5.3 Circuit Forums

5.3 Circuit Forums

5.3.1 The circuit forum is the group which aids the process of keeping

congregations, 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 services and programming at the national and district levels and is encouraged to meet at least twice a year.

(a) The circuit visitor shall endeavor to provide resources, opportunities, and assistance so God’s people can grow in their faith.

(b) Among the functions which the circuit forum may perform are the following:

(1) To study the Scriptures and the Confessions in order to promote an evangelical spirit in our walking together.

(2) To develop and adopt within existing policies of the respective district complementary and sometimes joint plans for mission outreach in the circuit area.

(3) To devise and develop programs and services relevant to the needs of circuit congregations, lay leaders, teachers, and pastors.

(4) To receive and respond as appropriate to advice, guidance, resolutions, and programs in other sections of the Synod as such may be addressed to it from other circuits, the respective district, and the general Synod.

(5) To serve as a setting to review and evaluate programs, plans, and long -range directions of the district and the Synod and thus participate in the triennial process of suggesting, developing, and attaining the Synod’s priorities and goals.

5.3.2 The circuit forum consists of one pastor and one layperson from each

member congregation or multi-congregation parish designated by the congregation or parish. Congregations of a multi -congregation parish not contributing a lay voter may send an advisory lay representative, with voice but no vote.

(a) Depending on each circuit ’s adopted objectives, the circuit may provide for additional representation from each congregation. Such additional representatives have no vote in matters assigned to the circuit forum by the Bylaws of the Synod.

(b) The circuit visitor and any other officers shall have the primary responsibility of preparing the agenda for the circuit forum.

(c) The circuit visitor shall ordinarily serve as chairman of the circuit forum.

(d) Should a multi-congregation parish involve congregations having membership in different visitation circuits, each lay representative, voting and advisory, shall attend the forum of the circuit of which the representative’s congregation is a member. The pastoral representative shall attend the forum of that circuit, within which he serves a congregation and within the district in which he holds membership, to which he is assigned by his district president. No multi -congregation parish is entitled to more than one pastoral and one lay voting representative because of its inclusion of congregations from different visitation circuits.

5.3.3 The circuit forum shall meet at least once triennially to select a circuit

visitor (Bylaw 5.2.2).

5.3.4 The circuit forum may also participate in the triennial process of

suggesting, developing, and attaining the Synod’s priorities and goals.

5.3.5 The circuit forum shall be qualified to submit overtures to national and

district conventions.