Official Handbook Source Text
Handbook page 205
Source: LCMS Handbook 2023, page 205.
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.
under dispute resolution of the Synod as outlined in section 1.10 of these Bylaws.
(j) He shall regularly convene the pastors of his circuit for circuit conferences.
(k) He shall regularly report on his activities to the district president.
(l) The district president shall meet with the circuit visitors of the district at least once per year to discuss their work, to encourage them, and to conduct ongoing training for congregational and pastoral visits.
(m) The circuit visitor is authorized to draw on the district treasury for his expenses.
5.2.3.1 The circuit visitor shall, when requested to do so by the district president,
serve as his representative in the triennial visitation of the congregations of the circuit.
(a) In doing so, he should keep in mind the glory and responsibility of the universal priesthood 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” (1 Peter 2:9).
(b) He shall endeavor to strengthen the spirit of unity among circuit congregations to effect mission and ministry and shall seek to strengthen and support the spirit of fellowship.
(c) When he 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 congregation, except under extraordinary circumstances.
5.2.3.2 The circuit visitor shall serve the pastors of the circuit as a collegial and
brotherly advisor, reminding them of the joy of the ministry and of its great responsibilities.
(a) He shall encourage the pastors of the circuit in their preaching and teaching; in the exercise of church discipline in an evangelical manner;
and in the proper supervision of Christian education and training in the parish.
(b) He shall encourage, in a brotherly manner, the pastors of the circuit in their spiritual and family life.
(c) He shall encourage the pastors of the circuit to continue both formal and informal continuing professional education.
5.2.3.3 The circuit visitor shall assist the district president, as assigned, in the
ecclesiastical supervision of the other members of the Synod in the circuit.
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
