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Governing Documents
The current governing documents of the WV-WMD Synod can be downloaded here. N.B., the Synod Council adopted a new continuing resolution and amended two other continuing resolutions at its 22 January 2022 meeting.
Newly Elected Take Their Seats 1 August 2022Per our bylaws, newly Elected offices, councilors, and committee members take their seats 1 August 202. Until then, the committee rosters below reflect current members.To review election results from Synod Assembly 2022, access the Synod Assembly 2022 Proceedings. Synod AssemblyThere has been a major redesign of our Synod Assembly
constellation of pages. If you want to find out about
Synod Assembly in general, visit the new Synod Assembly page. 2022Synod Assembly 2022 was held 4 June 2022. Visit our Synod Assembly 2022 page to
review information on pretty much anything and everything
related to the assembly. OfficersAn 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. New terms begin 1 December 2021.
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. 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.
"Until next regular assembly" indicates that a vacancy
appointment has taken place, and those appointments continue
until replaced by the next regular Synod Assembly. New terms
begin 1 December 2021. |
Seat |
Occupant |
Term |
Term Period |
Clergy MVMC |
The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle | 2 |
2018-2021 |
Clergy PC |
The Rev. Jason Felici |
1 |
2019-2022 |
Clergy OKVC |
The Rev. Kevin Mackey |
U |
Vacancy appointment 2021-2022. |
Clergy UOVC |
The Rev. Bill Ridenhour |
1 |
2019-2022 |
Laity MVMC |
Debby Borrelli |
1 |
2019-2022 |
Laity PC |
Rick Losh |
1 |
2021-2024 |
Laity OKVC |
Andrea Brock |
2 |
2018-2021 |
Laity UOVC |
Nancy Weeks |
2 |
2018-2021 |
Laity At-large |
Mary Sanders |
2 |
2018-2021 |
Laity At-large |
Bruce Dalton |
1 |
2021-2024 |
Young Adult |
Laurel Muhly-Alexander |
1 |
2021-2024 |
Youth |
Rachel Shockley |
1 |
2021-2022 |
WELCA (Advisory) |
Priscilla Horner |
WELCA designee |
Seat |
Occupant |
Bishop |
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel,
S.T.M. |
Vice President |
Paul Wangerin |
Secretary |
Norma Gensler |
Treasurer |
Brian Crawforf |
Clergy |
The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle |
Laity 1 |
Nancy Weeks |
Laity 2 |
Bruce Dalton |
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 |
Members: Paul Wangerin, The Rev. Bill Ridenhour, Bruce
Dalton, with the treasurer and bishop serving ex
officio.
Members: Bruce Dalton, The Rev. Daniel Warntz, and Paul
Wangerin.
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.
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. Jess Felici |
2019-2025 |
Clergy 5 |
The Rev. Michael Wright |
2021-2027 |
Clergy 6 |
The Rev. Sally Bartling |
2016-2022 |
Laity 1 |
Joseph Harney |
2018-2024 |
Laity 2 |
Marvin Backman |
2021-2027 |
Laity 3 |
Brian Felici |
2021-2027 |
Laity 4 |
Dinah Courrier |
2016-2022 |
Laity 5 |
Jeanne LeMasters |
2016-2022 |
Laity 6 |
Jane Hazer |
2016-2022 |
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. Ian Reid |
2017-2023 |
Clergy 6 |
The Rev. Paul Schafer |
2017-2023 |
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 |
Norma Gensler |
2017-2023 |
Laity 6 |
Jim Nichols |
2017-2023 |
The WV-WMD Synod has four
conferences, three of them further divided into two
clusters each:
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.
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 |
2020-2022 | Synod Council |
West Virginia Council of Churches |
Council |
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Riegel | N/A |
Ex officio |
Caroline Furnace |
Board of Directors | The Rev. Karen Erskine-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 |