Synod Website Updates

The synod website updates frequently (as in often) and irregularly (as in not on a particular schedule). Click here (or on the picture at right) to find out what has been recently updated.

Welcome: Palzer

We welcome The Rev. Jack Palzer to the WV-WMD. Palzer has coming out of retirement to serve St. John's Lutheran Church, Redhouse, MD, in cooperation with the synod. For more information, visit our Clergy page.

Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Synod Council is recommending a set of five amendments to the synod's constitution. Review them on our Proposed Constitutional Amendments page.

Has Your Congregation Elected Its Synod Assembly Voting Members?

Assuming your congregation's constitution does not predate the formation of the ELCA, *C5.04 applies:

*C5.04. This congregation shall elect from among its voting members laypersons to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly as well as persons to represent it at meetings of any conference, cluster, coalition, or other area subdivision of which it is a member. The number of persons to be elected by this congregation and other qualifications shall be as prescribed in guidelines established by the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

The constitutional default locates this election process in the Congregation Meeting unless delegated to, for example, the Congregation Council consistent with *C5.03. On the hunch that most of the synod's congregations have not formally delegated the authority to elect voting members to Synod Assembly and seeing that this is congregational meeting season, now would be a good time to take care of this constitutional duty.

Since posting this information in a recent Bishop's Roadshow, a question came into HQ about congregational tradition and practice. To help navigate this question, a dedicated page has been posted under the title "Who Elects Congregational Lay Voting Members to Synod Assembly?". Review the page for suggestions on how to address this in your congregation.

Thinking about Advent and Christmas?

It's not too early. Visit out Worship page for resources covering appointments (wreaths, trees, paraments, and candles), lessons & carols, and prayers.

Malagasy Visit

Our global companion synod presidents from the Betioky and Betroka Synods of the Malagasy Lutheran Church visited WV-WMD in October. For details, visit our Global Missions page.

Hurricanes Helene & Milton

Hurricane Helene slammed into Florida and then proceeded north, plowing through the Southern Appalachians and adjacent areas. Dn. Mary Sanders, Executive Director of Community Lutheran Partners, Inc., has provided information on donations that is posted on our Social Ministry page.

Additionally, Sanders may deploy with UMCOR. If she does, she can take two people with her. Again, information is posted on our Social Ministry page.

For Congregational Budgeting

Mission Support

The Mission Support Formula for 2025 has been published. To download the Mission Support Request, Commitment (Pledge) Form, and the Remittance Form, visit out Mission Support page.

Clergy Compensation Kit for 2025

The Synod Council, meeting 27 July 2024, adopted the Clergy Compensation Kit for 2025. You may review the new guidelines for clergy compensation at our Clergy Compensation page.

The Clergy Wellness page has been updated with information on Portico enrollment for 2025, new options for plan members, other benefits.

Synod Assembly 2025

Synod Assembly 2025 will be held 31 May 2025 at the Mon County 4-H Center, Morgantown, WV.

Grants for Congregations

Several grant opportunities are available to congregations. Visit our Congregations page to learn more.

Call Openings

We have one MSP in review at the moment. We also have some settings in which a call could be considered without an active MSP. On top of that, there is potential for contract appointments. 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).

Mutual Ministry Committee and the Driesen Manual

In partial fulfillment of an order from Synod Assembly 2021, information about the Driesen Manual has been uploaded to the website on a new page, Mutual Ministry Committee and the Driesen Manual. You will find there an explanation an a link to the manual.

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.