These postcards are designed to alert all congregations (and others as necessary) to critical convention-related information and deadlines to enable all congregations to participate fully in the process of the conventions and elections of our Synod.
Mailing No. 1: Aug. 14, 2017
It’s Time … to Prepare for Circuit Forums
It is time to begin your congregation’s preparations for the 2019 convention of our Synod. It all starts close-to-home with preparations for a circuit forum, soon to be scheduled by your circuit visitor. The forum will handle 2018 district convention business and matters related to the 2019 Synod convention. An official voters meeting of your congregation prior to the circuit forum will be required.
Four Essential Items
The following four items should appear on the agenda of your voters meeting:
- Designation of pastor and lay representatives to attend the circuit forum (Synod Bylaw 5.3.2)
- Nomination of candidates for circuit visitor for the 2018–2021 district triennium (Bylaw 5.2.2)
- Participation in the triennial process for determining the Synod’s priorities (Bylaw 5.3.4)
- Election of your congregation’s (or multi-congregation parish’s) delegates to your district convention (Synod Constitution Article V A and Bylaw 4.2.2)
More Information to Come
Watch for the next four postcard mailings. Each will provide helpful information regarding one of these agenda items. For now, be sure to identify an appropriate date to hold your congregation’s meeting.
John W. Sias, LCMS Secretary
Mailing No. 2: Aug. 21, 2017
It’s Time … to Designate Circuit Forum Representatives
It is time for your congregation to designate its representatives to attend its circuit forum. The forum will handle matters related to the 2018 district and 2019 Synod conventions. Unless your congregation has another official way to do this, a voters meeting should make this decision in advance of the upcoming circuit forum.
Your Congregation’s Two Representatives
The circuit forum consists of a pastor of each congregation and one lay member of each congregation designated by the congregation (Synod Bylaw 5.3.2). If your congregation has more than one called pastor, the congregation must determine which pastor will represent it. If your pastor serves more than one congregation, he is the pastoral representative of all those congregations (but votes only once). Each congregation is entitled to one other voting representative—a lay member of the congregation so designated.
Other Preparations for the Circuit Forum
Designation of circuit forum representatives is one of four matters requiring your congregation’s attention prior to the circuit forum. Watch for future postcard mailings that will address the other three:
- Nomination of candidates for circuit visitor for the 2018–2021 district triennium
- Participation in the triennial process for determining the Synod’s priorities
- Election of your congregation’s delegates to your district convention
John W. Sias, LCMS Secretary