Headline
News
(18
June 2022)
Synod
Website Updates
We've moved the list of updates to the WV-WMD.org to a
page of its own. Click here
(or on the pic at right) to find out what has been
recently updated.
Synod Assembly 2022 Synopsis
The synopsis of Synod Assembly 2022 is now online. Visit the
Synod Assembly 2022 to find out
what happened.
Camp Luther Begins Sunday!
Camp Luther begins this Sunday, 19 June 2022, at Camp Caesar
in Webster County, WV, under the theme, "Boundless: God
Beyond Measure." Find out how to follow the camp by visiting
our Camping Ministry page.
Educational Opportunities
Have you checked out the latest updates to the Education
for Clergy & Laity page? The page lists a wide
variety of educational offerings. Click on the link to
explore.
IRS Mileage Rate Change
The IRS has announced a mid-year increase to the standard
mileage deduction for business travel. Beginning 1 July
2022, the standard deduction for business travel will be
62.5¢ per mile. This is an increase of 4¢, the rate for 1
January 2022 through 30 June 2022 being 58.5¢. N.B., this
affects the supply preaching/presiding rate, as the
compensation level for such is set to the IRS standard
and, thus, automatically adjusts.
SLWL: Licensed Readers
Pentecost and Holy Trinity Added to On-Line Reader's
Sermon Library
The second edition of the sermon library for Synodical
Lay Worship Leaders is now online, adding sermons for
Pentecost and Holy Trinity. To learn more about the SLWL
program and the first level license, the "reader," click
here. You'll also find there a link to the library.
Licensed Readers Page Uploaded
A page dedicated to explaining the Licensed
Readers aspect of the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders
program has been uploaded. You'll also find an application
for licensure on the page.
Apply To Be a Reader (Supply Preacher)
The Synodical Lay Worship Leaders Program is now online,
and applications are being accepted for the reader
license. A reader does not write his/her own sermon but
reads a sermon and leads worship. This is the first of the
licenses available under the SLWL program. To learn more,
visit
the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders page.
Worship Aids for Pulpit Vacancy
The constellation of pages to assist congregations in pulpit
vacancy with worship planning continues to evolve.
Originally uploaded on 14 May 2022, updates have been added
daily, and pages dedicated to Pentecost, Holy Trinity, and
Ordinary Time (following Pentecost) have been uploaded.
These pages provide advice on liturgical form and the
managing church appointments. Check out our Worship
Aids for Pastoral Vacancy page.
Supply Preachers Added
If you are responsible for securing supply preachers but
haven't checked the Supply
Preaching & Presiding page lately, you should.
In just the last week, her have added four new people
available for supply.
Seminary
Graduations
Congrats, Sanders!
Sem. Mary Sanders is no longer Sem. Mary Sanders. Now,
Mary Sanders is Mary Sanders, M.A.M.L., and she moves on
to her next step in candidacy: approval. Sanders
graduated, 20 May 2022, from United Lutheran Seminary with
Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership. In addition to
two years of class work, Sanders was required to do a
year-long internship, which she fulfilled in a split-time
arrangement between St. John’s, Davis, and WV Catholics
for Sustainable Economy. Sanders is diaconal candidate of
the WV-WMD Synod. The M.A.M.L. degree program supports the
ELCA's diaconate. The ULS website, under the degree
program, states, "Deacons serve in congregations and other
ministries of the ELCA, including family ministries,
youth, administration, volunteer ministry, social
services, music or parish nursing. Deacons connect the
church with the needs of the world and work to equip
others to lead a living, active and caring Christian
life." Sanders is currently employed as the Executive
Director of Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.. To learn
more about Sanders in her CLPi capacity, click
here.
Congrats, Christensens!
And we forgot to mention yesterday that Sems. Hillary and
Evan Christensen, are now Hillary Christensen, M.Div., and
Evan Chistensen, M.Div.. Both graduated 20 May 2022 from
United Lutheran Seminary. Both Hillary and Evan earned
certificates in Town and Country Church Ministry. In
addition, Evan graduated with honors in Biblical Studies
and in Church History & Theology. The Christensens
were the first seminarians to serve internships in the
WV-WMD Synod under the ELCA's Holy Innovations Grant. The
grant proposal brought together the Mountain Lutheran
Parish, served by The Revs. Jess and Jason Felici, and the
Chapel on the Mount, the Episcopal Church congregation at
Snowshoe, making it possible to provide internships over
two years. Hillary was the first intern, engaged in that
field work while Evan took classes remotely. The second
year, they switched. The Christensens are presbyteral
candidates of the Nebraska Synod. They plan to return to
Nebraska, taking with them not only the ministry
experience gained on our mountains and in our hollows but
also their infant son, Wilder Lane Christensen.
Bartling Installed
The Rev. Sally Bartling was installed as contract pastor
of St. Luke's Lutheran Church, Cumberland, MD, on
Saturday, 21 May 2022. Read the full story on our Clergy page.
Women of the ELCA Meet in Morgantown
The Women of the ELCA met in Morgantown, 21 May 2022, at
St. Paul Lutheran Church for a day of education,
fellowship, and activity. Chap. Courtney Erzkus led a
Bible study for the gathering and talked about the work of
the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. A quilting project
was undertaken. Announcements related to the upcoming
convention, to be held at Canaan Valley Resort in
September, were made. Lunch with a chance to enjoy each
other's company, something that has not been done in
person since the beginning of the pandemic, took place in
the festively decorated fellowship hall. If you would like
to connect with the WV-WMD WELCA, visit their facebook page.
Big News for Pam Pritt
Pam Pritt, member of New Hope, Minnehaha Springs, and
former member of the WV-WMD Synod Council and the ELCA
Church Council, has been named the Executive Editor of WVU
Magazine communications. You can read the big news on MOUNTAINEERENEWS. Pritt is in the
foreground of the photo at right, pic taken at Churchwide
Assembly 2019; sorry, it is the only photo we have on
file.
Stay, Pray, and Play
The "Working Vacation" program announced several weeks back
has a new name thanks to Cindy Murphy. We won't get
everything "rebranded" until after Synod Assembly. In the
meantime, explore it here.

Home Base: Youth Event
Something is going to happen right here in WV-WMD. Home
Base is a youth event taking place in the synod this
summer, 25-28 July, in Morgantown, WV. The infographic
gives you some basics, but full information can be found
on our Youth page.
Camp Luther: Camper Registration Opens
Camper registration for Camp Luther 2022 is now open. Visit
our Camping
Ministry page for more information.
Bishop's Pastoral: On Baptism during a Pandemic
At the direction of the Synod Assembly, Bishop Riegel has
published a pastoral letter addressing matters related to
baptism during a pandemic. This is now available on a
webpage, "On Baptism
during a Pandemic," and also a PDF downloadable from
that page. The pastoral includes a discussion of the
benefits of baptism, of the importance of baptism during a
pandemic, and of matters directly related to baptismal
practice under pandemical conditions. If you downloaded
the PDF previously, be advised that it is revised as of 21
January 2022, here.
Mission Support Pledge Form Available for Download
It was brought to our attention that the mission support
commitment (pledge) form was not properly uploaded. We've
fixed that problem, and, now, you can download it. Visit
our Congregations
page for information, instructions, and various mission
support forms.
Clergy Compensation Package and Mission Support Request
posted
Synod Council has acted on both the Clergy Compensation Package
recommendation for 2022 and the Mission Support Request
for 2022. For details, click the links.
Call Openings
Three congregations just activated their MSPs. With several
clergy vacancies across the territory, there are
opportunities for clergy interested in serving in the WV-WMD
Synod. Visit the clergy
page to find out whats available (or will be available
once the MSP is completed).
Are you looking to learn something?
We have a webpage dedicated to educational opportunities
for both clergy and laity. Not surprisingly, it is titled,
Education for Clergy & Laity. Check
it out.
Bishop's Roadshow: Time to Resubscribe
We are rebuilding the mailing list for the Bishop's Roadshow
from scratch. Even if you were subscribed, you will have to
subscribe again. More information and subscription links here.
If you haven't checked out the members portal...
Don't forget to take a peek of the members portal (click the
button at right near the top of this page). It's not
password protected. We only call it the "members portal"
because it's mostly stuff that deals with the internal
workings of the synod. Visitors looking for more general
information about the synod, will probably find the "guest
portal" more interesting. |