Congregational Leaders have three opportunities to join a webcast about the nomination and election process. Register now to join us on one of the following calls:
As noted by the times, each call will be joined by an SED Vice President. You may choose to join the call with your Regional VP, or the call that best fits your calendar.
(Due to anticipated participation, preregistration is required. Login information will be sent to you after you register. Log-in via computer is recommended so that you may use the "Chat" function to join the discussion.)
August 15, 2017
Dear Congregational Leader:
In advance of the 38th Southeastern District Convention, each Visitation Circuit will be holding a Circuit Forum. The purpose of this Forum is to elect a Circuit Visitor,
consider circuit overtures for District Convention, and to establish Synod priorities for the next triennium.
Before the Circuit Forum
When the Circuit Visitor announces the Circuit Forum date, Congregation Leaders must schedule a meeting prior to the Forum date to:
(i)
Designate the congregation's two representatives to the Circuit Forum
Bylaw 5.3.2
The circuit forum consists of a pastor of each congregation and one lay member of each congregation designated by the congregation.
(ii)
Submit nominations of pastors for the office of Circuit Visitor prior to the day of the Circuit Forum
Bylaw 5.2.2 (b)
Prior to the day of the circuit forum, nominations for candidates for the office of circuit visitor may be submitted by a voting congregation of the circuit and suggested by the district president, in consultation with the praesidium of the district.
(iii)
Suggest possible mission and ministry emphases for the Forum to pass along to the District Convention
Bylaw 5.3.4
The circuit forum may also participate in the triennial process of suggesting, developing, and attaining the Synod's priorities and goals.
(iv)
Suggest possible overtures for the Forum to submit to the District Convention
Bylaw 5.3.5
The circuit forum shall be qualified to submit overtures to national and district conventions.
Either at this congregational meeting, or a subsequent one, the congregation should elect one pastor from your congregation or multi-congregation parish/dual parish and one layperson from your congregation or each parish to be the Voting Delegates for the District Convention. (These may or may not be the same persons who were representatives to the Circuit Forum.)
Bylaw 3.12.2.3 (a)
This voters list shall include:
(1) the pastor of each member congregation or multi-congregation parish
(2) a lay person from the congregation or parish
Again, the congregational meeting will need to take place in advance of your Circuit Forum. The date of the Circuit Forum will be determined by your Circuit Visitor. The deadline for the submission of Convention Nominations and Business is December 18, 2017. Therefore all congregational meetings and Circuit Forums will need to have taken place prior to that date.
Additional Notes and Clarifications
The following are responses to frequently asked questions regarding congregation representation at Circuit Forums, election of delegates to District Conventions, clergy eligibility for Circuit Visitor nomination, the role of the District President in Circuit Visitor nominations, and other related duties of the Circuit Visitor.
- Congregation voting representatives to Circuit Forums are a called pastor and a lay person. In the case of a multi-congregation parish, each congregation is entitled to a lay representative to the Circuit Forum.
- At their meetings, congregations may also elect their delegates to the District Convention, who may be (or not) the same persons who were representatives to their Circuit Forum. In the case of a multi-congregation parish, only one pastor may represent the parish at the District Convention. Each congregation is entitled to a lay representative to the District Convention.
- A "lay person" is defined as a congregation member who is not on the Ordained or Commissioned Roster of the LCMS. A Lay Deacon, not being a rostered person, is a lay person under these guidelines.
- Pastors who are on the clergy roster of the district and are actively serving congregations, or on emeritus status are eligible to serve as a Circuit Visitor. [Bylaw 5.2.2 (d)]. However, a Specific Ministry Pastor (SMP) is not eligible to serve as a Circuit Visitor.
- Congregations are encouraged to nominate pastors for their Circuit Visitor position for the coming triennium and submit their names and information [see Bylaw 5.2.2 (d) (1)] to the current Circuit Visitor prior to the Forum. If no names are submitted, the District President, who always has the privilege of suggesting names to be considered for selection as Circuit Visitor, must in this case be prepared to suggest names for consideration by the Forum [Bylaw 5.2.2 (b)] so that a selection can take place at the time the Forum meets.
- These are pre-District-Convention visitation Circuit Forums [Bylaw section 5.1] and not pre-Synod-Convention electoral Circuit Forums. The latter will meet in 2018 to elect delegates and alternates to the Synod Convention and adopt overtures to be submitted to the Synod Convention [Bylaws 3.1.2 and 5.3.5]
- Current Circuit Visitors must be prepared to chair their Circuit Forums, maintain a record of decisions made, and inform the District President's Office of the results of the Circuit Forum promptly after the meeting [Bylaw 5.2.2 (e)]
Convention Costs
Registration Fee:
Early Bird Regular Late
Voting Delegate 225 275 325
Advisory Delegate 180 230 280
Emeritus Advisory 160 210 260
Non-Delegates 160 210 260
Room Cost:
Varies depending on the hotel chosen
Convention Hotels
:
A listing of nearby hotels can be found on the Convention page of the SED website
Meal Plan:
Lunch will be provided on Friday and Saturday; concessions are available within the Convention Center, and a variety of restaurants are within easy driving distance
Call for Nominations to other offices, boards committees:
A Call for Nominations for all other District offices, boards and committees will be sent to each SED congregation in September 2017. The
deadline for the submission of these nominations will also be December 18, 2017.
Congregational Leaders have three opportunities to join a webcast about the nomination and election process. Register now to join us on one of the following calls:
As noted by the times, each call will be joined by an SED Vice President. You may choose to join the call with your Regional VP, or the call that best fits your calendar.
(Due to anticipated participation, preregistration is required. Login information will be sent to you after you register. Log-in via computer is recommended so that you may use the "Chat" function to join the discussion.)
