Synod
              Assembly in action
Synod Assembly 2023
of the
West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod

Proceedings
Click Here
Contents
We Are Adjourned

Synod Assembly Adjourned sine die sometime around 3:30 p.m.

We are still compiling all the stuff that happened. As we have items ready for posting, they will be posted here.

Synopsis of Actions

Elections

Synod Assembly elected a new vice president, treasurer, members of Synod Counil, and members of both the Consultation Committee and the Discipline Committee. Results are posted on our Elections page.

Finance

Both the budget for FY2024-2025 and an amendment to the budget for FY2023-2024 were adopted but not without debate and amendment. Details are available in the minutes of the assembly, and the adopted budget is posted as well.

Also among the financial actions, a motion to designate the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU as the recipient for the offering taken at the assembly mass was adopted. A total of $915.00 was taken up.

Governing Documents

Eight amendments to the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod were adopted. Seven amendments to the Bylaws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod were adopted. You may review these amendments in the Synod Assembly Proceedings.

UpdatedSynod Assembly Proceedings

We've still working on the proceedings—the directories take the most time—but we have some good news: the minutes of the assembly and the summary of actions are complete and uploaded.

Until the proceedings are finalized, you can check out the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports. Caveat Lector! The web-based edition of the bulletin (mounted on the Manula platform) becomes the proceedings as it is edited. So, that web-based version is in flux, items changing as they transition from pre-assembly information to post-assembly reporting.

www
Pre-Assembly Bulleting of Reports

The evolving document that will become the proceedings (and was the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports) for Synod Assembly 2023 is live online on the Manula platform. When you access the platform, you will see a table of contents on your left (or in a drop down menu in your upper right if using a mobile device).

If you would like to be notified when the proceedings are finalized, subscribe to The Bishop's Roadshow or subscribe to one of the vehicles listed on our Synod Assembly Communications page.

Registration

We're still working on the stats. Visit this page again for the details.

SA2023 - Looking out on the show ringIn other Assembly news...

Weather Forced Us Indoors

The promise of a second assembly al fresco was snatched away by gloomy predictions early in the week before assembly. Fortunately, our venue has both indoor and outdoor facilities. The Mon County Center set up the tables and chairs in the center's showroom (with a few in the pavilion for registration, coffee, and anyone who wanted a place to sit that wasn't the assembly chamber. As predicted, the heavens dumped rain on us midday, and everyone was glad to be inside.

Of course, the picture we have (taken by Fred Fox) shows it to be a pretty day outside. The sun teased us but not enough to get the temps high enough to make it possible to do business outside.

Churchwide ReportsOtten

The Rev. Christopher Otten

Our Churchwide Representative for Synod Assembly 2023 is The Rev. Christopher Otten, Assistant to the Presiding Bishop and Director, Federal Chaplaincies. Otten reported to the assembly, speaking, among other things, on the work of Lutheran clergy serving in federal chaplaincy and other chaplaincy settings. For a bio of Chaplain Otten, click here.

You can learn more about ELCA Federal Chaplaincy at https://www.elca.org/Our-Work/Leadership/Federal-Chaplaincy-Ministries/Contacting-Chaplaincy-Office.

BTW, the photo at the top of this page was taken by Chaplain Otten.

Presiding Bishop Eaton

Presiding Bishop Eaton's message to synod assemblies is included in the Proceedings of Synod Assembly 2023.

Mon
                County 4H CenterVenue

For the third year in a row, Synod Assembly was held at the Mon County Center located in Mylan Park just outside of Morgantown, WV. The center staff has been great to work with, the facility is flexible, its not far from the interstate, dining establishments, and hotels, and the cost is very reasonable. We rented the indoor showroom, the outdoor show ring, and the conference room (to serve as the assembly office and also a private place for committee meetings). If you are looking for a venue to hold you event in the greater Morgantown area, check them out.

Dining

As in the past three years, we did not serve a meal. With fifty-seven dining establishments with a 5-15 minute drive, it makes sense (and much less work for the assembly office) to provide an extended lunch adjournment and let people eat what they want, where they want, for the price they want.

While some did scatter, others opted for Hill & Hollow's new food truck. Hill & Hollow is owned and operated by Chef Marion & Ali Ohlinger. The paw paw bread pudding was to die for.

The Sprays were seen picnicking in the assembly chamber. We should have taken a picture.

Cost

For the third year in a row, Synod Assembly's registration fee at $0.00---that's right: free! This is possible because of aggressive cost-cutting measures by SAPComm, redesign of the Synod Assembly, an amazingly good deal on the meeting venue, and a surplus in the Synod Assembly fund.


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This page was last updated 7 August 2023