Russ Sommerfeld

1

• Russ Sommerfeld
• Circuit Counselors Manual Session One

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The Circuit Counselors Manual

• Manual a book containing information that is
  set forth in a brief manner.

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• Circuit Counselors Manuals have been provided by
  The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod to offer
  guidance to the Counselor in the duties assigned
  to him.

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The Circuit Visitor

• Visitation in the New Testament prevent
  divisiveness (One Mission Vision)
• Acts 8, 11 1 Corinthians 8, 16 1 Thessalonians
  3 and 1 Timothy 5

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• Visitation after the Reformation
• prevent divisiveness
• (One Mission Vision)

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The LCMS Development of Circuit Counselor
The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

• Synod President
• District President

• Circuit Visitor
• Circuit Counselor

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Circuit Counselor

• Remind congregations and pastors in the circuit
  of their mission opportunities and
  responsibilities
• Build up and instruct congregations and pastors
  with gentleness

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Circuit Counselor

• Demonstrate wisdom in dealing with conflicts
• Celebrate with congregations and pastors

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Revised Circuit Counselors Manual

• Provides updated information and guidance to
  assist circuit counselors to know their role in
  the Synods plan to care for congregations and
  professional church workers.

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• The Circuit Counselors Relationships to
• Synod pages 5-7
• District pages 8-9
• Circuit page 10
• Congregations page 11
• Professional Church Workers pages 12-14

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The Manuals Outline

• Introduction
• Theological and Historical information pages
  2-3
• Personal and Spiritual Qualifications page 4

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• The Circuit Counselor Tradition pages 15-16
• Guidelines pages 17- 87
• Calls and Vacancies
• Installations and Ordinations
• Retirement
• Conflict Reconciliation

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• Early Years of Ministry
• Counselor Ministry in Times of Death
• Addressing Salary Concerns of Workers
• Lay Ministry in the LCMS
• The Winkel Conference
• Circuit Forum and Circuit Convocation
• Official Visits

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• Ministerial Health pages 88-96
• Professional Church Worker and Family
• Building Fellowship in the Circuit
• Physical and Psychological Health
• Marriage and Divorce

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Circuit Counselor

• The Circuit Counselor reflects the vision for
  the Synod among circuit congregations and
  professional church workers.

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Circuit Counselor

• Is on the front lines of mission and ministry
  with congregations and professional church
  workers as

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Circuit Counselor

• An extension of the Office of the District
  President. The District President is an
  Extension of the Synod President.

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Discussion Preparation

• The New Websters Dictionary of the English
  Language defines Vision as imaginative
  foresight.

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Discussion Preparation

• Vision for The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod
  is not imaginative. It comes from the Scriptures
  and is exhibited by The Lutheran Confessions.

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Discussion

• What concrete attitudes and actions are needed to
  focus the congregations and professional workers
  of the Synod on the Biblical One Mission Vision?

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Discussion

• What are the roles of circuit counselors to bring
  into clearer focus the Biblical One Mission
  Vision of the Synod?

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(No Transcript)
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• Dean and Dale
• Dr. Dean Wenthe and Dr. Dale Meyer

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• Larry Krueger
• Assistant to the President