First Lutheran, Parkersburg, Easter Vigil
Congregations
West Virginia - Western Maryland Synod
(14 October 2024)

Page Contents
Clergy Compensation

Clergy compensation guidelines for 2025 have been posted on the Clergy Compensation page.

Mission Support

All things mission support are posted on our Mission Support page, including

  • mission support request for 2025
  • remittance forms,
  • commitment (pledge) forms, and
  • a little synodical mission support history

Grants for Congregations

DEM Sherri Schafer has emailed to the synod clergy a list of three grant opportunities for congregations.

ELCA Disability Ministries

For this grant, congregations apply directly. You do not need to go through the DEM. For more information, click here. As explained by ELCA Disability Ministries:

Grant applicants must follow the guidelines below to be eligible to receive grant funding through Disability Ministries.

All applicants seeking funds from Disability Ministries must demonstrate how the request or initiative addresses at least one of the following goals:

  • Raising up people with disabilities for leadership positions, encouraging the participation of those with disabilities in the wider church and preparing leaders for serving people with disabilities.
  • Equipping our synods, congregations and members with relevant and practical information that enables them to welcome and support individuals with disabilities so that they might participate fully in the life of the congregation and that, together, all might experience being the body of Christ.
  • Gathering and connecting people with disabilities and various groups in the church so that they might help us become an inclusive, supportive and whole community of faith.
Additionally, all applicants must show that they have or are actively building a relationship with people in their settings who live with disabilities.

This church wants to move beyond the attitude that “if we build it, they will come.” So, for example, don’t request funding for a ramp simply for the sake of installing one; instead, explain how your project would benefit disabled people in your setting and your ministry, and enrich your mutual relationship as disciples of Jesus Christ.

We will award grants in the range of $5,000-$10,000, for a total of $50,000. Previous applicants who were not funded may reapply.
The application window opened May 28 and will close July 31, or earlier if we have received 30 completed applications. Projects receiving grants will be announced before the end of October 2024.

ELCA Evangelism Initiatives

The Christian Community and Leadership Program Unit of the ELCA is offering new grants in three different categories, These grants must be applied for through the DEM. For details on application, criteria, etc., click here. As explained by by the Christian Community and Leadership Program Unit:

Evangelism Initiatives 

The Gospel compels the Church to always share the good news of Jesus Christ. Evangelism initiatives are meant to add and enhance more ways God’s people can engage in evangelism through congregations and synod work.

These grants support congregations, conferences and/or synods throughout the ELCA as they share the good news of Jesus Christ. Preference is given to lay-led initiatives and training opportunities for evangelism.

Congregational Outreach Ministries (COM)

The purpose of a Congregational Outreach Ministry (COM) is evangelism. These are congregation-based and centered in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through intentional, invitational discipleship and/or outreach ministries located in congregations.

Synod Authorized Outreach Ministry (SAOM) 

The purpose of a Synod Authorized Outreach Ministry (SAOM) is evangelism. These are synod-based and authorized, centered in sharing the good news of Jesus Christ through intentional, invitational discipleship and/or outreach ministries.

Calvin Institute for Christian Worship: Worshiping Communities

The Calvin Institute offers grants for vital worship and vital preaching initiatives. Any congregation may apply for these grants. For more information, click here.

Research & Evaluation

Congregation Pulse Surveys

The Office of Research and Evaluation is rolling out a new instrument this year, the Congregation Pulse Survey. Replacing Form C, these quarterly surveys will sample congregations of the ELCA on a variety of topics. For more information, visit our Research & Evaluation page.

Parochial Reports

*C9.12(b). The pastor of this congregation: shall submit a summary of such statistics annually to the synod.

The online system for 2023 Form A and Form C submissions has opened.

For more information on the Parochial Report and access for filing your congregation's parochial report, visit our Research & Evaluation page.

New Page for Research & Evaluation

We've radically redesigned the Parochial Reports page. Now it includes information on the Congregation Pulse Survey and access to resources provided by Research & Evaluation, e.g., the number crunching and reporting of the results of Parochial Report submissions. Visit our Research & Evaluation page to explore.

Church & Taxes

Portico provides a guide to help congregations understand their federal tax requirements. You can download, at no cost, Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches from either myPortico or EmployerLink.

Mutual Ministry Committee and the Driesen Manual

At the direction of the Synod Assembly 2021, the Synod Mutual Ministry Committee is promulgating the Driesen Manual as a resource for mutual ministry committee work. Learn more here.

Trappe Church Pulpit 1919Supply Preachers

Do you need coverage for a service? Click here for the Supply Preacher page.

Having trouble finding supply preachers? Apply To Be a Reader!

Having trouble finding supply preachers? In some parts of our territory, it's not easy. There simply aren't folks within a reasonable drive or the few that are are already engaged. To address this problem (as well as reform our longstanding Bishop Lay Worship Leaders Program, Synod Council has authorized the new Synodical Lay Worship Leaders Program, and the first license that is now being rolled out is the "reader" license.

Readers do not prepare their own sermons. Instead, they select a sermon from a reputable source in consultation with an assigned supervisor. They also lead worship, using one of the approved liturgies (i.e., ante-communion, service of the Word, matins, or vespers). While it may be difficult to find a pastor or authorized lay preacher in your vicinity, it shouldn't be too hard to identify a trusted lay member (perhaps more than one) in your congregation and suggest licensure. To learn more about the program, visit the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders page.

Pastoral Transition & Vacancy Page

We has gathered together on one page items related to pastoral transitions (coming and going) and pastoral vacancy, but the material related to call process has grown, necessitating two pages. You can still start your exploration at the "transitions" page: check it out.

Polity for Congregations

We've uploaded a new constellation of pages related to polity. You will find there

  • Procedure in Small Boards
  • Education & Training for Congregational Leaders
  • Polity for Councils: A Crash Course for Congregational Councilors
  • The Wild and Wonderful World of Procedure
  • Parliamentary Authority: Robert's Rules of Order
  • Congregation Meeting in Time of Pandemic
  • Email Voting by Congregation Council
  • Updating your Congregation's Constitution
  • WV Congregations: Filing Your Trustees with the County
  • Selling Church Property
  • and more
Click here to explore.

COVID-19 Page

COVID-19 poses special challenges for congregations and their leadership. A special page has been set up on the synod web site for COVID-19 related information. Please visit WV-WMD.org/COVID-19 to access the latest material.

Workshops & Presentations

The WV-WMD Synod offers workshops and presentations for congregations on a variety of topics. The following are currently available, but more will be added as time goes on. If there is something you would like to see that is not listed, contact Bishop Riegel. To make arrangements for a presentation or workshop, email Bishop Riegel (Bishop@WV-WMD.org).

  • Compline Workshop
                  at MartinsburgWorship
    • Praying Compline
    • Praying Matins
    • Praying Vespers
    • Tips for Singing Psalms
  • Polity & Governance
    • Intro to Roberts Rules of Order
    • Updating Constitutions & Bylaws
  • Theology, Bible, Ethics, and History
    • Sanctification in a Lutheran Key
    • The Rhetoric of First Corinthians
    • A Theological Argument for the Political Animal
    • German-speaking Lutherans in the Great War's America
    • Making End of Life Decisions
    • The History of the History of the Reformation
    • The Geo-Politics of the Reformation

Events that have been scheduled can be found on the Synod's Education page.

A Seed Planted Mission Fund

Synod Assembly 1996 established “A Seed Planted” Mission Fund to stimulate innovative outreach by or from congregations. Awarded grants went for a range of activities from a coffee house Bible study to printed promotional material to efforts with unaffiliated populations. To download information on the fund and guidelines on application for a grant, click here.


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West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, ℅ St. Paul Lutheran Church, 309 Baldwin Stee, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-363-4030  +  Porter@WV-WMD.org