Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 204
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 204.
This page reproduces text from the 2023 LCMS Handbook for study and navigation. Readers should verify procedural, legal, parliamentary, or governance questions against the official LCMS Handbook and appropriate LCMS authorities.
responsibilities as provided hereafter in this bylaw, each voter shall submit the names of two pastors on the initial ballot.
(2) The three pastors (or more in case of a tie vote) who receive the highest number of votes in this preliminary ballot shall be placed on the next ballot. Each voter shall vote for only one candidate.
(3) Balloting shall continue with the lowest candidate being removed from each succeeding ballot until one pastor shall have received a simple majority of all votes cast, who shall be declared the nominee.
(e) Immediately following the circuit forum, the circuit visitor shall report in writing the results of the selection process to the secretary of the district in preparation for ratification by the district convention.
(f) In the event that a circuit visitor has not been selected by a circuit forum or has been selected but is no longer available to serve, thus resulting in no circuit visitor selection being included on the convention slate of circuit visitors for a circuit, the district president shall make the selection, which selection shall then be included on the convention slate of circuit visitors.
(g) The convention shall have the right to alter the slate by amendment.
(h) The convention shall then ratify the slate of circuit visitors, which ratification shall constitute election.
5.2.2.1 Vacancies that occur in the office of circuit visitor between conventions
shall be filled by appointment by the district president.
5.2.3 Each circuit visitor shall assist the district president within the circuit.
(a) 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.
(c) He shall seek to remind and encourage members of the circuit of their responsibilities as God’ s people and the privilege they have in being about His mission.
(d) He and any other officers of the circuit shall have the primary responsibility for maintaining liaison between the circuit and the Synod at the national and district levels.
(e) He shall be conversant with and supportive of S ynod-wide and district resolutions and programs.
(f) He shall seek to strengthen the spirit of cooperation among pastors, commissioned ministers, and congregations.
(g) He shall assist in the development and attainment of Synod -wide mission and ministry emphases.
(h) He shall assist the district president, as requested, in promoting and obtaining unanimous participation by congregations in the submission of annual statistical reports.
(i) He may, when requested to do so by the district president, serve as a mediator to effect reconciliation of disputes within the circuit not
