40-3-124. Manner of conciliation. (1) The judge of the conciliation court may hear all matters invoked under this chapter or may refer the matters to a pastor or director of any religious denomination to which the parties may belong, psychiatrist, physician, attorney, social worker, or other person who is competent and qualified by training and experience in personal counseling. The person is referred to in this section as the conciliation counselor.

(2) The conciliation counselor shall:

(a) hold conciliation conferences with parties to, and hearings in, proceedings under this chapter and make recommendations concerning the proceedings to the judge of the conciliation court;

(b) cause reports to be made, statistics to be compiled, and records to be kept that the judge of the conciliation court may direct.