| Polity of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod |
Governing Documents
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Page
Contents
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The current governing documents of the WV-WMD Synod can be downloaded here. N.B., both the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod and the Bylaws West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod were amended at Synod Assembly 2023. The amended constitution and bylaws are posted here.
- WV-WMD
Articles of Incorporation (1 March 1993)
- WV-WMD
Synod Constitution (15 June 2023)
- WV-WMD
Synod Bylaws (15 June 2023)
- WV-WMD
Synod Continuing Resolutions (22 January 2022)
Synod Assembly
If you want to find out about Synod Assembly in general,
visit the new Synod Assembly
page. From there, you can access information about
specific synod assemblies.
Officers
An asterisk (*) indicates those whose terms expired while
we are unable to hold an assembly because of the pandemic.
They continue in office until replaced by the next regular
Synod Assembly and seated shortly thereafter according to
the bylaws.
| Office |
Occupant |
Term |
Term Period |
| Bishop |
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel,
S.T.M. |
2 |
2021-2027 |
| Vice President |
Nancy Weeks |
1 |
2023-2027 |
| Secretary |
Norma Gensler |
3 |
2021-2025 |
| Treasurer |
Jim Nichols |
1 |
2023-2027 |
Synod Council
Synod Council meets regularly three to four times during the
year with special meetings held, often by teleconference, as
need. The Synod Council is chaired by the vice president.
The membership of the Synod Council includes the four
officers of the synod and twelve voting members from around
the synod, representing a balance of clergy and laity,
geographical distribution, and age. The president of the
synodical women's organization serves as an advisory member
(with voice but not vote). "Until next regular assembly"
indicates that a vacancy appointment has taken place, and
those appointments continue until replaced by the next
regular Synod Assembly and seated shortly thereafter
according to the bylaws.| Seat |
Occupant |
Term |
Term Period |
| Clergy MVMC |
The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle | 2 |
2021-2024 |
| Clergy PC |
The Rev. Sally Bartling |
1 |
2023-2026 |
| Clergy OKVC |
The Rev. Tom Darr |
1 |
2022-2025 |
| Clergy UOVC |
The Rev. Sean Smith |
1 |
2022-2025 |
| Laity MVMC |
John Knoll |
1 |
2022-2025 |
| Laity PC |
Rick Losh |
1 |
2021-2024 |
| Laity OKVC |
Andrea Brock |
2 |
2021-2024 |
| Laity UOVC |
Marilyn Jacobs |
n/a |
Until next regular assembly |
| Laity At-large |
A. J. Beckett | 2 |
2023-2026 |
| Laity At-large |
Bruce Dalton |
1 |
2021-2024 |
| Young Adult |
Laurel Muhly-Alexander |
1 |
2021-2024 |
| Youth |
Evan Ack |
1 |
2023-2024 |
| WELCA (Advisory) |
Priscilla Horner |
n/a |
WELCA President |
Boards appointed by Synod Council or Executive Committee
Executive Committee of the Synod
Council
The four offices, one clergy member of the Synod Council,
and two lay members of the Synod Council are appointed by
the Synod Council to serve as the Executive Committee of the
Synod Council. The ExComm is chaired by the synod vice
president.| Seat |
Occupant |
| Bishop |
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel,
S.T.M. |
| Vice President |
Nancy Weeks |
| Secretary |
Norma Gensler |
| Treasurer |
Jim Nichols |
| Clergy |
The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle |
| Laity 1 |
Rick Losh |
| Laity 2 |
Bruce Dalton |
Candidacy Committee
The Candidacy Committee oversees candidates for the
ministry, including reinstatements and reception of
ministers from churches with whom the ELCA does not have a
full-communion agreement. WV-WMD shares a joint candidacy
committee with Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, the
committee being called the Bisynodical Candidacy
Committee. Both synods appoint their own members according
to an agreement confected that the beginning of the ELCA.
The current membership is The Rt. Rev. Matthew Riegel, The
Rev. Sean Smith, The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle, Tamara Riegel,
Rebecca Reid, Jerry Bouquot, and Michael Grimm.
Commission on Synodical Lay Worship Leadership
Charged with review of the Plan for Synodical Lay Worship Leadership, reporting back to Synod Council with recommendations, and with development of initial steps for implementation, an ad hoc committee of The Rev. Sean Smith (Chair), The Rev. Sally Bartling, and Stephanie Setley rendered valuable service. Its work being completed to the satisfaction of the Synod Council, the ad hoc committee was discharged by Synod Council at its April 2021 meeting, and new appointments made with The Rev. Sean Smith (chair), Paul Wangerin, The Rev. Ian Reid, and The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle.Standing Committees Appointed by Synod Council or
Executive Committee
Nominating Committee
| Seat |
Occupant |
| Clergy MVMC |
The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle, Chair |
| Clergy PC |
The Rev. Karen Erskine-Valentine |
| Clergy UOVC |
The Rev. Sean Smith |
| Laity MVMC |
Mary Sanders |
| Laity PC |
Wm. "Bill" Ack |
| Clergy OKVC |
The Rev. Ian Reid |
| Laity OKVC |
John Perry |
| Laity UOVC |
Lois Gray |
Finance Committee
Members: Rick Losh, Phil Brown, Brian Crawford, with the
synod treasurer serving ex officio.
Audit Committee
Members: Bruce Dalton, Paul Wangerin, and Janis Smith.
Synod Mutual Ministry Committee
Appointed by the Executive Committee, the Synod Mutual
Ministry Committee (SMMC) is described in nebulous terms
in the required provision in the CBCR/WV-WD. In
meetings over the past year, SMMC worked out a plan to
make its work more effective and relevant to the life and
ministry of the synod. Synod Council took action to
request the Churchwide Assembly to amend the required
provision of the Constitution for Synods to allow
the changes sought by this synod.
Members: Paul Wangerin, The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle, the The
Rev. Sean Smith, The Rev. Patrice Weirick, and Paula
Mitchell.
Bylaws Committee
At its 22 January 2022 meeting, Synod Council enacted a
continuing resolution establishing a standing bylaws
committee "with those duties and prerogatives normally
associated with a bylaws committee, including, but not
limited to, regular review of the governing documents of the
synod, recommendation of amendment of the same to the Synod
Assembly or the Synod Council, and execution of referrals by
the Synod Assembly or the Synod Council."(CR8.01)
Appointment is made by the Synod Council. The current
members are Laurel Muhly-Alexander, The Rt. Rev. Matthew
Riegel, and Brian Crawford.
Standing Committees Elected by Synod Assembly
Consultation Committee
To learn what the Consultation Committee does, click here.
| Seat |
Occupant |
Term Period |
| Clergy 1 |
The Rev. Linda Muhly |
2018-2024 |
| Clergy 2 |
The Rev. Karen Erskine-Valentine |
2021-2027 |
| Clergy 3 |
The Rev. Ben Erzkus |
2021-2027 |
| Clergy 4 |
The Rev. Nancy Knoll | 2023-2029 |
| Clergy 5 |
The Rev. Kevin Mackey | 2023-2029 |
| Clergy 6 |
The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle |
2022-2028 |
| Laity 1 |
Joseph Harney |
2018-2024 |
| Laity 2 |
Marvin Beckman |
2021-2027 |
| Laity 3 |
Brian Felici |
2021-2027 |
| Laity 4 |
John Knoll |
2022-2028 |
| Laity 5 |
Lois Broyles |
2022-2028 |
| Laity 6 |
Eric Valentine |
2023-2029 |
Discipline Committee
To learn what the Discipline Committee does, click here.
| Seat |
Occupant |
Term Period |
| Clergy 1 |
The Rev. Tony Setley |
2018-2024 |
| Clergy 2 |
The Rev. Sally Bartling |
2021-2027 |
| Clergy 3 |
The Rev. Patrice Weirick |
2021-2027 |
| Clergy 4 |
The Rev. Matt Holbert |
2021-2027 |
| Clergy 5 |
The Rev. Ben Erzkus |
2023-2029 |
| Clergy 6 |
The Rev. Randy Richardson |
2023-2029 |
| Laity 1 |
Brandon Mitchell |
2018-2024 |
| Laity 2 |
Nancy Weeks |
2018-2024 |
| Laity 3 |
Pam Pritt |
2021-2027 |
| Laity 4 |
Shawn Gilmore |
2021-2027 |
| Laity 5 |
Cheryl Stemple |
2022-2028 |
| Laity 6 |
D. Lynn Newman |
2023-2029 |
Conferences & Deans
The WV-WMD Synod has four
conferences, three of them further divided into two
clusters each:
- Mon Valley-Mountain Conference (MVMC): The Rev. Ruth
Bullwinkle, Dean
- Ohio-Kanawha Valley Conference (OKVC): The Rev. Randy Richardson, Dean
- Potomac Conference (PC): The Sally Bartling, Dean
- Upper Ohio Valley Conference (UOVC): The Rev. Paul
Schafer, Dean
A full listing of the
congregations of each conference can be found here and in B12.01 of
the Synod Bylaws.
A new protocol for deans
was adopted by Synod Council at its January 2020 meeting.
It is currently under review for codification by the Ad
Hoc Committee on Governing
Documents. It will be posted upon completion of
codification. In the meantime, you may request a copy of
the Provisional Guidance Related to Deans from the bishop.
Other Entities & Appointees
Various church-related entities have boards or other positions which are filled through the appointment of the Synod Council or the bishop.
| Entity |
Position |
Occupant |
Term |
Appointment |
| United Lutheran Seminary |
Board of Directors | Melody Stevens |
2020-2023 | Synod Council |
| West Virginia Council of Churches |
Council |
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Riegel | N/A |
Ex officio |
| Caroline Furnace |
Board of Directors | The Rev. Eric Valentine | At Will |
Bishop |
| WV-WMD Hunger |
Hunger Lead |
Mary Sanders |
At will |
Bishop |
| Lutheran Campus Foundation at WVU |
Board of Directors |
The Rev. Sean Smith |
N/A |
Bishop |