Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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(7 October 2022)
Synod
Website Updates
We've moved the list of updates to the WV-WMD.org to a
page of its own. Click here
(or on the pic at right) to find out what has been
recently updated.
Clergy Compensation Kit for 2023
The clergy compensation kit for 2023 is now available on
line. Click here to
access that and other clergy compensation items.
Incorporation of Churches or Religious Denominations Amendment
West Virginians will be asked on 8 October 2022 whether
they support amendment of the Constitution of West
Virginia to permit the incorporation of churches and
denominations. The bishop has been asked about this, and
his response is now published. Click here for the Responsum ad
propositum dubium.
Mt. Hope 225
Mt. Hope Lutheran Church, Upper Tract, WV, celebrated its
225th anniversary on Sunday, 25 September 2022, with a
joint service of the parish. A packed church joined in
hymns and a service that included elements from liturgies
spanning the congregation's history. Prs. Jason & Jess
Felici were joined by past pastors, The Rev. Neal Weltzin
and The Rev. Mary Poston, daughter of the congregation,
The Rev. Sherri Schafer, and son of the congregation (and
son of past pastor, The Rev. Chuck Erzkus), The Rev. Ben
Erzkus. Bishop Riegel preached. The glorious morning was
marred by rain that began just as the cookout was
starting, though it did not appear to dampen spirits.
Requiescat in pace
The Most Rev. L. Alexander Black
The Most Rev. Loyal
Alexander Black, Bishop Emeritus, died peacefully on
Tuesday, 26 July 2022. A memorial service will be held on
Saturday, 29 October 2022. Link for memorial service
information, streaming, full obituary, information on
memorial gifts is on our our clergy page.
Mission Support
Numbers for 2023 mission support were posted on 6 August
2022 on our website with notices going out by The
Bishop's Roadshow (several issues in a row) and also
by one round of direct email to clergy. Of course, we know
that it is easy to miss that sort of stuff unless you are
looking for it. So, here are the links to the info you may
be seeking to assist you in your budgeting work.
Installations
Miller to be installed at Martinsburg
The Rev. Sherri Miller's installation is scheduled for 16
October 2022. Details on our Clergy page.
Knol installed at Bittinger
The Rev. Nancy Knol was installed as pastor of Emmanuel, Bittinger, on 14 September 2022. Details on our Clergy page.
Women of the ELCA:
Synod Convention
The WV-WMD Women of the ELCA wrap up their three-day
convention 20 September 2022. Held at Canaan Valley Resort,
this has been the first full in-person convention since the
start of the pandemic. Featured presentations during the
convention covered a wide range of topics, including abuse,
equity & inclusion, and the state of the synod. Of
course, there was the typical business associated with a
convention, but there was also worship, fellowship, and
recreation, including a bell performance by The Rev. Ruth
Bullwinkle.To learn more about the Women of the ELCA in WV-WMD, visit their facebook page.
Melanchthon Reading Group: Loci communes (1521)
A fall book study on Melanchthon's 1521 Loci communes kicked off 19 September 2022, but it is not too late to join. For more information, visit our Education for Clergy & Laity page.
If you haven't checked out the latest updates to the Education for Clergy & Laity page, do so. The page lists a wide variety of educational offerings. Click on the link to explore.
Churchwide
Assembly 2022
Churchwide Assembly 2022 was in session 9-12 August 2022,
in Columbus, Ohio. Voting members from the WV-WMD Synod
included (as pictured at right) The Rt. Rev. Matthew
Riegel, Dr. Bruce Dalton, Ms. Grace Riegel, Ms. Norma
Gensler, The Rev. Linda Muhly, and The Rev. Ben Erzkus.
During the course of the week, voting members engaged in
the legislative process, attended worship, attended a
lecture, and reviewed reports. There were also
opportunities to learn more about various ministries of
the church through special presentations at times outside
of business sessions.
A summary of actions by the Churchwide Assemby is
available in PDF (download
here). For those interested in the blow-by-blow of
assembly action—a close analysis of the various amendments
offered (whether passed or failed) can tell you more about
what's going on than the final wording of an action—study
the Legislative Updates are posted here in one file or by individual
days:
For videos of Churchwide Assembly 2022, visit the ELCA Youtube site.
Background materials for Churchwide Assembly 2022 are
found on the CWA2022 Resources
page.
Synod Council Actions, 6 August 2022
Synod Council, at its 6 August 2022 meeting, took the following actions:
- Invocation of S13.24 in connection to Mt. Olive Lutheran Church, Peru, and appointment of trustees;
- Contingent appointment of an acting bishop and a back-up acting bishop should +Riegel fall ill, test positive for COVID, or otherwise become unable to fulfill his duties during the Churchwide Assembly;
- Appointment of the The Rev. Nancy Knol as interim pastor of Emmanuel, Bittinger, with possibility for regularization of call;
- Adoption of clergy compensation guidelines for 2023—click here;
- Adjustment of compensation rate for SLWL Licensed
Readers—click here;
- Setting of Synod Assembly 2023 for the weekend of 3 June 2023—click here; and
- Setting the mission support request for 2023—click here.
KY
Flooding
Flooding has devastated portions of Appalachian Kentucky,
destroying homes and taking lives. Learn more and make your
gift for disaster recovery on our Social Ministry page.Query: What Do Congregational Officers Need?
A congregation is more like a small town than a small business. That's not to say that there are no business-like aspects to a congregation. It's just an observation about the decision-making processes involved. With an eye to offering some workshops (and other resources) for [vice] presidents, secretaries, and treasurers, we're asking you what you might find helpful and where you are finding particular challenges. If you are a congregational lay leader, please take this very short survey so that we can offer what's of potential use.
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.
Synod Assembly 2022 Synopsis
The synopsis of Synod Assembly 2022 is now online. Visit the
Synod Assembly 2022 to find out
what happened.SLWL: Licensed Readers
On-Line Reader's Sermon Library
The fourth edition of the sermon library for Synodical
Lay Worship Leaders is now online, adding sermons for the
start of the Pentecost season up to the last weeks of
August. To learn more about the SLWL program and the first
level license, the "reader," click
here. You'll also find there a link to the library.
Licensed Readers Page Uploaded
A page dedicated to explaining the Licensed
Readers aspect of the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders
program has been uploaded. You'll also find an application
for licensure on the page.
Apply To Be a Reader (Supply Preacher)
The Synodical Lay Worship Leaders Program is now online, and applications are being accepted for the reader license. A reader does not write his/her own sermon but reads a sermon and leads worship. This is the first of the licenses available under the SLWL program. To learn more, visit the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders page.
Worship Aids for Pulpit Vacancy
The constellation of pages to assist congregations in pulpit vacancy with worship planning continues to evolve. Originally uploaded on 14 May 2022, updates have been added daily, and pages dedicated to Pentecost, Holy Trinity, and Ordinary Time (following Pentecost) have been uploaded. These pages provide advice on liturgical form and the managing church appointments. Check out our Worship Aids for Pastoral Vacancy page.
Call Openings
Three congregations just activated their MSPs. 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).
Bishop's Roadshow: Time to Resubscribe
We are rebuilding the mailing list for the Bishop's Roadshow from scratch. Even if you were subscribed, you will have to subscribe again. More information and subscription links here.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.304-363-4030 + Porter@WV-WMD.org