internet; therefore be it
Resolved, That the Southern District meeting in its seventy-third
convention requests the 2013 LCMS convention to revise the bylaws
to allow circuits to meet electronically (via phone conference or computer conferencing or the like) or in some other non-face-to-face way
for the purpose of circuit elections.
Southern District
7-11

To Require Membership in Circuit for Election/
Appointment of Circuit Counselors
Whereas, It is not a requirement in the Synod’s Constitution and/
or Bylaws that a circuit counselor be a member of a congregation in
the circuit to which he is elected or appointed; and