of the
West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
| Proceedings Click Here |
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Contents
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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.
Synod
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
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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.
In
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 Reports
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.
Venue
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.