Connections to Ministry

Scroll down through the page (or use the navigation bar above) to connect with a ministry, find a congregation or pastor/church worker.

Find a Congregation

You can locate any congregation in the synod, get contact information, directions, a web address (for many of them), and detailed statistical data through the ELCA's search engine. You may search by distance from an entered zip code, by city, or by congregation name. For an interactive map showing the position of our congregations, click here.

Find a Pastor or Church Worker

You can also locate any pastor or lay leader in the ELCA through a different ELCA search engine, searching by name (even partial) or a variety of filters.

Church Camps

WV-WMD supports two church camps.

Camp Luther, located in Webster County, WV, has operated for 75 years. It may be unique in ELCA church camping in that it is in session only one week out of the year (invariably beginning on Fathers' Day), hosting campers from 3rd grade through 12thin three camping departments (junior, intermediate, and senior). Camp Luther rents Camp Caesar, the Webster County 4-H camp. Its counseling and program staff is entirely volunteer lay persons and pastors. Visit on the web at http://camplutherwv.com/.

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp and Retreat Center, located in Fort Valley, VA, offers year round services with several weeks of camping programs in the summer, including specialty camps, and retreat facilities in the winter. Visit on the web at http://www.carolinefurnace.org/.

Church Colleges

Thiel College, an independent institution related to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and established in Western Pennsylvania in 1866 as a co-educational institution, educates students in the liberal arts & sciences and professional studies for service to society. Thiel, located in Greenville, PA, is an accredited four-year, undergraduate institution. Visit on the web at https://www.thiel.edu/.

Campus Ministries

West Virginia University: WV-WMD supports the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU, the only "center-based" Lutheran campus ministry on the territory. The LCMWVU has a reputation for a vigorous intellectual life informed by the Lutheran Confessions and a marked liturgical piety. Normally staffed by a full-time, ordained campus pastor, the LCMWVU is currently in a search process, the previous campus pastor leaving to assume the office of bishop. Visit on the web at http://LutheranMountaineer.org.

Potomac State College: WV-WMD also supports the work of Trinity Lutheran Church, Keyser, on the Potomac State College campus conducted in conjunction with Grace Methodist Church, Keyser. Both pastors spend time on campus, advise a student group, and serve as resources for the college.

Other Schools: Throughout the synod, local congregations and pastors situated near institutions of higher education are available for pastoral care and worship, service, educational, and fellowship opportunities. Use the "Find-a-Congregation" button above to make a connection.

Seminaries

WV-WMD supports the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Gettysburg. More commonly referred to as Gettysburg Seminary, the campus sits atop Seminary Ridge on the Civil War battlefield at Gettysburg, PA. The oldest seminary in the ELCA, still trains pastors for the ordained office and lay professional ministers as well as educating students for academic degrees. Located on the seminary campus is the Seminary Ridge Museum, an educational facility housed in the Old Dorm, which saw service as a hospital during and after the battle. Open to the public, the museum tells the story of battle, hospital work, and reconciliation. Visit the seminary on the web at http://www.ltsg.edu/.

Social Ministries

WV-WMD supports three ministries that follow in the footsteps of the Inner Mission movement.
Community Lutheran Partners, Inc., a  501(c)(3) nonprofit Social Ministry Organization, was formed in 2002 to facilitate social ministry development on the territory by enabling and supporting the congregations of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to reach out in service to their neighbor. CLP engages in a wide variety of service activities, ranging from food relief to disaster response. Visit on the web at http://www.clp-online.org/.

Additionally, WV-WMD supports the work of Glade Run Lutheran Services and Lutheran Senior Life.

Auxiliaries

Special ministries for women, men, and youth operate on the territory of WV-WMD.

WELCA: The synodical women's organization is part of the National Women of the ELCA. Congregational units dot the territory. An annual synodical convention is held as well as regular conference level events. To lean more, visit: https://www.lutheransonline.com/lo/085/FSLO-1449358085-111085.pdf

LMM: The national men's group also has a few chapters on the territory of the synod.

LYO: The synod youth ministry continues the the work of the Lutheran Youth Organization. A major focus is the National Youth Gathering held every three years. Synodical youth events allow youth from across the congregations to gather together for learning, service, and fellowship. Facebook users can visit at https://www.facebook.com/groups/252972861483444/