Bulletin of Reports SA.2019 — Last update: 2019/05/30 Table of Contents

1. WV-WMD 32nd Annual Assembly...... 3

2. WV-WMD Synod Office Information...... 4

3. Assembly Venue Information...... 5 3.1. Grace Lutheran Floor Plan ...... 6 3.2. The Highlands Floor Plan ...... 7

4. Assembly Organization ...... 8 4.1. Assembly Program & Agenda...... 8 4.1.1. Workshops...... 11 4.2. Special Rules of Order for the Assembly ...... 13 4.2.1. Parliamentary Procedure – Common Motions ...... 16 4.3. Assembly Committees and Staff...... 19 4.4. Keynote Speaker/Churchwide Representative...... 22

5. Reports of Officers ...... 24 5.1. Report of the Secretary ...... 24 5.1.1. Synod Council & Executive Committee Actions ...... 24 5.1.2. Synod Council Recommendations...... 36 5.2. Report of the ...... 36 5.2.1. Nuts & Bolts (Bishop’s Report, Part 1) ...... 37 5.2.2. Framing the Conversation (Bishop’s Report, Part 2)...... 45 5.3. Report of the Vice President...... 53 5.4. Report of the Treasurer ...... 55 5.4.1. FY2020 Proposed Budget ...... 55 5.4.2. Understanding the Synod Budget...... 58 5.4.3. White Paper on the Synod’s Financial Position ...... 64 5.4.3.1. Mission Support Statistics 1987-2017 ...... 69

6. Reports of Standing Committees ...... 71 6.1. Report of the Nominating Committee (Part 1) ...... 71 6.1.1. Nominees (Report of Nominating Committee, Part 2) ...... 72 6.2. Report of Reference and Counsel ...... 76 6.2.1. Resolution – The Definition of Voting Members...... 76 6.2.2. Resolution – Regarding the Affordability of Synod Assembly...... 77 6.2.3. Resolution – To Memorialize on Engagement in the Holy Land ...... 78

7. Reports of Special Committees ...... 80 7.1. Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws ...... 80 7.2. Ad Hoc Committee on ULS...... 90

8. Reports from Auxiliaries ...... 92 8.1. West -Western Maryland Women of the ELCA...... 92

9. Reports from the ELCA ...... 94 9.1. Message from Bishop Eaton...... 95 9.2. ELCA Annnual Report 2018 ...... 97 9.3. ELCA Foundation Regional Gift Planning Partnership ...... 124 9.4. Candidacy and Leadership Manager for ELCA Regions 7 and 8...... 125

10. Reports from Affiliates ...... 126 10.1. Centurion Connection...... 126 10.2. Camp Luther ...... 127 10.2.1. Camp Luther Report...... 127 10.2.2. Camp Luther Financial Statement ...... 129 10.3. Caroline Furnace...... 130 10.4. Lutheran Campus Foundation WVU ...... 131 10.5. Mission Investment Fund...... 133 10.6. Partners In Care...... 135 10.7. Portico...... 136 10.8. (Gettysburg and Phildelphia)...... 138 10.9. Wartburg College ...... 141

11. Directory ...... 144 11.1. Attendees...... 144 11.1.1. Voting Members...... 144 11.1.2. Visitors...... 151 11.1.3. Exhibitors...... 152 11.2. Anniversaries ...... 153 11.2.1. Congregation Anniversaries ...... 153 11.2.2. Rostered Leader Anniversaries ...... 153 11.3. Synod...... 154 11.3.1. Officers and Staff of the Synod ...... 154 11.3.2. Synod Council...... 156 11.3.2.1. Synod Council Officers and Members ...... 156 11.3.2.2. Synod Council Committees (Appointed)...... 157 11.3.3. Synod Committees (Elected)...... 159 11.3.4. Synod Operational Committees (Appointed)...... 160 11.3.5. Other Teams and Committees...... 161 11.3.6. Boards of Directors/Trustees...... 161 11.4. Rostered Leaders...... 162 11.5. Supply Preaching and Presiding...... 171 11.5.1. Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders ...... 171 11.5.2. Ordained Clergy Available for Supply...... 173 11.6. Conferences & Deans ...... 174 11.7. Congregations...... 174 11.7.1. Shared Ministries ...... 184 11.8. Region 8 Information ...... 185 11.9. Auxiliaries ...... 187 11.9.1. West Virginia-Western Maryland Women of the ELCA ...... 187 11.10. Affiliated Agencies...... 188 11.10.1. Camps ...... 189 11.10.1.1. Camp Luther...... 189 11.10.1.2. Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center ...... 190 11.10.2. Campus Ministries...... 190 11.10.2.1. Lutheran Campus Foundation at WVU ...... 190 11.10.3. Social Ministry Organizations ...... 191 11.10.3.1. Community Lutheran Partners Incorporated (CLP)...... 191

12. WV-WMD Statistical Reports...... 193

13. Addenda...... 202 13.1. Errata & Additions ...... 202 13.2. Governing Documents & Guidelines ...... 203 13.3. Guide to Assembly Committees...... 204 13.3.1. Committee on Elections ...... 204 13.3.2. Committee on Minutes ...... 204 13.3.3. Committee on Reference & Counsel ...... 206 13.3.4. Committee on Resolutions ...... 208 13.3.5. Ushers ...... 209

14. Take Our Survey!...... 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

1. WV-WMD Synod 32nd Annual Assembly

Bulletin of Reports

Thirty-Second Annual Assembly of the West Virginia – Western Maryland Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

31 May 2019 – 01 June 2019

31 May 2019 Grace Lutheran Church 16 Ridgecrest Road Wheeling, West Virginia 26003

01 June 2019 The Highlands Event Center 355 Wharton Circle, Suite 235 Triadelphia, West Virginia 26059

Page 3 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

2. WV-WMD Synod Office Information

West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, ELCA 412 Fairmont Avenue, Suite 3 Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 Telephone: (304) 363-4030 Facsimile: (304) 363-4042 EMail: [email protected] Web Site: www.wv-wmd.org

Hours of Operation: 8:30 am-4:30 pm, Monday through Friday

The synod office is closed on the following holidays: New Year’s Day Good Friday Memorial Day Independence Day Labor Day Thanksgiving Day Day After Thanksgiving Christmas Eve Christmas Day Day After Christmas

Note: If a holiday is observed on Saturday, the synod office will be closed on Friday; if a holiday is observed on Sunday, the synod office will be closed on Monday.

View synod calendar here: WV-WMD Synod Calendar

Page 4 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

3. Assembly Venue Information

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church 16 Ridgecrest Road Wheeling West Virginia 26033 Phone: (304) 242-5830

The Highlands Event Center 355 Wharton Circle, Suite 235 Triadelphia, West Virginia 26059

Page 5 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

3.1. Grace Lutheran Floor Plan

Page 6 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

3.2. The Highlands Floor Plan

Page 7 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

4. Assembly Organization

4.1. Assembly Program & Agenda

Program for the Synod Assembly

The Program of the assembly is the overarching schedule of events connected with our gathering. The business meetings are just part of that overarching schedule. We also gather for worship and meals, and, sometimes, we gather for education, entertainment, and fellowship as well. Because there are many different and interdependent actors involved in providing meals and worship, the program of an assembly is set in advance by the assembly planning team under the oversight of the synod officers and Synod Council.

Page 8 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Friday, 31 May 2019

Grace Lutheran Church 16 Ridgecrest Road Wheeling WV 26003

1:00—1:15 PM Opening Devotions 1:15—2:45 PM Business Meeting I of the Synod Assembly 2:45—3:15 PM Break 3:15—4:00 PM Keynote Workshops 4:00—5:40 PM See attached “Workshops” section for details 5:45—6:55 PM Dinner 7:00—8:15 PM Mass 8:15—9:30 PM Reception

Saturday, 1 June 2019

Highlands Event Center 355 Wharton Circle, Suite 235 Triadelphia, WV 26059

8:30—8:45 AM Morning Devotions 8:45—11:15 AM Business Meeting II of the Synod Assembly 11:15—11:59 AM Ad Hoc Committee on United Lutheran Seminary: Open Hearing 12:00—12:55 PM Lunch 13:00—4:00 PM Business Meeting III of the Synod Assembly 4:00 PM Adjournment and Closing Devotions

Agenda for the Synod Assembly

The Agenda of the assembly is the schedule that governs the business meetings of the assembly. While the program is set by the assembly planning team (as authorized and within the parameters set by the Synod Council), the agenda, is wholly owned by the assembly, i.e., the assembly sets the order of business and times at which special orders take place within the parameters of the governing documents and the parliamentary authority. Consequently, the assembly is provided with a proposed agenda, but it is free to

Page 9 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

adopt, amend, or reject the proposed agenda.

An agenda features two classes of orders: (1) the order of business and (2) special orders. The order of business is the sequence in which business is handled. There are no specific times assigned to any of the items in the order of business (except for the call to order). One simply moves from one item to the next as each item is either completed or the assembly chooses to set aside for consideration at a later time. Special orders have assigned times, and a special order may interrupt the flow of business, suspending the flow of regular business until the special order is dispensed with. Once the special order has been dispensed with, the business resumes where it left off. If the chair neglects to proceed to special orders at the time appointed, any member can compel the chair to do so by “calling for the orders of the day.”

When the agenda is presented to the assembly, the chair will ask for a motion to adopt the agenda (i.e., the order of business and special orders for the Friday and Saturday). As mentioned, the agenda may be amended (like any other motion) as part of their consideration. Once approved, the agenda may be amended under the same rules as used for amending something previously adopted. New special orders may be created by the assembly throughout the course of the session.

Special Orders

Friday, May 31 2:30 PM Elections Committee / First Ballot 2:45 PM Adjournment until Saturday Morning, 8:45 AM Saturday, June 1 8:45 AM Call to Order for Meeting II 8:46 AM Elections Committee / Report & Second Ballot 11:15 AM Adjournment until Saturday Afternoon, 1:00 PM 1:00 PM Call to Order for Meeting III 4:00 PM Adjournment

Order of Business

Call to Order Report of the Registration Committee Organization of the Assembly • Announcements • Consideration of the Rules of the Assembly • Consideration of the Agenda & Program of the Assembly • Introductions

Report of the Secretary

Page 10 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

• Consideration of Recommendations from Synod Council

Report of the Nominating Committee • Nominations from the Floor

Report of the Bishop Report of the Vice President Report of the Treasurer • Consideration of the Budget

Report of the Churchwide Representative Report of the Committee on the Bishop’s Report Report of the Committee on Reference & Counsel Report of the Committee on Resolutions Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on United Lutheran Seminary Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bylaws Unfinished Business New Business Adjournment 4.1.1. Workshops

Expense Track Non-Finance Income Track Expense Track A B Track Meeting Room Youth Room Classroom 1 Luther Room 4:00 Mission Support Campus Ministries Synod Programs Evangelism PM 4:35 Synod Investments and Camping Ministries Polity Bible Study PM Funds 5:10 Social Ministry Legacy & Planned Giving Payroll & Office Prayer PM Organizations

This assembly includes a several workshops, most of which are keyed to the primary focus of the assembly’s deliberations, namely, the fiscal position of the synod. There will be three sets of concurrent workshops, each workshop being thirty minutes in length with five minutes to move between them. The workshops will be at 4:00, 4:35, and 5:10 PM. The concurrent workshops are also arranged by “tracks.” One track will focus on the income side of the synod. Two tracks will look at expenses: Expense Track A focuses

Page 11 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

on grant recipient agencies; Expense Track B is, with some exceptions, spending internal to the synod. There will also be a non-financial track. You are not required to follow one track through all three concurrent workshops; you may jump from one to another to suit your interests. Room assignments may change; listen for announcements. The descriptions of each workshop follows.

4:00 PM

Mission Support (Victoria Floor & Joseph Solberg; Bruce Dalton, moderator): Building off the keynote presentation, this workshop permits participants to dive deeper into questions surrounding mission support.

Campus Ministries (Sally Bartling & Tony Setley; Sean Smith, moderator): The Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU is a Lutheran, center-based campus ministry. The Campus Ministry at Potomac State is a parish- based campus ministry shared by the local Lutheran congregation and the local Methodist congregation.

Synod Programs (Matthew Riegel; Paula Mitchell, moderator): Candidacy (for ministry), Pastoral Care, First Call Theological Education, Rostered Leader Debt Reduction, and much more are supported by lines in this synod’s budget under the general category heading, “Synod Programs.” There are also things that don’t have specific lines but are still functions of the synod (e.g., mobility and call process, discipline, and oversight). Find out what they are and what they do.

Evangelism (Tim Spence): Grace Lutheran Church has been doing some interesting things in outreach and evangelism. Spend some time with Pr. Spence to find out what has been happening in Bethlehem.

4:35 PM

Synod Investments and Funds (Joseph Solberg; Bruce Dalton, moderator): This synod has a small investment portfolio. This synod also has a diverse collection of restricted (and self-restricted) funds. This workshop examines both.

Camping Ministries (Matt Day & Jess Felici, Paul Wangerin, moderator): Camp Luther and Caroline Furnace provide camping ministry opportunities. Both have been supported by the WV-WMD Synod since its formation. The two camps have very different structures (physically, administratively, and programmatically).

Polity (Matthew Riegel; Paula Mitchell, moderator): Synod Council, Synod Assembly, Region 8, West Virginia Council of Churches all have budgetary dimensions. In addition, there is the Mission Support which passes through this synod to the Churchwide expression, and there are relational expenses that are under other lines. This workshop explores the web of relationships that come with being a synod.

Bible Study (Michael Wright): One of our most recent arrivals in the synod, Pr. Wright, will lead a brief Bible Study. Wright writes, “I’ll be looking at Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus calls Peter from the boat and lead a

Page 12 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

discussion on Thanksgiving for regarding not just that we are washed and claimed by God in it, but that in our baptism we are also called to events and things that will challenge us.”

5:10 PM

Legacy & Planned Giving (Ryan Ebner; Paul Wangerin, moderator): Ryan Ebner, the Tri-Synod Planned Giving Officer, brings with him the resources of the ELCA Foundation, helping individuals, congregations, and church-related agencies think about legacy and planned gifts that can support and sustain the ministries you care about far into the future.

Social Ministry Organizations (Sherri Schafer; Pam Pritt, moderator): From the high point of five social ministry organizations to the current two, this synod supports Community Lutheran Partners, Inc., and Glade Run. What’s the latest in the social ministry world in Central Appalachia?

Payroll & Office (Joseph Solberg; Bruce Dalton, moderator): There is a cost to doing business. We have staff, an office, insurances, travel, tech, and much more that is usually behind the scenes. Bring your spreadsheets for this tour of the back office.

Prayer (Christine Olson): Pr. Olson has been leading the Synod Council in an exploration of prayer, and she delivered a thought-provoking paper at SCALD II on the topic. Join her for a conversation about prayer and how we might as individuals and as a synod grow into a more prayerful relationship with God. 4.2. Special Rules of Order for the Assembly

For the consideration of the Synod Assembly

The following are the proposed special rules of of order for the 32nd Annual Synod Assembly of the WV-WMD Synod. In order to have force, the assembly would need to adopt them. The assembly may amend them prior to adoption. The assembly is free to not adopt any or all of them. The assembly may suspend, rescind, or amend them once adopted.

1. Members of synod committees, commissions, and task forces, who are not voting members shall be given seat and voice, but not vote. 2. Amendments to the Current Budget for 2019 or Proposed Budget for 2020, which create or increase a budget deficit, shall require a 2/3 vote for passage. 3. The Committee on Resolutions shall review all published reports and oral reports submitted to this Assembly, offering such resolutions as seem appropriate in response to said reports. 4. When balloting for elections: (a)Registration shall be temporarily closed five minutes before the appointed time for the election and

Page 13 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

reopened when the balloting is completed; (b)The assembly chamber shall be sealed during balloting. 5. All amendments to bylaws shall take effect at the end of this session unless specified otherwise.

For the information of the Synod Assembly

The following are rules for the Synod Assembly that were established in the constitution and bylaws of this synod. They do not need to be adopted. The assembly cannot amend or rescind them, except as provided for in the constitution and bylaws. They cannot be suspended except as provided for in the parliamentary authority.

1. One-half of members of the Synod Assembly shall constitute a quorum. (S7.14) 2. Proxy and absentee voting shall not be permitted in the transaction of any business of this synod. (S7.31) 3. Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of the Synod Assembly. (S7.32) 4. The bishop of the synod shall appoint the following assembly committees: (a) Committee on the Bishop’s Report (b) Committee on Elections © Committee on Minutes (d) Committee on Reference and Counsel (e) Committee on Registration and Attendance (f) Committee on Resolutions (g) Committee on Worship (B7.03) 5. Every conference shall have the right to memorialize the assembly of this synod on any subject affecting the welfare of the church. (B7.04) 6. Every congregation shall have the right to petition the assembly of this synod on subjects affecting its own welfare and legitimate interests. (B7.05) 7. There shall be a division between the voting members and the others on the assembly floor, which shall be indicated by a marker(s). Voting members and those persons accorded privilege of seat and voice shall seat themselves in the section in front of the marker(s). All others shall be seated behind the marker(s). (B7.06) 8. When a voting member is unable to serve, the alternate voting member shall be seated when the Committee on Registration and Attendance has been provided with the necessary information and the alternate has been given a voting member’s card. (B7.07) 9. Each voting member, or those persons accorded the privilege of seat and voice, when recognized by the chair, shall state his or her name, congregation or the institution or group he or she represents. Persons speaking from the floor shall use the floor microphones (if they are provided) and shall address and speak to the chair. Speeches by a voting member, or a person with the privilege of voice,

Page 14 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

shall be limited to five (5) minutes on each assembly issue. Speakers may speak a second time on each assembly issue, but only after all others desiring to speak have been given opportunity to do so. Those speaking a second time shall be limited to three (3) minutes of rebuttal. (B7.09) 10. Voting members shall not absent themselves from any meeting of the assembly without valid excuse. (B7.18) 11. Members of the Synod Assembly who desire to make nominations from the floor shall have prepared beforehand and be ready to distribute copies of vita information sheets, similar to those provided by the Nominating Committee, for those nominees. (B9.08) 12. Duly elected voting members of the Synod Council who are not otherwise voting members of the Synod Assembly shall be granted the privilege of both voice and vote as members of the assembly. (S7.28) 13. All retired ordained ministers on the roster of the synod in attendance at the Synod Assembly shall be voting members provided that the voting membership of the Assembly is still 60% laypersons. (S7.22 & B7.08) 14. An ordained minister on leave from call on the roster of this synod shall be granted voting membership in the Synod Assembly upon consent of the Synod Council; such consent shall be applicable to the Synod Assembly in question; such consent may be renewed. (CR 2.01) 15. Prior to each Synod Assembly, the Synod Council shall consider and, at its discretion, seat with voice and vote in the immediate Synod Assembly those Ministers of Word & Sacrament (or the equivalent) who are serving synod congregations and who also belong to church bodies with which the ELCA has full-communion. (CR 2.02) 16. Prior to each Synod Assembly, the Synod Council shall consider and, at its discretion, seat with voice but without vote in the immediate Synod Assembly to those Ministers of Word & Sacrament (or the equivalent) who are serving a synod congregation but have not been otherwise enfranchised. (CR 2.03) 17. All motions, resolutions, amendments and nominations shall be submitted in writing and on proper forms available from the secretary of synod or the assembly pages. (B7.10) 18. Except for items introduced by the Committee on Reference and Counsel or items previously tabled, items of business which are not on the agenda may be introduced on the last day of the assembly only by a two-thirds vote. (B7.11) 19. A resolution of a general character which is not germane to the pending question or report shall be given by the proposer to the Committee on Reference and Counsel, which shall report thereon to the assembly with its recommendations. Other duties of the committee shall be: (a) to recommend special orders for the hearing of representatives, (b) to grant or deny permission to distribute printed matter not issuing from the office of the secretary, and © to give such assistance to the bishop as may be desired in the course of the assembly. (B7.16) 20. All reports published in the bulletin of reports shall be received by the assembly by virtue of that fact without vote. (B7.17) 21. In all elections by the Synod Assembly, other than for the bishop, additional nominations may be

Page 15 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

made from the floor. (B9.07)

4.2.1. Parliamentary Procedure – Common Motions

During the course of an assembly, one may hear different motions and terms. Here is a list of common motions and terms with brief explanations. In no way is this list exhaustive or detailed. The motions are divided into three categories: 1) those motions dealing with the rules, 2) those motions dealing with the flow of business, and 3) motions that deal with words.

The parliamentarian usually has a spare copy of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, which can be borrowed. The parliamentarian is willing to explain technicalities and/or research questions about the rules. If a voting member is not sure how to make a motion or even what motion to make in order to accomplish what the member wants to accomplish, the member may ask the parliamentarian for assistance. It is also the right of a voting member to formally make a Parliamentary Inquiry of the chair.

Dealing with the Rules

Parliamentary Inquiry A question directed to the chair which asks for an explanation of procedure or rules related to the business at hand. A member may use this device to find out what the proper motion is to accomplish some goal. Form: “Rev. Chair, a Parliamentary Inquiry:…”

Point of Information Nearly identical to parliamentary inquiry, this allows the member to ask a question for the sake of clarification or more information. It may be directed to the chair or to another. It may even be asked of a speaker (so long as it does not interrupt). Form: “Rev. Chair, will the speaker yield to a question?” The speaker is under no obligation to do so.

Point of Order Through this device, a member asks the chair to enforce the rules of the assembly. E.g., it can be used to silence excessive and loud chatter between members while another is speaking. It can be used to call the chairs attention to the fact that the speaker has exhausted his/her time, has spoken more times than the rules permit, etc.. It is one of the rare devices which is order when another has the floor so long as the point must be dealt with immediately. Form: the member rises and says, “Point of Order!”

Suspend the Rules Let’s face it, sometimes parliamentary procedures does get in the way. Suspending the rules allows the

Page 16 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

assembly to take action which is not normally permitted under the rules of order. It can never be applied to provisions of the constitution or bylaws, unless a suspension is provided for in the provisions themselves. Form: “Rev. Chair, I move to suspend the rules which interfere with…”

Appeal A member, believing that the chair has ruled incorrectly on a matter of order, may ask the assembly to overturn the decision. It must be moved immediately. Form: “Rev.nChair, I appeal from the decision of the chair.”

Unanimous Consent A.k.a., “general consent,” this functions as prefix to other motions. It helps tonexpedite business when the motion being made faces little or no opposition. E.g., unanimous consent can be used to approve the minutes. It requires no second, and the chair does not call for a vote. Instead the chair asks if there is any objection. If you do object to the motion, speak up quickly! One objection vetoes unanimous consent. The mover can then make the motion normally. Form: “Rev. Chair, I ask unanimous consent to approve the minutes.”

Dealing with the Flow

Postpone Indefinitely The effect is to bury the main motion without it coming to a yea or nay vote. In short, it kills the main motion. Can be applied only to the main motion.

Postpone Definitely The effect is to delay further consideration of the pending motion until a specific time or condition has been met.

Lay on the Table This motion is used to temporarily lay aside the pending question so that more pressing business can be handled. There is no appointed time for return of the question to consideration, but assembly may at will return it to the floor through the motion To Take from the Table.

Refer Sends the pending motion (and all motions to which it adheres) to a committee. The committee is specified, and instructions may be given to the committee which either constrain or empower it. If it is an ad hoc committee (i.e., a committee specially created to consider the matter), the number, members, and/or method of appointment of the committee may be specified by the mover but need not be.

Recess To take a break without adjourning the meeting or session. This can be used for the obvious benefits that a

Page 17 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

break offers. It can also be used, e.g., to suspend business to allow for caucuses and other conversations between members to work out compromises on pending business.

Limit (or extend limits) of Debate A truly versatile motion, this device allows the assembly to specify the length of speeches, the number of speeches a given member may make, to total amount of time that debate can take place, etc..

Previous Question The effect is to immediately close debate on the pending question (and other questions specified), thus bringing it to an immediate vote in most cases. Form: “Rev. Chair, I move the previous question.”

Reconsider The effect is to of the motion is to return to consideration of the assembly a question that had been decided earlier in the same session. In most cases, the motion to reconsider may only be moved by a member of the prevailing side when the question was first considered.

Dealing with the Words

Amend This motion attempts to modify the language of the pending question by striking (deleting), adding, or substituting (a combination of both) words. If an amendment to a main motion is pending, one may move to amend the amendment–-this is called an amendment in the second degree. Amendments in the third degree (i.e., an amendment to an amendment to an amendment) is not permitted.

Substitute This motion is a form of amendment whereby the entire content of a pending question is replaced with new content. This motion is also employed to allow debate on the merits of two different questions at the same time.

Accept the Report / Adopt the Report This is only used when a report proposes some action or states some opinion which requires the assembly’s agreement or adoption in its entirety. Reports that merely provide information are never “accepted.” They are merely received, which requires no formal action in most cases. When a report does contain recommendations for action, it is normally best to only move adoption of those specific actions.

—-Prepared for the WV-WMD Synod Assembly 2006; revised 2019

Page 18 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

4.3. Assembly Committees and Staff

Elections Clergy Rev Ruth Bullwinkle Rev Diane Day, Chairperson Rev Jess Felici

Minutes Clergy Lay Persons Rev Ryan Heycock Devin Ames Rev Susan Claytor Coleen Dailey Rev Michael Wright James Demmel Norma Gensler, Chairperson Beth Roegner Courtney Weaver

Nominations Clergy Lay Persons Rev Carl Ames (OKVC) Heather Ack (PC) Rev Karen Erskine-Valentine (PC) Rick Crummitt (UOVC) Rev Jerry Kliner (MVMC) Mary Sanders, Chairperson (MVMC) Rev Joel Richter (UOVC) Pat Schillings (OKVC)

Page 19 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Reference and Counsel Clergy Lay Persons Rev Randy Richardson, Chairperson Stephanie Cunningham Rev Bill Ridenhour Richard Losh Pam Pritt

Registration Clergy Lay Persons Staff Rev Jacqueline Campbell, Chairperson Dorcas Friedline Pat Franklin, Registrar Alice Tribett

Resolutions Clergy Lay Persons Rev Jerry Kliner, Chairperson George Friedline Rev Patrice Weirick Diana Knoll Alvin Mills

Response to the Bishop’s Report Clergy Lay Persons Rev Linda Muhly, Chairperson Lutz Albrecht Rev Christine Olson Andrea Brock Rev Alvin Shafer Lois Broyles Dave Hardee Steve Gabbert

Worship Clergy Rev Jerry Kliner Rev Matthew Riegel, Chairperson Rev Tim Spence

Assembly Parliamentarian

Page 20 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Rev Joel Richter

Technical Team Clergy Lay Persons Rev Matt Day Devin Ames Rev Matt Holbert, Chairperson Doug Whooley

Ushers Clergy Lay Persons Resource Person Rev Phil Van Dam, Chairperson William Bradley Nancy Weeks, Site Liaison Rev Jim Wicker John Cunningham Eric Freeman Jack Hedrick John Knoll Ken Pritt

Assembly Office Main Office (Highlands) Barbara Higgins Grace Site Liaison Tamara Riegel

Many thanks to all Assembly Committee members for their work that makes the annual Assembly possible.

Page 21 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

4.4. Keynote Speaker/Churchwide Representative

Victoria Flood Director for Mission Support – ELCA

Victoria Flood serves as Director for Mission Support in the churchwide expression of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). Learning more about the ministries of our church through visits in and with congregations is one of Victoria’s greatest joys in this position. She is often heard saying, “Mission Support is rooted in our faith and our relationships. It is one of the most tangible ways that all of us in the ELCA demonstrate we are church together for the sake of the world.”

Victoria began serving in this position in March 2016. Prior to that, Victoria served 15 years in the churchwide expression of the ELCA as part of the team in Research and Evaluation. Prior to serving in the ELCA, Victoria worked nearly seven years in Wisconsin state government.

Victoria earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Political Science from Valparaiso University.

She and her husband, Rod Boriack, live in Des Plaines, IL. They are proud parents and grandparents to 2 children – Katy (Christian); Jon (Brooke); 1 grandchild, Ayden, and one grandchild on the way. Victoria and Rod are members of Trinity Lutheran in Des Plaines.

Page 22 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 23 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

5. Reports of Officers 5.1. Report of the Secretary 5.1.1. Synod Council & Executive Committee Actions

Norma Gensler Synod Council Secretary

Synod Council Actions

14 April 2018

VOTED SC18.4.1 The council excused Paula Mitchell’s absence.

VOTED SC18.4.2 The Council voted to move to a quasi-committee of the whole in order to discuss the Bishop’s recommendation concerning the use of Missouri Synod retired pastors to serve the Synod as supply pastors.

VOTED SC18.4.3 The Council approved with one abstention an amendment to the Bishop’s recommendation #1. That The Rev. Roger Dallman be authorized to provide Word & Sacrament supply ministry on the Mountaintop area at the Bishop’s discretion per ELCA CBCR 8.63 and supporting provisions.

VOTED SC18.4.4

Page 24 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

The Council approved with two abstentions the Bishop’s recommendation #1 as amended stating that The Rev. Roger Dallman be authorized to provide Word & Sacrament supply ministry on the Mountaintop area at the Bishop’s discretion per ELCA CBCR 8.63 and supporting provisions.

VOTED SC18.4.5 The Council approved the Bishop’s recommendation #2 that The Rev. Casey Leineman, in accordance with ELCA CBCR 8.62.11.a and 7.44.A16.b.8.1, be issued, by the Synod Council, a letter of call as a Minister of Word & Sacrament, as a three-year term call, for ecumenical service under the WV Presbytery at Church of the Covenant, Grafton, WV.

VOTED SC18.4.6 The Council approved the Bishop’s recommendation #4 that the Synod Council communicate to the Constitution & Bylaws Committee of the ELCA a request that the Constitution for Synods be amended in such manner that absentee voting by mail ballot may be permitted for Synod Councils and subordinate committees if adopted as a bylaw by the Synod Assembly.

VOTED SC 18.4.7 The Council approved the Bishop’s recommendation #5 that the following special rules of order be recommended to the 2018 Synod Assembly for adoption:

1. The following classes of Ministers of Word and Sacrament (or the ecumenical equivalent) shall be seated with voice and vote if serving under call or as a duly appointed interim pastor: a. those rostered in other synods of the ELCA; b. those rostered in a judicatory of a full-communion partner; c. those rostered in a judicatory of a church confessing the Unaltered d. ; and e. those rostered in a judicatory of another Christian denomination. 2) Committee, commission, and task force members who are not otherwise voting members of the assembly shall be seated with voice but without vote. 3) Amendments to the current budget for 2018 or the proposed budget for 2019 which create a budget deficit shall require a two-thirds vote for adoption. 4) The Committee on Resolutions shall review all published and oral reports submitted to this assembly, except in cases where such a report has been assigned to another committee, and may offer such resolutions as seem appropriate in response unless ordered otherwise by the assembly. 5) Apart from debate and time allocated in the agenda, those speaking to the assembly shall have such time as is allocated by the chair unless ordered otherwise by the assembly.

VOTED SC 18.4.8 The Council approved the Bishop’s recommendation #6 that the 2019 Synod Assembly convene in the greater Wheeling, WV, area, on or about May 31 and June 1, with Grace Lutheran Church, Wheeling,

Page 25 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

serving as host congregation.

VOTED SC18.4.9 The Council authorizes the DEM to submit a Lilly grant for the Thriving in Ministry Initiative.

VOTED SC18.4.10 Council approved the motion for the treasurer and bishop to draft a letter in order to inform each congregation of its Synodical contributions for the fiscal year to date.

VOTED SC18.4.11 Council approved the 2019 budget to send to Synod Assembly.

VOTED SC18.4.12 Council approved a two percent cost of living increase for Synod staff in all aspects of compensation.

11 July 2018 (actions via Teleconference)

VOTED SC18.7.1 Synod Council voted to accept the request from Salem Lutheran, Bakersville, to be placed under Synod administration.

VOTED SC18.7.2 Synod Council approved the nomination of Peter Hinkle as a trustee to handle the church administration of Salem, Bakersville.

VOTED SC18.7.3 Synod Council approved the nomination of Pastor Torben Aarsand a trustee to handle the church administration of Salem, Bakersville.

VOTED SC18.7.4 Synod Council approved the nomination of Pastor Larry Cantu a trustee to handle the church administration of Salem, Bakersville.

VOTED SC18.7.5 Synod Council approved the nomination of Priscilla Horner a trustee to handle the church administration of Salem, Bakersville.

4 August 2018

VOTED SC18.8.1 The Council excused the absences for Pr. Christine Olson, Mary Sanders, Katlyn Ruddle, and Bishop Riegel (train is late).

Page 26 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

VOTED SC18.8.2 Council approved the minutes from the SC teleconference on 11 July 2018.

VOTED SC18.8.3 Council approved the Bishop’s recommendation to extend a line of credit, not to exceed $3000, to Our Savior, Ravenswood, repayable upon liquidation of real property. The funds will be drawn from synod reserves at the discretion of the treasurer, and the officers are empowered to execute all required instruments to that effect.

VOTED SC18.8.4 Council approved the recommendation to compensate Maureen Corrigan at $15.00 per hour for substitute secretary work leading up to the Synod Assembly 2018.

GENERAL CONSENT SA18.8.5 Council approved by General Consent to invite the Indiana-Kentucky Synod vice-president to a WV-WMD Synod Council meeting. Paul is visiting their September meeting.

VOTED SC18.8.6 Council approved Pr. Muhly’s motion that states after the election of a new council vice-president, he/she will serve the ELCA Assembly as a lay voting member. Afterwards the vice-president may be elected to attend, or he/she may choose to attend as an ex-officio member at one’s own expense.

GENERAL CONSENT SA18.8.7 Council approved by general consent to authorize the appointment of a committee to address the ULS resolution from SA 2018. The committee will be comprised of all current and former Gettysburg Seminary Board members including Bishop Riegel, Paul Wangerin, Rev. Ralph Dunkin, Rev. Sean Smith, and Rev. Bill Ridenhour.

VOTED SC18.8.8 Council approved the bishop’s recommendation to introduce an amendment to S7.14 which reads

“One-half of the members of the Synod Assembly shall constitute a quorum,” by substitution to read, “A majority of those members registered as attending shall constitute a quorum.”

VOTED SC18.8.9 Council approved to empower the Executive Committee to set the time lines for Salem, Bakersville to appeal the consultation committee recommendations.

VOTED SC18.8.10 Council approved the appointments for the Executive Committee for a one-year term beginning 1 September 2018. Joining the four council officers are Rev. Christine Olson, clergy position, along with Bruce Dalton and

Page 27 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Nancy Weeks, lay positions.

VOTED SC18.8.11 Council approved the bishop’s recommendation for the Revs. Randy Richardson (three-year term expires in 2022) and Jacqueline Campbell (one-year term expires in 2019) to fill two positions on the consultation committee.

VOTED SC18.8.12 Council approved to recommend to the bishop the following for Synod Assembly 2019:

1. Each delegate will be responsible to make housing reservations for the assembly with the Synod blocking the necessary rooms in advance. 2. The Friday evening meal will be at the church. 3. There will be no brunch on Friday before the assembly begins.

GENERAL CONSENT SC18.8.13 Council decided by general consent to add Rev. Linda Muhly to the Finance Committee.

GENERAL CONSENT SC18.8.14 Council agreed by general consent that Camp Dawson will not be considered as a Synod Assembly site in the near future.

GENERAL CONSENT SC18.8.15 Council approved by general consent to refer to the Finance Committee Rev. Sean Smith’s recommendation to ask Synod Assembly 2019 to repeal Section 15.21 of the Synod Constitution.

VOTED SC18.8.16 Council approved to move to executive session.

VOTED SC18.8.17 Council approved the Bishop’s recommendation to postpone the consideration of nominees for the LCF Board of Directors to a teleconference to be held on ______at ______.

VOTED SC18.8.18 Council approved to complete the date and time in SC18.8.17 with Wednesday, 5 September 2018 at 7 PM.

5 September 2018 (Actions Via Teleconference)

VOTED SC18.9.1 Synod Council approved the amendment the recommendation by substituting Rev. Bill Ridenhour for Rev. Jono Adams.

Page 28 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

VOTED SC18.9.2 Synod Council with a unanimous vote approved the amended recommendation for the Lutheran Campus Foundation board membership.

3 November 2018

VOTED SC18.11.1 The Council approved the minutes from its meeting on 4 August 2018.

VOTED SC18.11.2 Council approved the bishop’s recommendation (with one abstention) to issue a letter of call to specialized ministry to the Rev. Sherrie Schafer to serve as Executive Director of Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.

VOTED SC18.11.3 Council approved the use of the $10,000 gift from Salem Lutheran, Bakersville, to help cover the cost of the Malagasy visit.

VOTED SC18.11.4 Synod Council unanimously recommends the following for Salem, Bakersville

• The consultation report for Salem be held in abeyance. • Salem Lutheran Church petition for the termination of membership from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. • Salem Lutheran Church will hold no worship services, fellowships, or educational activities except at the discretion of the bishop. • The Synod administration of the church will continue, and the trustees will proceed to take direct control of all financial matters.

VOTED SC18.11.5 Council authorized Rev. Gil Waldkoenig, DEM to write a Synod Vitality grant.

VOTED SC18.11.6 Council accepted Rev. Gil Waldkoenig’s guidelines for a Synod policy for A Seed Planted.

WEST VIRGINIA/WESTERN MARYLAND SYNOD-ELCA: “A Seed Planted” Mission Fund

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. — I Corinthians 9-11

BACKGROUND Synod established “A Seed Planted” Mission Fund in 1996 to stimulate innovative outreach by or from congregations. Awarded grants went for a range of activities from a coffee house Bible study to printed

Page 29 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

promotional material to efforts with unaffiliated populations. Synod Council awarded grants after a process that included consultation from the Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) and an application reviewed by an evangelism and mission committee. Said committee no longer exists. Grants ranged up to $6,000, and there was a practice to maintain a core amount in the fund ($30,000). In 2018, Synod Assembly allowed critical reexamination of “A Seed Planted.”

FUNDS & PROCEDURE The synod will maintain a minimum amount in the fund to earn interest and sustain it. Synod Council may periodically adjust the minimum amount but without going below a minimum threshold of $30,000.

When available funds would reach or exceed $6,000 beyond the minimum threshold, the Bishop or the Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM) may identify outreach activity of a congregation of WV-WMD Synod for a grant. Criteria for award of a grant:

1. The mission activity would clearly reach a population of unaffiliated people (64.5% of the population in West Virginia, and 63.4% in Garrett County, report they are unaffiliated with any religion; nationally it is 51%) 2. The mission activity would express the gospel of Jesus Christ as amplified in Lutheran Confessional tradition and the doctrinal foundation of the ELCA 3. The mission activity would complement the Word and Sacrament ministry of the Church 4. Means of assessment would be clear, and the activity would be replicable or sustainable

Upon identification by the Bishop or DEM, a congregation would submit a proposal to Synod Council, stating:

a. The mission activity and plans to implement b. How activity would meet the four criteria, stated above c. Budget to implement the grant d. Timeline and means of assessment of the mission activity

Synod Council may accept or reject any proposal, and the applicants may submit a revised or different proposal in consultation with the bishop and DEM.

News of mission outreach supported by “A Seed Planted” should go into synod assembly and synod communications for the inspiration of others.

10.26.18 GW

VOTED SC18.11.7 Council referred the Rev. Christine Olson’s continuing resolution concerning the Synod’s Consultation Committee to the same committee. They are to respond to the Council by January.

Page 30 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

VOTED SC18.11.8 Council approved absences for Rev. Emilie Theobald-Rowlands, Paula Mitchell, and Katlyn Ruddle.

19 November 2018 (action via teleconference)

VOTED SC18.11.1 Synod Council approved 12-0 by roll-call vote the request from Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Bakersville, MD to disaffiliate from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) under provision 9.62(g) of the ELCA constitution: voting in the affirmative, Bullwinkle, Dalton, Gensler, Mitchell, Olson, Pritt, Riegel, Sanders, Smith, Theobald-Rowlands, Wangerin, and Week; voting in the negative, none; answering present, none.

12 January 2019 – Meeting via teleconference – January Session Meeting I

VOTED (Carried by general consent) SC19.1.1 That the following be appointed to the Nominations Committee: Mary Sanders, chair (MVMC-L), Jerry Kliner (MVMC-C), Carl Ames (OKVC-C), Pat Schillings (OKVC-L), Karen Erskine-Valentine (PC-C), Joel Richter (UOVC-C), Heather Courrier Ack (PC-L), and Rick Crummitt (UOVC-L).

VOTED (Carried by general consent) SC19.1.2 To postpone debate until resolution of venue and agenda had been reached.

VOTED (Failed) SC19.1.3 That the Bishop proceed with developing an agenda along the lines described in his report.

VOTED (Carried by general consent) SC19.1.4 That the Bishop proceed with development of an agenda to include informational workshops on the budget on the first day.

VOTED (Carried by general consent) SC19.1.5 To amend as follows: “That Synod include in the registration cost and provide dinner at Grace on Friday night of Synod Assembly 2019, lunch at the Conference Center on Saturday, and coffee/snack service at the Conference Center Grace on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and afternoon at the Conference Center. That lunch on Friday and breakfast on Saturday not be provided by synod nor included in the registration cost.”

VOTED (Carried by general consent) SC19.1.6 That Synod include in the registration cost and provide dinner at Grace on Friday night of Synod Assembly 2019, lunch at the Conference Center on Saturday, and coffee/snack service at Grace on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning and afternoon at the Conference Center. That lunch on Friday and breakfast on Saturday not be provided by synod nor included in the registration cost.

Page 31 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

VOTED (Carried by general consent) SC19.1.7 That Executive Committee be authorized to develop a fee schedule with three billing classes (congregational/institutional, independent, and complimentary) as outlined in the Bishop’s Report.

VOTED SC19.1.8 (10-3, Riegel, Wangerin, Olson, Theobald-Rowlands, Dalton, Brock, Weeks, Sanders, Pritt, Muhly-Alexander, being in the affirmative, Bullwinkle, Smith, Mitchell, being in the negative) To fix the time to which to adjourn as Saturday, January 26, 11:00 10:00 AM, for a face-to-face meeting.

26 January Session – Meeting II Fairmont, WV

VOTED SC19.1.9 The Council approved Rev. Sean Smith’s absence.

VOTED SC 19.1.10 The Council approved the November minutes as presented.

VOTED SC 19.1.11 Council approved the minutes from the Teleconference meeting on 19 November 2018.

VOTED SC19.1.12 The Council approved the Bishop’s Report recommendation #5 stating that the Rev. Roger Dallman’s ecumenical service authorization be extended to include Grace, Petersburg, WV.

VOTED SC19.1.13 The Council approved the Bishop’s Report recommendation #6 stating that the Bishop continue designing a proposal for replacement of the ’ Lay Worship Leaders program along the lines described in his report.

VOTED SC19.1.14 Council approved the extension of the line of credit given to Our Savior, Ravenswood, to a total of $5000.00.

The Consultation Committee met on 2 January 2019 and proposed the following continuing resolution that would enact timelines for the completion of consultation reports prepared by the committee. Be it resolved that the secretary of the Synod be authorized to add the following as Continuing Resolution 3 of the West Virginia -Western Maryland Synod:

CR 3.01. When there is a disagreement among people or factions within a congregation, as related to †S17.11 of the West Virginia – Western Maryland Synod Constitution, and the Consultation Committee is called in to consider the matter, the Committee shall complete its assessment in writing, with recommendations, within 60 days of the submission of the request for assistance.

Page 32 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

CR 3.02. If the Consultation Committee thinks it will be unable to finish the report within 60 days, the Committee must contact the synodical bishop as soon as possible to request extra time, up to 30 days, for a total of no more than 90 days from the submission of the request for assistance, to finish the report. The exact amount of extra time is granted at the bishop’s discretion and can be denied.

CR 3.03. The synodical bishop, after being contacted by the Consultation Committee for a request for more time, has the right to grant, refuse, or amend the request based on his or her assessment of the situation and the work of the Committee.

VOTED SC19.1.15 The Council approved an amendment to the resolution as follows

CR 3.01. When there is a disagreement among people or factions within a congregation, as related to †S17.11 of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod Constitution, and the Consultation Committee is called in to consider the matter, the Committee shall complete its assessment in writing, with recommendations deliver, in writing, a report to the congregation, within 60 days of the submission receipt, by the chair of the Committee, of the request for assistance.

VOTED SC19.1.16 The Council approved an amendment to the resolution as follows

CR 3.02. If the Consultation Committee thinks it will be unable to finish the report within 60 days, the Committee must contact the synodical bishop as soon as possible to request extra time, up to 30 days, for a total of no more than 90 days from the submission receipt of the request for assistance, to finish the report. The exact amount of extra time is granted at the bishop’s discretion and can be denied.

VOTED SC19.1.17 Council approved the resolution as amended.

30 March 2019 — Regular Council Meeting, Morgantown, WV

VOTED SC19.3.1 The Council excused the absences for Joe Solberg, Paula Mitchell, Mary Sanders, Pam Pritt, and Katlyn Ruddle.

VOTED SC19.3.2 The Council accepted the minutes from the January Session, Meeting II.

VOTED SC19.3.3 CR 4.0 The Council approved to authorize the bishop, vice-president, and secretary to approve the minutes after each session.

Page 33 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

VOTED SC19.3.4 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #1 for an ad hoc committee on the Bylaws be appointed to review the current bylaws and make recommendation for amendment of the same to the 2019 Synod Assembly, the committee consisting of Jason Felici, Sally Bartling, and Matthew Riegel.

VOTED SC19.3.5 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #2 that the Ad Hoc Committee on the Bylaws be ordered to draft the Rules of the Assembly (2019) and present the same to the 2019 Synod Assembly for adoption.

VOTED SC19.3.6 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #3 that The Rev. Casey Leineman’s authorization for extended ecumenical service to the WV Presbytery to serve Church of the Covenant, Grafton, be renewed.

VOTED SC19.3.7 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #4 that The Rev. Peter Vial’s (WV Presbytery) authorization for extended ecumenical service to serve Holy Trinity, Elkins, be renewed.

VOTED SC19.3.8 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #5 that The Rev. Susan Claytor (Episcopal of WV) be authorized for extended ecumenical service to serve St. Luke’s, Beckley, as part of a yoking agreement between St. Luke’s and St. Stephen’s (TEC), Beckley.

VOTED SC19.3.9 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #6 that all retired clergy on the roster of the WV-WMD Synod be granted voice and vote in the 2019 Synod Assembly as permitted under CR2.01.

VOTED SC19.3.10 CR2.02 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #7 that a continuing resolution be enacted which reads, “Prior to each Synod Assembly, the Synod Council shall consider and, at its discretion, seat with voice and vote in the immediate Synod Assembly those Ministers of Word & Sacrament (or the equivalent) who are serving synod congregations and who also belong to church bodies with which the ELCA has full-communion.”

VOTED SC19.3.11 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #8 that the following pastors on extended ecumenical service be enfranchised with seat, voice, and vote in the 2019 Synod Assembly: The Rev. Peter Vial (serving Holy Trinity, Elkins) and The Rev. Susan Claytor (serving St. Luke’s, Beckley).

VOTED SC19.3.12 CR2.03 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #9 that a continuing resolution be enacted

Page 34 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

which reads, “Prior to each Synod Assembly, the Synod Council shall consider and, at its discretion, seat with voice but without vote in the immediate Synod Assembly to those Ministers of Word & Sacrament (or the equivalent) who are serving a synod congregation but have not been otherwise enfranchised.”

VOTED SC19.3.13 The Council approved the bishop’s recommendation #10 that The Rev. Gary Koontz (serving Zion, Baker) be seated with voice in the 2019 Synod Assembly.

Executive Committee Actions

4 AUGUST 2018

General Consent EC18.8.1 The committee agreed by general consent that Salem, Bakersville, will be afforded time until the end of August to file an appeal to the Consultation Committee’s recommendations.

Addendum

Actions Recommended by Synod Council for Adoption by the 2019 Synod Assembly

Pursuant to †S18.13(b) of the WV-WMD Synod Constitution, notice was served on 29 October 2018 that Synod Council proposes amendment of the WV-WMD Synod Constitution as follows: Resolved, That S7.14 of the WV-WMD Synod Constitution, which reads, “One-half of the members of the Synod Assembly shall constitute a quorum,” be amended by substitution so that it shall read, “A majority of those members registered as attending shall constitute a quorum.”.

Page 35 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

5.1.2. Synod Council Recommendations

Recommendations from Synod Council to the Thirty-Second Synod Assembly

Synod Council Recommendations

Recommendation #1 That S7.14 of the WV-WMD Synod Constitution, which reads, “One-half of the members of the Synod Assembly shall constitute a quorum,” be amended by substitution so that it shall read, “A majority of those members registered as attending shall constitute a quorum.”

Pursuant to †S18.13(b) of the WV-WMD Synod Constitution, notice was served on 29 October 2018 that Synod Council proposes amendment of S7.14 of the WV-WMD Synod Constitution. 5.2. Report of the Bishop

In my oral report, I will be acknowledging anniversaries, announcing pastoral transitions (retirements and new arrivals), etc.. I will not be reading my written report, which you will find here, We have precious little time as it is. I will take questions. So, I commend to you my written report. Feel free to contact me before or after the assembly should you have a question or desire a longer conversation.

My written report is in two parts. The first part is titled, “Nuts & Bolts,” though that title may be a little misleading. It covers various aspects of the synod’s life and work, and, while we might think of these as nuts and bolts issues, they are not without their philosophical dimensions. If you simply want to know what the synod is doing, read this part.

The second part is an extended essay on the mission of the synod in terms of Lutheran ecclesiology. We

Page 36 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

gather in this assembly with a primary focus upon this synod’s financial position. I leave it to others in this assembly to explore those questions in depth. I would not be surprised were our conversations in this assembly to turn to questions of synodical viability. Such conversations should not be avoided when appropriate, and the fiscal examination will help this assembly determine appropriateness. Such conversations, however, should not be engaged in apart from our ecclesiology. Some will find the essay uninteresting and unnecessary. Fortunately, we can always skip to the next section of the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports. I should also mention that the essay does not shy away from parenthetical inclusion of the technical terms employed by Lutheran theologians across the centuries. I have, nevertheless, heeded the order of Synod Assembly 2007:

SA07.6.25:That this Assembly admonish Pastor Riegel for the use of entirely too much Latin in his reports and urge him to include translation aids in the future.

While some may argue that there is, in fact, entirely too much Latin in this report, translation is present throughout. I retain the technical terminology for the sake of clarity in what has become a murky topic, especially as we engage in conversation with those outside this synod. 5.2.1. Nuts & Bolts (Bishop’s Report, Part 1)

Synod Assembly: Experimenting with Change

Since my first assembly in 1994, I can remember six resolutions that related to the format and/or logistics of Synod Assembly. The most significant one to pass was the late 1990s move from three-day assemblies to two-day. Last year’s resolution to investigate an alternating pattern of “centralized in person” and “decentralized digital” assemblies could have resulted in equally significant changes had it passed. It didn’t, but the preambulatory clauses should not be forgotten. Among them was the assertion that Synod Assembly has become too expensive. I’ve heard complaints about the cost of the Synod Assembly since a resolution in the 2000s calling for a move to biennial Synod Assemblies, and I am sympathetic. I too have thought we could reduce the cost of this event, but there has been demand on the other side of the room for convention center facilities, connected lodging, four-star lodging, etc.. Though we have had those moments when the assembly has decided how we do assembly, the track record of those decisions has leaned toward greater expense rather than less (with the exception of the move from three-day to two-day events), and the majority of survey results has reinforced the more expensive position.

The request from Grace, Wheeling, to host Synod Assembly in the Wheeling area opened up some possibilities we have not had heretofore. For the first time, we have multiple hotels and dining establishments within a short distance to the convention center, and, having “enjoyed” a more intimate relationship with the back office dimension of boarding and lodging this past assembly than I actually enjoy, my desire for change has been reinforced. Note well, I ran this past Synod Council and received approval

Page 37 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

for a change in plan.

With respect to lodging, we have tended, whenever possible, to secure lodging that is next to (if not conjoined with) the meeting area. We have also tended to select lodging on the basis of certain amenities. These criteria have evolved from years of post-assembly survey feedback (and some assembly actions). This pattern pushes us to more expensive lodging. On the flip side, when the lodging and the meeting facilities are one business entity, we usually get a lower rate for the actual meeting rooms. This year, there is a hotel conjoined with the conference center. There are also seven other hotels within a short walk or drive. Four of these are on the Highlands retail campus. Three are less than 2½ miles away on a road free from urban traffic. The costs and amenities vary from hotel to hotel. While we have reserved blocks of rooms (much like for a wedding) at the two closest hotels, no one is required to choose them. The assembly attendee is free to balance location, amenities, and price point and make a selection to suit his/her requirements. In truth, attendees have always had this freedom, by registering as a commuter and arranging for their own lodgings, though few have exercised it. By not bundling lodging and registration and not running the lodging through the Synod Office, we have the process more transparent. This may have caused more work for our attendees and congregations, but it also empowers them to take control of their expenses for the assembly. Some may also be able to take advantage of various discounts and rewards programs. In the end, some may end up paying more because the synod is not negotiating a lower rate at a more costly hotel. Others might realize significant savings. The median cost of lodging will decrease to the degree attendees exercise their freedom in favor of cheaper accommodations. This approach may not be practical for every venue, but it is before us now as an experiment.

With respect to boarding, there is good reason to provide meals as part of the assembly package when the logistics related to that meal affect the conduct of the business of the assembly. I’ll admit that I would be just as happy saying, “We adjourn for lunch; see you back here in two hours,” and let you go wherever you want to find a meal. We could do that at the Highlands. There are twenty-one dining establishments at the Highlands. Take your pick of menu and price point. Again, I see this as a matter of economic freedom for attendees. I also recognize that I might lose quorum on Saturday afternoon, and I don’t think that we can spare two hours. So, some meals should be taken in common for the sake of getting assembly business done. Other meals, however, can be removed from the assembly program. This year, we will not include Friday brunch as part of the assembly program. As the Synod Assembly does not convene before 1:00 PM on Friday, attendees are free to take advantage of the offerings at the Highlands (or down in the city) or grab something en route to Wheeling. Breakfast is also not part of the program on Saturday. We tried having breakfast at the assembly hotel once before, and it was a disaster: 150 people all trying to squeeze into the breakfast room was an exercise in non-Euclidean geometry, and the food could not come fast enough. Seeing that we will likely be dispersed among multiple hotels, we assume that the free breakfast provided by most of them will suffice. There are also nine dining establishments at the Highlands, ranging from coffee shops to full restaurants, that provide breakfast items. Given that some want nothing but a cup of joe and others want the breakfast buffet, there is good reason to give attendees the freedom to balance

Page 38 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

menu preference, convenience, and price point. Grace asked to host the evening meal, and it made sense to do it there as we will be at Grace for business on Friday afternoon and assembly mass in the evening. Also, Grace’s local team has done an amazing job with catering and cost control. It should also be noted that Grace has enlisted the aid of several local congregations in the providing of refreshments at the assembly.

With respect to venue, we are realizing additional cost savings by having the first day of the assembly at Grace. Grace asked to host the first day, and, after discussion in Synod Council, the cost-benefit analysis (which included the intangibles) favored Grace over the Highlands. It’s been a long time since we met in a church building. The assembly, if memory serves, had indicated that it preferred conference centers over churches, but that argument was based on pews vs. tables & chairs. Our business meeting at Grace will be at tables in the fellowship hall, addressing the primary concern. Additionally, we will have rooms for workshops, something that would have been impractical at the Highlands. That Saturday is at the Highlands is driven by the nature of the business load we will have that day. I recognize that there will be dissatisfaction with holding assembly in two different locations. This has been an issue for years, there being a divide between those who want to hold the assembly mass in a “real church” and those who want everything in one location. The assembly mass in a “real church” has been the larger party. We would be going to Grace for the mass anyway; why not spend the whole day in one place? We will have to see whether this improves logistics.

I would also note that Nancy Weeks deserves a great deal of credit. Not only did she work on the catering research and contracts, she also wrangled a major grant from the local economic development authority. We’ve not thought about how we bring business to a local community when we assemble there. Weeks recognized this and exploited it to our benefit and the benefit of the local community. We need to look into this more often.

So, this assembly is an experiment. There have been plenty of bumps in the planning of it. That’s what happens when one makes any change, and we are making a lot of changes. I’m sure that there will be more bumps during the assembly itself. I ask not only your patience but also your assistance. Constructive criticism is welcome and will be helpful in determining where we go from here. When giving feedback, tell us whether something is a requirement or merely a preference. If a preference, tell us how strong a preference. Give us alternatives. Remember also that it is your assembly. One voice on a feedback survey is one voice. Synod Council and Synod Office cannot tell whether it is a broadly shared opinion. You have the right to use the parliamentary processes by which we operate to seek assembly action, as has been done in the past.

DEM Status

The Rev. Dr. Gilson Waldkoenig returned to full-time duties at United Lutheran Seminary at the end of January, concluding his service as Director for Evangelical Mission (DEM). The Domestic Mission Unit (DMU) has indicated its intention to support a half-time DEM. We’ve indicated our intention to continue the

Page 39 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

position as well. We have the paperwork and a committee to work through reevaluation of the position’s goals and operational parameters. While that work has begun, it kicks into high gear following Camp Luther. The payroll of the DEM position is underwritten by DMU, and the work is supported by a grant.

Madagascar

This past September, we were privileged to have Prof. Jonah Gabriel, the Director of Bezaha Seminary, Bezaha, , visit the United States, spending most of his time with us here in WV-WMD. This visit was part of a larger consultation between the ELCA (Global Mission Unit and the four companion synods here) and counterparts in the . Four theologians from Madagascar made the trip and, splitting up, explored the four synods here.

It would be too much to detail everything Prof. Jonah got to experience and all the people he got to speak with. Special thanks go to Ron Stemple and the folks at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aurora. The members of the Accident Lutheran Parish, Prs. Patrice Weirick and Ian Reid, Chap. Setley and the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU, the guy from AAA (who brought us gas in Chicago), and, of blessed memory, Stacy Fint, Director of the Intensive English Program at WVU. A photo journal was posted on the synod Facebook page. Prof. Jonah has a special interest in environmental theology and has been working on the dangers of deforestation in Madagascar. It was reported to me that Prof. Jonah’s peers and the ELCA Global Mission folks all agreed that he had experienced the most interesting of all the visits.

We are working to support Prof. Jonah’s return to the USA to enroll in the Intensive English Program at WVU. This will be financially and logistically challenging. There are several moving pieces and multiple partners to engage.

I received an invitation to preach at President Mahatoky’s 41st Jubilee but declined. Our meager Madagascar fund was depleted, at that point, by Prof. Jonah’s visit.

The Companion Synod Program is a challenge for us and always has been. We have never supported it with a budget line item, preferring to do what we can with it from special gifts. The visits are certainly interesting, and I suspect that any of the folks that have made trips to Madagascar will attest to the value of the experience. These visits have been largely self-funded by those making the trips with minimal synod resources. The hoped for return of Pr. Jonah to study English here (so that he can advance his research and teaching through easier participation in the global Lutheran theological community) is, to my thinking, one of the best ways we can partner with our brothers and sisters in Madagascar.

Changes to the Consultation Process

Synod Council adopted a continuing resolution that sets parameters for the work of the Synod Consultation Committee. The two most recent consultations did not go smoothly from an administrative perspective.

Page 40 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Council, in conjunction with the Consultation Committee, reviewed related issues. Some of them are addressed by the continuing resolutions from a regulatory angle, but actual compliance will require a different approach to how the synod recruits for and elects to this committee. It will also require a different mindset within the committee. The changes are not something that can be legislated easily. At the heart of the matter is a shift in synodical attitude. For decades, we have said, “Run for Consultation Committee; it never meets.” Rarely would be more accurate than never, but the real issue is just how difficult the work of the committee is when it does meet. Consultation Committee, when activated, deals with intense conflicts and accusations of misconduct, heavy and emotionally draining work, within a short window of time. As we go forward, the nominations process will have to articulate more clearly the expectations associated with committee membership and think seriously about recruitment. We must also implement orientation and training for committee members. That task will begin after the election of a consultation committee member at this assembly.

Opioid Worship & Education

An order of service for use in connection with the Opioid Epidemic has been drafted and is ready for the first local site that would like to use it, assuming that the local site will review it first, making suggestions for improvement.

The Synod Clergy Continuing Ed Committee held its January 2019 event with Sky Kershner of the Kanawha Pastoral Counseling Center presenting on ministry in the midst of the crisis. The West Virginia Council of Churches continues to hold periodic training sessions related to opioids. The newly formed Symposium for Evangelical in Appalachia will hold an Appalachian regional conference in Gettysburg this coming November; this conference will be open to laity and clergy.

Vacancy Manual

The second draft of a handbook for congregational vacancy has been completed and feedback received. It is now in the revision process. I hope that this manual will assist congregations navigating pastoral vacancy. It covers a wide variety of issues. As future congregations enter vacancy, they will receive the handbook, and, as they end their vacancy, be asked for improvements to it.

Lay Eucharistic Minister Guidelines

Connected to the Vacancy Manual, but with application in any congregation wanting to utilize lay Eucharistic ministry with shut-ins etc., we have the Guidelines for Lay Eucharistic Ministry. This is in the second draft, and, like the Vacancy Manual, should be under constant revision as we learn what works and what doesn’t.

Page 41 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Bishop’s Lay Worship Leader

The Bishop’s Lay Worship Leader’s Program has been with us, as an approved program and policy of the Synod Assembly, since 1989. The first draft of a major revision of the Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders Program has been completed and the first round of feedback has been received. It is now going through further revision and will be shared with a larger group for feedback. Current Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders will be included in the feedback process. As the current program’s policies were approved by Synod Assembly, the wholesale termination or replacement of the current program would have to come before the Synod Assembly. It is possible, however, for Synod Council to authorize a second program that would run alongside the BLWL.

Synod Clergy Continuing Ed

Last January, the presbyteral college of the synod agreed to a plan that puts the planning of the Synod Clergy Continuing Ed Events in the hands of four peers. They did a magnificent job with the Winter 2019 Event, making several changes to event logistics that were well-received and reduced cost. They continue to demonstrate inventiveness and flexibility in their planning for the Fall 2019 event. Quite frankly, it is more work for the committee members, but democratization of the continuing ed program is already yielding fruit both tangible and intangible.

First Call Theological Education

If the changes to Synod Clergy Continuing Ed moved something out of the Office of the Bishop, changes to First Call Theological Education (FCTE) has moved something into the Office of the Bishop. We went a year without any pastors in the first three years of their first call, the target years for FCTE. With the arrival of Prs. Heycock and Wright, it was time to restart up the program. Being selfish, I decided to facilitate the FCTE Synod Cohort myself. It has been vivifying for me to teach and, hopefully, useful for Heycock and Wright. If they have told you otherwise, let me know. I do not intend to teach all sessions with them. As this is a small cohort, with only soon to be Pr. Warntz joining in June, we have collaboratively chosen topics based upon the pastor’s perceived needs and priorities (with recognition that I too may have notions about what they should be covering). As topics shift, I will ask others (pastors and laity) to lead this or that topic that aligns with their areas of expertise.

Bishop’s Teaching Ministry

This has been an exciting year in the realm of synodical educational ministry (and, here, I refer to ministry which the synod organ either executes or facilitates—-congregations do great things in educational ministry which are not covered here). I’ve had the privilege of leading worship workshops on compline and matins and look forward to more opportunities to do so. I’ve also given presentations on for a clergy group and for a large mixed group (both in the synod). I’ve been able to join a session of Theology on Tap in

Page 42 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Martinsburg. These are the sorts of things I would like to do more often. Invite me to come and do a Bible study, or (better yet) lecture on some historical or theological topic, or play stump the theologian over beers, or explain how St. Paul uses polysyndeton (actually, his use of asyndeton is much cooler). Outside the synod, I’ve been invited to lecture on Lutheran Scholastic ecclesiology, present on theological loci in relationship to the opioid crisis, and lead a workshop on theological anthropology and politics.

The thing I like to boast about is SCALD (Symposium for Central Appalachian Lutheran Dogmatics). We held our second SCALD this past February with thirty attending (doubling the attendance from the first SCALD held over a year before). The event had laity and clergy attending. Five papers were presented by people in the trenches, eliciting lively discussion. Attendees came from six different Lutheran synods and two non-Lutheran denominations. One attendee, a seminarian from Chicago, took an overnight train to attend. We were able to do this event without charging a registration fee, arranging for lodging, or much anything else besides asking Pr. Bartling to use her church. Props to Pr. Bartling for hosting, providing the coffee free of charge—-we would have gladly put out a cigar box—-and soliciting snacks from her parishioners. Neat stuff can be done. Respectable stuff can be done, and we can do it without knocking ourselves silly with complicated logistics or crushing expense. The real metric is the demand from those attending that we do this again, and sooner rather than later. People are already sending me notes about papers they would like to write, and folks far beyond the synod have asked whether they can attend.

Candidacy

After a slump in seminarians from WV-WMD, we now have two in seminary and one about to enter. Mary Sanders (St. John’s, Redhouse) is enrolled in United Lutheran Seminary. Jeremy Lambson (Grace, Fairmont) is enrolled in Princeton Theological Seminary (in New Jersey, not south of Beckley). Devin Ames (Christ the King, Barboursville) has been accepted at and beings this fall. A special congratulations to Ames: he is the first in this synod to receive a Fund for Leaders full-tuition scholarship.

If we could maintain our current enrollment rate, we would be slightly below where we need to be to replace clergy, assuming the current configuration of congregations continues. Unfortunately, system-wide, we are producing one pastor-candidate for every four vacant pulpits seeking first-call pastors. This means that even over-producing seminarians in this synod does not guarantee that our congregations will have enough candidates to supply the need.

Notions of supply-and-demand, however, cannot look at only the supply side of the equation. Demand is not static. Since the formation of the synod in 1987, demand has decreased. Well, to be clear, the desire for pastors has probably not decreased. What has decreased is the number of congregations capable of supporting full-time compensated pastorates, and, even where there exist resources for a full-time compensated pastorate, it is not uncommon that the number of years of experience that can be afforded is lower.

Page 43 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

What does this mean for candidacy? That’s a tough question. Some voices across the church have said that bivocational ministry will be the future. I’m not sure how tent-making would work in communities where there aren’t great employment opportunities. Even with tent-making, congregations and congregants would have to reconcile themselves to pastors with possible rigid schedules in secular employment. It is also a less than impressive offer to say a potential candidate, here’s the school, here’s the debt you will acquire, and here’s the part-time employment that you will get for it. Now, you might say, “But it is a calling! Why should money matter?” I have yet to meet a parent of any young person in this synod who has said to his/her son/ daughter, “I really think that you should pursue the ministry even if you are not going to have anything more than a part-time job out of it.” There might be some out there who have said that, but they haven’t told me.

If we are going to use the term, “calling,” to refer to the ministry, then we must do two things: 1) we have to actually call people, and 2) we have to ensure they can eat. Despite our use of the term, “call,” we, in practice, passively hope someone volunteers. Yes, I am painting with a broad brush stroke. Some do indeed speak directly to others about their potential usefulness to the church as an ordained minister. Most, it would seem, do not make a habit of it. When you get home, ask your coparishioners, “How often have you said to someone, ‘You should go into the ministry?’” The image of the church as Ecclesia militans (the church militant, or the church performing military service) reminds us that we wage war against Sin, Death, and the Devil, that Unholy Trinity. I’m not convinced that hanging up a few more posters of a glowering and pointing Uncle St. Samuel of Qualamoun, saying “I Want You,” will do the trick. The conversation should be direct and personal; that’s the closest thing we have to a draft notice. Barring that, I suppose we could stop telling our children to take cover in thunderstorms and then pray for foul weather.

Then, the second thing is making sure they can eat. If we would have our children and grandchildren go into the ministry, we should want them to have a living wage through it. If, however, we fear that our children and grandchildren, should they go into the ministry, would not receive the sort of compensation we wish for them, then we have an ironic situation. I don’t believe this to be an unresolvable conundrum, but may require new approaches to parish-pastor configuration.

Rostered Leader Debt Reduction

Seven pastors rostered in this synod received a total of $6,800. This distribution marked the end of the claimed seminary debt for two of those pastors. Issuance of the previous cycle’s checks was significantly delayed. A new procedure was put in place with this cycle, resulting in the processing of the requests in less than two hours and issuance of checks in short order after that. We should have processing down to less than an hour with this next cycle.

The Human Resource Challenge

I was going to bring this up in my extended essay on synods (Part 2 of my report), but that essay took on a life of its own. Human resources are a persistent challenge for us, and it is not getting easier. Throughout

Page 44 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

different aspects of the synod, there are pinch points, points at which one person is critical. When that is the case, the loss of that one person can have serious consequences. This happened when my father died just a few weeks before Synod Assembly 2017. Things that should have been done didn’t get done (or didn’t get done by the time they were supposed to be done). It happened again last year when our office administrator, Barbara Higgins, had to go on emergency medical leave. We scrambled, and, with the help of Maureen Corrigan and Tamara Riegel, we scraped by, but the deadlines we missed still haunt me. It’s not good for an organization to be dependent on one person, but we all know this situation. In how many of our congregations is there that one person who, if taken out of the picture, would leave us scrambling to pay the bills, make the emergency hospital call, or find the key to the furnace room? We have a synod that reflects her congregations. On one hand, that means the synod is sympathetic. On the other hand, synod can end up scrambling.

The two most common approaches for establishing redundancies are 1) hire more people or 2) create a committee. Hiring more people is not a practical option. Creating a committee? Well, how are our congregational committees doing? In some places, I’m sure they are doing fine, but I do hear reports about how hard it is to staff committees. We certainly know it at the synod. Several years ago, we had a Synod Council meeting of long knives, and nearly all the synod committees were disbanded. Some of them hadn’t met in years. Others were grossly understaffed and could not convince new people to join. Oh, there were certainly a number of family systems issues wrapped up in that, but it is symptomatic of the challenges we face.

I have no definitive answer to this. I am mulling it over. I am pretty sure that we have to figure this out—even if we have gotten by in the past. I bring it to your attention as a reminder that Synod, as it is currently configured, is not a massive corporation. There are benefits to that. There are also detriments. This too should factor into our conversations. 5.2.2. Framing the Conversation (Bishop’s Report, Part 2)

Before other presenters dive into the financial questions, I beg your indulgence as I exposit classical Lutheran ecclesiology (i.e., what Lutherans thought about what the church is, how it is put together and works, and why it exists). Of course, one may object, “What’s that got to do with anything?” No small part of the financial discussion is directly related to the viability of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod. This is not new. Treasurers’ reports have, for the past several years, hinted at this. It was part of the conversations held throughout the second year before the 2015 episcopal election. Synod Council has discussed it numerous times since the mission support decline that began ten years ago, and Finance Committee discussed it even before that. So, this discussion of finance has implications for the synod remaining a synod or, at least, doing business as usual. Thus, ecclesiology is not only a related subject, it is

Page 45 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

the matrix of assumptions that, either consciously or unconsciously, informs our response to financial questions.

A second objection may be raised to any consideration of the specifically classical corpus of Lutheran ecclesiology, the classical corpus including both Confessional material of the 16th century and the work of the dogmaticians of Lutheran Scholasticism who taught from the mid-16th century through the early 18th century. Here, I point to both my ordination vows and the doctrinal basis found in our synodical constitution. We are a specifically Lutheran church, and my ordination is into a specifically Lutheran church. Lutheranism is not an undefined system; it is, in its nature, “confessional,” and those Confessions are found in The . We have, as a denominational body, claimed subscription to those Confessions, and that claimed subscription roots us in and binds us to a particular historical theological foundation. The Dogmaticians, in my judgment, have exposited those Confessions in a manner consistent with the Confessions and, while there are some things about our modern American context not addressed therein, still applicable to ecclesiastical life. Most of the folks I know who dismiss the work of the Lutheran Scholastics actually know little or nothing of their body of work, relying instead upon third person accounts or merely the assumption that anything written before the mid-twentieth century must, by definition, be irrelevant. Well, to be honest, most of the folks I know have never even heard of the Lutheran Scholastics, and, thus, we cut ourselves off from a body of theology that would, in my opinion, prove most salutary in our present reflections.

Heinz 57+

There has been a fair amount written about synods (as we have them in the ELCA), beginning with the work of the Commission for a New Lutheran Church (CNLC), the multilateral body that brought together representatives from the Lutheran Church in America, the American Lutheran Church, and the Association of Evangelical Lutheran Churches. We rarely talk about the difficult task the CNLC faced. There were significant differences of opinion as to what the ELCA should look like and how it should function. One might argue that these differences of opinion were unconsciously rooted in diverse notions of the purpose of the church and even what we mean by the term, “church.” The historian would point out that such differences should not surprise us given the diverse historical, ecclesiastical, and cultural backgrounds of those embarking upon the venture that became the ELCA merger.

To say that all those entering into the CNLC negotiations were Lutherans would be to claim something about commonality, but whether that commonality was in much more than name would be a worthy conversation in itself. There was and continues to be a lack of agreement even with respect to the Confessional basis upon which the ELCA stands, some factions preferring relatively equal subscription to the entire Book of Concord and others preferring subscription to the Augustana alone. We have witnessed those disagreements among the clergy of this synod most publicly in our periodic sparring over the Third Use of the Law. Good-natured as such polemic has been, it is, nevertheless, indicative of divides that cut across the ELCA on a variety of issues, some esoteric and disconnected from daily church life, others

Page 46 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

popular and quite consequential. What else might we expect? Well over one hundred of the Lutheran church bodies that have existed in the history of America going back to the colonial period have gone into the making of the ELCA, a mongrel church if ever there was one.

A call for unity without uniformity still depends upon some shared “stuff.” The old maxim, often attributed to Wesley, “In essentials unity, in non-essentials liberty, in all things charity,” depends upon some common understanding of what exactly is essential and what is non-essential. As an aside, the maxim’s earliest form appears to be by Lutheran theologian Rupertus Meldenius, who penned c. 1627,

Verbo dicam: Si nos servaremus IN necesariis Unitatem, IN non-necessariis Libertatem, IN UTRISQUE Charitatem, optimo certe loco essent res nostrae.” [In a word, I’ll say it: if we preserve unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, and charity in both, our affairs will be in the best position.](http://faculty.georgetown.edu/jod/augustine/quote.html)

Rather delicious that a Roman Catholic scholar would point out that the Methodists are indebted to the Lutherans for this as well as Aldersgate.

Given the diversity within the Lutheran household, we often find that the writings about synods in ELCA circles are largely around practical matters supplemented with vague references to unity in Christ. While the theologian might lament this, the ecclesiastical politician may well admire the way in which political pragmatism, the thing that makes American representative democracy work (most of the time), becomes a substitute for doctrinal ecclesiology. I have heard it said, “If you want to know what Lutheran ecclesiology is, look at the Constitution, Bylaws, and Continuing Resolutions of the ELCA.” In short, political pragmatism allows us to take collective action despite holding different ideas about why the given action should be taken. This works just fine so long as the conditions that prevailed when the action was debated and agreed upon don’t change. When the conditions on the ground do change, the diverse rationales might lead to a lack of agreement about action. To put it another way, the people who established our synod may have had differing rationales for doing so and differing hoped for ends, but they could, at least, agree on the action itself. Thirty-two years later, we may be in a situation where diverse rationales and hoped for ends no longer justify a common act.

The question must be tested: Shall we be synod? Note well, I framed this as action without basis or end. To include basis and end, I might state it this way: Despite our differing foundations and our differing hoped for ends, is there sufficient alignment in action that we can take such action together (because I really don’t care why you want to do what I want to do so long as we both want to do the same thing)? That’s political pragmatism laid bare. Again, this works perfectly well in many situations, especially for short-term relationships of convenience. This would not work well as the sole political framework for a marriage. We should be able to anticipate that there are some issues upon which a couple should really have a shared philosophy and a shared dream. Despite protestations that church life is a union similar to marriage, I think it more honest to say that we, as an institutional church, are, de facto, more like a temporary alliance. History bears this out if we consider the number of mergers and splits that have taken place among

Page 47 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Lutherans on this continent. Keep in mind, “temporary,” might be three decades, but it is not forever. Some, in this synod, are now in their third Lutheran denomination without ever changing their congregational membership.

The Basis from which I Work

So, I need to be transparent about the basis from which I work. I do not see a synod (generally) as indispensable. I also do not see WV-WMD (specifically) as indispensable. With three exceptions, our congregations pre-date WV-WMD, ELCA. It’s hard to make an argument for indispensability when fifty-six of our congregations were places of Word & Sacrament, faith and fellowship, instruction and care without the WV-WMD Synod. Sometimes we have used rhetoric that implies our indispensability, and I believe that we have done so thinking it to be true. Sober reflection, however, reveals it to be a confusion of utility for necessity. I will get back to this.

The Lutheran [LWF]-Roman Catholic Joint Commission, in The Church and (1993), identified a key difference in ecclesiology with respect to synod/diocese. For our Roman Catholic brothers and sisters, the diocese is the local church (ecclesia localis), and the bishop is the pastor of the local church, making all diocesan congregations extensions of the diocese. Thus, the congregation does not exist apart from the diocese. For Lutherans, the congregation is the local church. Thus, the synod does not exist apart from its congregations. The Roman Catholics have a better claim to antiquity on this point than Lutherans do. The early church is, for the most part, the story of episcopal congregations (that is, a congregation with a bishop) located in a major city setting up outposts in smaller towns and the villages, the bishop deploying presbyters (priests) to serve in those communities on the bishop’s behalf and under the bishop’s authority. During the age of Lutheran Scholasticism, it is already evident that Lutherans were thinking of the congregation as the local church. Additionally, it must be admitted that some Roman Catholic scholars use ecclesia localis to refer to the congregation. We note all this to locate “synod” within the Lutheran ecclesiological matrix.

For Americans, a practical problem reinforced what might seem like abstract ecclesiology. With the exception of the New Sweden Colony, Lutherans never had a landed state-church presence in what would become the continental United States. The German Lutherans who arrived after the Swedes settled here without benefit of ecclesiastical hierarchy. Congregations and pastors were on their own. As the number of congregations grew and the need for pastors increased, interest in a super-congregational structure intensified. This interest was further flamed by issues arising out of the presence of the Zinzendorfian imposters and periodic issues related to misconduct by both clergy and laity. The German Evangelical Lutheran Ministerium of North America (more commonly known as the Pennsylvania Ministerium) was formed in 1748 under the leadership of Henry Melchior Muhlenberg. Thus, the formation of first Lutheran synodical polity in the Americas set the constitutional pattern that congregations come together to form super-congregational bodies. It should be noted that the rationale for such a move was rooted in practical necessities and perceived benefits without much appeal to theological constructs.

Page 48 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

In order that aid might be given to several congregations, even if only one preacher could be sent, it has been thought advisable to ordain to the ministry Mr. Kurtz and Mr. Schaum, who until now have been assistants, since they have been very faithful in the matters entrusted to them in the congregations, and have gained not only more and more experience and ability for the ministry, but have also won the love and confidence of the congregations. For this purpose, as well as for the closer union of the preachers of the United Congregations, and for mutual consultation and agreement in matters concerning all the congregations, a meeting of the preachers, elders and deacons of all the frequently mentioned congregations was arranged to be held in Philadelphia, August 15 [O.S.], 26 [N.S.], 1748.

And, again, from Muhlenberg’s opening address at the first meeting of the Ministerium:

A twisted cord of many threads will not easily break. There must be unity among us. Every member in the congregations has children. The deacons would have great responsibility, if they were negligent in helping to create good order, especially in behalf of the children, who, if they were neglected, would help to condemn their parents.

We are here assembled for this purpose, and, if God will, we shall assemble yearly; this is only a trial and test. We preachers who are here present, not having wandered hither of our own will, but called and necessitated, are bound to give an account to God in our conscience. We stand in connection with our Fathers in Europe. We must provide not only for ourselves, but also for our posterity, etc., etc.

Notice the reference, “We stand in connection with our Fathers in Europe.” Here Mulhenberg appeals to the continuation of the Lutheran theological commitments of the past, which, though laced with Halle , were still more Confessional and Scholastically informed than most admit. The problem facing the Lutherans was lack of support from Germany. No principality was funding the church in America like the church in Germany. These new American Lutherans would have to shift for themselves, and they believed that unity would advance the planting, maintenance, and expansion of the Lutheran movement in America better then independence.

Muhlenberg and his confreres framed their cooperation along the lines of a synodical representative church, the doctrinal basis of which is found in the Lutheran Scholastics’ ecclesia representativa, a basis which the pastors, at least, shared because of the dogmatics curriculum found at German universities. Not surprisingly, the ecclesia representativa is still there in the substructures of the ELCA. The formation of synodical polity that took place in Philadelphia in 1748 would be repeated over and over again throughout the colonies and the states of the early Federal Republic. Successive waves of immigrants, often, though not always, had similar experiences, as they figured out how to do things without a state church. The Tercentennial of the Pennsylvania Ministerium is less than three decades away. I doubt that there will be massive celebrations. Still, underneath our polity is their work, even down to the expectation that the membership of the synod be two lay members from each congregation and the pastors.

I must also explain that I draw a distinction between institutional or political unity of the church and the

Page 49 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

spiritual or real unity of the church because the term, “church,” is not used the same way in both phrases. In the Augusburg Confession, a distinction is drawn between the church as the set of all those who have heard the Gospel and believe it and the church as the set of all those who have heard the Gospel and claim to believe it. Dogmaticians refer to the former as the ecclesia invisibilis, at one time translated as “invisible church” but “hidden church” is now the preferred rendering, and the latter as ecclesia visibilis, or visible church.

The hidden church (ecclesia invisibilis) is also known as the communion of saints (communio sanctorum) and the congregation of the faithful (congregatio fidelium). It is the church to which the credal affirmations are predicated: one, holy, catholic, and apostolic church (una sancta catholica et apostolica ecclesia). This oneness is a gift of the Holy Spirit. It transcends geography, race, language, etc. and even unites those who still fight here (eccelsia militans) with those victorious there (ecclesia triumphans). This unity is not something we manufacture; it simply is. When we talk about church unity, we rarely talk about this unity which is more real than the unity we might see.

The visible church (ecclesia visibilis), especially as it expresses itself in the ecclesiastical estate (status ecclesiasticus), or what we would think of as the institutional church, includes all those who believe the Gospel and also those who merely claim to believe the Gospel despite lack of faith. The unity of the institutional church is not a given. It is something we do, and we do it through different instruments, one of them being polity, the way we organize our institutional church and how we do business. That’s certainly not the only way we find and express unity, but it is the one that may most directly concern us with respect to the financial position of the synod.

Lastly, I hold the church to be pneumanthropic, i.e., the church is both spiritual and human. It is spiritual in as much as it is created by the Holy Spirit’s operation; we say that it is the creature of the Holy Spirit (creatura spiritus). It is human in as much as the stuff (material cause) of the church is the human creature, and that which is properly said of the human creature is properly said of the church. There is an embodiment to the church, and that embodiment is human with all reasonable human needs. The way the church works, then, is also pneumanthropic. There is a spiritual dimension to the way we do things, and there is a human dimension. With this human dimension, there are perfectly reasonable and rather mundane things that relate to the church, finance, management, politics, and organizational theory among them (alongside plumbing and HVAC).

Where Does that Leave Us?

So, given the Confessions, the writings of the Dogmaticians, and the development of synodical polity in America, I assert that synod, as the ELCA defines its shape and functions, as way of organizing the life of congregations in relationship to each other, is not an absolute necessity. In other words, congregations could be in relationship with each employing different structures. Even the Lutheran Scholastics’ ecclesia representativa does not insist on a particular structure even while it does hold that the representative church

Page 50 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

is a good and salutary thing. In fact, they thought of this representative church in terms of the councils (meetings that were held to address particular issues whenever such a need arose) rather than in terms of an institution. Even if the Dogmaticians did think of the representative church as a necessity, it was one which only did what it needed to do when it was necessary to do so. This bears no resemblance to the dark side of bureaucratic theory, namely, that an organization will eventually find ways to justify its continuation even after the original justification no longer exists. On the other hand, the Lutheran Scholastic dogmaticians did not have to worry about development of elaborate super-congregational institutional structures because they had the support of the state. The American experience of church-state separation naturally leads us into more highly developed structures to meet our perceived needs.

Recognizing that a congregation can go solo—many do—we may still rightly desire to have a synod (of some sort) because, like Muhlenberg & co., there are things we want to do that we either cannot do on our own or we can do better together. This side of the equation looks at the economies of scale that may be achieved through cooperation. There are also diseconomies of scale. Cooperation takes resources, and, sometimes, inefficiencies emerge. At its most practical, we might view the question as a matter of cost- benefit (economies vs. diseconomies). It would be a mistake, however, to do nothing more than look at the spreadsheet because not all economies and diseconomies are tangible; some are intangible, and we are not infrequently willing to expend tangible resources for intangible benefits.

Consequently, “utility” may present the best option for thinking through our predicament. Is having a synod useful? Is having the WV-WMD Synod useful? Any one of us can probably answer both these questions with, “Yes and No.” That’s because there are some ways in which having synod is a benefit and some ways in which it is a cost. Even when we consider the cost-benefit analysis to lean in favor of having a synod, we might find that having this particular synod fails to meet the test. It is also possible that we might say, WV-WMD Synod, as we now do synod in this context, fails, but, were we to do things differently and/or experience a shift in the context, it might pass.

Nothing I have said here is meant to denigrate the fellowship that we have or invalidate our accomplishments. I see this as a narrow, albeit complicated, question of the utility of this particular synod in this way, at this time, and in this place. It is not my call. It is our call which we will make through our particular decision-making processes. I do think it my job, however, to throw the question naked before us. I also think it my job to frame the question within the Lutheran theological matrix. Lastly, I think it my job to ask, “To what end?”

To what end?

Why do we even do synod? It is possible that we do this because we have always done this, but that would ignore some not so distant history. Muhlenberg and his confreres looked both backward and forward. They looked back and rooted themselves in the Gospel as understood, articulated, and lived in distinctively Lutheran ways on one continent. They looked ahead to planting that Lutheranism on another continent. We

Page 51 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

too should look backward and forward. If we look only behind us, we stagnate. If, however, we look only forward, we become uprooted. Without our roots in the Word of God, we are not the church. Without our roots in the Lutheran theological tradition, we are not a Lutheran church. I suppose we could abandon Lutheranism. I’m not overly sanguine about that option. While I would not claim that Lutherans got it all right, I do think that it is the best thing on the street. If I were not as committed as I am to the Lutheran Confessions, I would become Episcopalian; the pension plan is better.

So, I have a couple of questions that I think we should consider…

• Do we want to be Lutheran? Do we care if the Lutheran Confessions (particularly the Catechisms) are taught and function as measures by which we preach and practice the faith? Or would a generic be good enough? • What are we willing to do to be Lutheran in Central Appalachia? Are we willing to change the way we do business, structure the synod, arrange pastor-parish relationships, etc.? • Is the WV-WMD Synod our best option for moving forward without losing our rootedness in the ?

Options

I believe that we can change the way we do business, structure our institution, pay for the work, etc., but we will have to ask whether we are willing to pay the intangible costs in light of both tangible and intangible economies. If we are not, that’s OK. I’ve already established that synod is not an absolute necessity.

I also know that, as congregations of the ELCA, we will not be without a synod, even if it is not this one. Our national polity establishes the synods as mediating structures between the congregations and the Churchwide expression. If we dissolve, the Churchwide Assembly will amend national Bylaw 10.01.01, and each congregation on this territory will discover that it is a member of a synod. We may find ourselves being moved lock, stock, and barrel to one synod, or we may be split up among two or more synods. I hope that we are consulted in that process, but such consultation would be a courtesy. Unlike the days of the General Synod and General Council, synods do not have an existence of their own. They are creatures of the Churchwide Assembly. Thus, we are not a federation of synods but rather a national church with synods. The degree to which we are proactive will likely dictate the degree of input we have in the shaping of our future.

Whether we go together or split up, the loss of synodical identity could have significant impact upon our life. As congregations, we’ll continue to do the work of congregations. Vacancy, call process, and the handling of discipline and conflict will likely be different. Whether the change would be for the better or for the worse depends on what one values. Mission support request might change but so might pastoral compensation recommendations. Mobility for clergy would likely change as well. There might be consequences for our grant recipient agencies (camps, campus ministries, social ministry organizations, seminary, etc.). Women

Page 52 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

of the ELCA would automatically change were the synod to dissolve. There are many things to consider, and no move one way or the other should be taken without thorough investigation, analysis, and deliberation.

Hope

I’m still hopeful . That may sound strange, but I am. I stopped hoping in the institutional church a decade ago. It was a dark night of the soul, a time when I was disabused of my institutional idolatry. Like root canal, it was good for me, but I have no desire to repeat it. “My hope is built on nothing less…”—you know the rest. So, we find ourselves in the stormy gale, but it would be a mistake to give the storm greater standing than it deserves. Sure, we should deal with this for our sake and for the sake of those who come after, but we should have some perspective as we do so. First and foremost, we preach Christ and him crucified. We do this from our particular Lutheran theological matrix with all that that rightly entails. We norm our practice to that proclamation. Our aim is the advancement of the Lutheran movement (not necessarily a Lutheran non- profit corporation organized under the laws of the State of Minnesota) in central Appalachia. If we cannot do this, take some comfort: “one holy Christian church will be and remain forever.”(Augustana VII) Did not Christ promise Peter that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it?

If, then, our aim is to advance the Lutheran movement in central Appalachia, let us ask: How might we best do it? That is a much more interesting question than “How do we keep the synod going?” Now, it may be that the best way for us to do that is to keep the synod going. That’s something we should discuss, but let us discuss it with an eye to the movement and the conviction that everybody would benefit from an encounter with the movement.

On the other hand, if we are not convinced that we and our neighbors in these mountains and valleys would benefit from the Lutheran movement, we had better stop now. There’s no reason to expend the energy. Of course, I say that as one committed to the movement. 5.3. Report of the Vice President

Page 53 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Paul Wangerin Synod Council Vice President

Vice President’s Report to 2019 Synod Assembly

Several suggestions from our 2017-2018 Listening Post meetings asked how we could improve the prayer life of our synod. With that in mind, our Synod Council determined we should begin by looking at and thinking through our own prayer life – both individually and as a Synod Council. Thus, prayer has been a major topic of discussion for our Synod Council this past year.

We began with a discussion of our own individual prayer experience – when have we struggled and when have we felt a close connection with God. How do we pray? When do we pray? We then assigned each council member to choose several psalms meaningful to that member to read, pray and consider those psalms over the days, weeks and months until our next meeting.

In that next meeting we discussed and shared our experiences with these psalms, admitting that many of us were not as conscientious as we wanted to be in that discipline. Yet in that discussion it became evident that different people respond to the praying of these psalms, and to praying in general, in different ways. That led us to consider the various spiritual paths that exist, and that one’s spiritual path can determine how one approaches prayer, and thus how one experiences his/her relationship to God.

Our next step will be, as a significant part of our meeting, to hold specific congregations of our synod in prayer. Following that meeting we intend to send postcards to those congregations letting them know we held them in prayer. Our goal is to hold all our congregations in our prayers over this next year.

While we have not yet arrived at a best way to engage our whole synod in prayer, or what we as a Synod Council can do to help grow the prayer life of our synod, we are finding our own personal spiritual growth through these experiences.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the four Synod Council members who have served their full allotted terms and will be leaving their position as Synod Council members. These include pastors Christine Olson and Sean Smith, layperson Bruce Dalton and youth delegate Katlyn Ruddle.

I appreciate the opportunity to serve as Vice President of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod.

Paul Wangerin

Page 54 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

5.4. Report of the Treasurer

In this section you will find…

• the budget worksheets for FY2020 (income and expense); • “Understanding the Synod Budget,” a line by line exposition on the budget worksheet; and the • White Paper on the Synod’s Financial Position.

Each of these documents is found here in the Manula, the on-line and PDF printable platform we are using for the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports. You may print them individually from each webpage if you prefer not to download the entire Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports.

The White Paper references some statistics prepared by Bishop Riegel for the Mission Support Symposium held this past fall in Morgantown. That particular spreadsheet (with graphs), does not render well in Manula. It may be downloaded by clicking here.

The Mission Support Symposium included a packet of information related to the synod that may prove helpful in our deliberations. It was distributed to all pastors in the synod (along with the stats sheet mentioned above) prior to the symposium. In case you have not retained it, you may download it by clicking here. 5.4.1. FY2020 Proposed Budget

If you prefer to download the budget worksheets separately as PDFs, click on the links below:

• WV-WMD Proposed Budget Income for FY2020 • WV-WMD Proposed Budget Expenses for FY2020

Page 55 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 56 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 57 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

5.4.2. Understanding the Synod Budget

“This document has become a staple in helping the assembly, and the synod at large, understand the budget. If you have any questions about what any expense or income line is, you can turn to this document as your first resource. For additional questions, feel free to approach or contact me directly – that’s what I’m here for!” — Joseph Solberg, Synod Treasurer, 5/5/2017

Income

Congregational Mission Support: Total congregational support within the synod for the larger church (i.e., our synodical and ELCA-wide ministry and programs). This line does not include special offerings transmitted through the synod to various organs of the church (e.g., Disaster Response, Hunger Appeal, Missionary Support Sunday, etc.) or synodical appeals (e.g., bicycles for Madagascar, West Virginia flood

Page 58 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

relief). Nor does it include remittances made by congregations as mission support restricted to synodical use only.

For ELCA (Proportional Share): Level of support that this synod pledges to remit to the ELCA Churchwide Expression. To better understand the theory behind mission support sharing, one must conceive of the church member as a member of all three expressions simultaneously. When the church member puts money in the plate on Sunday morning, that member is giving to all three expressions. Rather than having the member write three different checks and send them to the congregation, the synod, and the ELCA Churchwide Expression, the offering is given at one point of reception (the congregation) which then passes on the portion for the other expressions to the synod which then passes on the portion for the ELCA Churchwide Expression.

The percentages that each expression receives from the offerings of the members of the church is dependent upon several factors. First, congregations, while required under the constitution to remit something to the larger church, are free to determine the exact percentage; our synod has, since the late 1990s, recommended 15%, but that is only a recommendation. Of the amount remitted to the synod, the portion remitted to the ELCA Churchwide Expression is set by the ELCA Churchwide Assembly. That percentage was set by the ELCA’s constituting Churchwide Assembly at 55% of unrestricted mission support remittances received by a synod (the synod keeping 45% for its own work). Provision is made for the synod to remit a different percentage to the ELCA Churchwide Expression in consultation with the appropriate Churchwide office. For 2016, our synod set its rate at 33% for the ELCA Churchwide Expression.

For Synod (Proportional Share): Portion of mission support remitted by congregations retained by the synod for synodical work. See “For ELCA (Proportional Share)” for a general description. The rate was set at 67% for 2016.

For Synod (Synod Only): Portion of mission support restricted to synod use by the remitting congregation. In Fall 2009, the Conference of Bishops allowed synods to develop mechanisms to allow congregations to make mission support remittances to their synods without a portion of that remittance being shared with the ELCA Churchwide Expression. Our synod adopted a policy creating such a mechanism. While that policy had a twoyear sunset clause, some congregations have continued to designate some or all of their mission support for “synod use only.” Because “donor intent” is a legal as well as ethical issue, the synod has continued to honor it.

Interest: Income from the synod’s small investment portfolio. For details on the portfolio, ask the Synod Treasurer.

Unrestricted Savings: Unrestricted savings include those fiscal resources which our synod may use for whatever purposes are consistent with the mission of the synod. This is different from restricted savings which may only be used in prescribed manners (e.g., a bequest which specifies how the gift may be used).

Page 59 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Savings generally increase when giving exceeds expenses as happens in some years. In other years, expenses exceed giving, requiring the release of savings to cover the shortfall. When an amount appears in this line on the budget income page, it indicates an anticipated release of unrestricted savings to cover a shortfall in expected revenues vis-à-vis expected expenses.

Total for Synod: The estimated income available for synod use, i.e., congregational mission support minus that portion forwarded for use through the ELCA Churchwide Expression plus interest income. This is the line that must at least equal our expenses to avoid a budget deficit.

Total Income: The estimated income of the synod, including what has been committed to the Churchwide Expression.

Expenses

Grants to Agencies & Institutions All grants are voluntary. Some (not all) ofthe agencies listed below present a formal request to the synod, asking for financial support and sometimes quoting an exact amount. Nevertheless, the synod’s support ofthese agencies is voluntary.

Gettysburg Seminary: The synods of Region 8 (which includes WV-WMD) support Gettysburg. The Churchwide office responsible for theological education, using a rather complex formula based upon the operational expenses of the congregations of the ELCA and of the synod, determines an amount specific to the synod that should be remitted to its assigned seminary.

Thiel College: WV-WMD Synod, in the redistricting that accompanied the formation of the ELCA, was assigned to Thiel College as a constituent synod, a vestige of the former LCA W.Penn-W.. Thiel is the only Lutheran College supported by this synod.

Campus Ministry—West Virginia University: The Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU is, historically, the only center-based campus ministry on the territory of the synod. The synod grant received by the campus ministry is applied to general operations.

Campus Ministry Grants to Synod Territory Ministries: In addition to supporting the campus ministry named above, our synod provides grants to other campus ministries (e.g., the Trinity Lutheran Church’s campus ministry at Potomac State in Keyser, WV) on the territory of the WV-WMD Synod. Grant requests should be submitted to the synod office.

Camp Luther: Subsidizes Camp Luther’s basic program; it is not used to subsidize capital improvements.

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp: Prior to ELCA merger, those Potomac Conference congregations formerly part of the LCA VA Synod had a relationship with Camp Caroline Furnace. In the formation of this synod, it was agreed that this relationship should be represented in the new synod’s budget. Camp Caroline

Page 60 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Furnace, unlike Camp Luther, provides year-round facilities and programming.

Lutheran Senior Life:

Lutheran Service Society:

Glade Run Lutheran Services: Support for these agencies is a vestige of pre-ELCA days. While none of these agencies has a physical presence on the territory of the synod, they have served members of the synod. Traditionally, the synod has had representation on the agencies’ boards.

Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.: CLP is the social ministry organization of our synod.

Synodical Program Expense

Operational Committees and Commissions: Historically, this synod had several committees and, rather than giving each of these committee its own line item, the synod has found it expedient to “bloc” fund this entire section of the synod’s work, cooperatively apportioning funding through the Team for Planning, Coordination, and Evaluation. While these structures have been significantly altered, programmatic activities still require funding, and this line supports those activities. The largest single expense under this line has, most years, been the biannual clergy continuing education events that were accounted to the Support Committee. With this budget, that expense has been moved to a new line, “Rostered Education.”

Candidacy Committee: Covers expenses related to meetings (i.e., mileage, meals, lodging) incurred by WV-WMD candidates for ministry and the WV-WMD members serving on the bi-synodical (WV-WMD & SW Penn) Candidacy Committee. Also covers reimbursement to SW Penn for the processing of paperwork related to WV-WMD candidates.

Seminarian Aid: Used to assist WV-WMD seminarians. This aid is remitted directly to the seminaries and credited to the students’ accounts.

Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute: Mandatory psychological testing of candidates for ministry (required by the ELCA) and for pastors in vocational crisis is contracted to professional centers.

Pastoral Care: This item provides for emergency assistance to clergy, congregations, and others within the synod in times of crisis.

Rostered Leaders Debt Reduction: This line item was created in response to action taken at the 2002 Synod Assembly. Recently rostered leaders may apply to the synod office for assistance in reducing educational debt. Approved grants are remitted directly to the appropriate financial institution. By action of the 2002 Synod Assembly, this line must be 1% of budgeted expenses.

Page 61 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Rostered Education: A new item, this line includes the biannual clergy continuing education events (formerly located under operational committees and the First Call Theological Education program (most recently located under Region 8). By combining these two programs under one line explicitly for the purpose of educational programming for clergy, we improve transparency and underscore the importance of these programs.

Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders: This item is applied to the costs incurred in training the Lay Worship Leaders beyond the restricted funding for that purpose. The Lay Worship Leaders serve the whole synod by providing supply preaching and worship leadership during times of pastoral vacancy, vacations, etc..

Grants for Congregations with Special Needs: Used to assist congregations requiring financial support. Grant requests should be submitted to Synod Council for consideration. Such grants are commonly used to support congregations having difficulty maintaining basic ministry, but can also be given to congregations engaged in threatened, priority ministries beyond basic ministry. Funding for our sole mission congregation is not, at this time, drawn from this line. Instead, the restricted grant associated with the work of the Director for Evangelical Mission is tapped.

Synod Publications: This funds subscriptions (e.g., The Parish Paper) and publications that the synod might (re)produce from time to time not covered under specific programmatic areas or grants.

Tri-Synod Archives: Synod Constitution S8.32.c. requires that all important documents and papers be deposited in the archives of the synod. We cooperate with our tri-synodical partners to provide for an archives housed at Thiel. The Archives not only stores these documents, it also engages in preservation, supports research, and assists congregations.

Planned Giving Officer: This line returns as a new compact between multiple synods and agencies forms. The planned giving officer assists participating entities with bequests and other major financial instruments. The synod’s participation makes it possible for synod congregations to take advantage of this resource.

Polity Expenses

Synod Assembly: This item subsidizes Synod Assembly. The finances of Synod Assembly are handled as an “offbudget” fund, fees and underwriting (if any) being accounted as inflow and all associated expenses at outflow. Balances from assemblies are carried into the next year, and it has generally held that we cycle annually between coming out ahead and coming out behind. The subsidy is particularly important to help cover deposits and advance payments associated with the assembly.

Synod Council: This item covers expenses incurred in Synod Council meetings and functions.

Regional 8 Center for Mission: This line represents our direct support of the cooperative efforts of the ELCA synods of Region 8. We also reimburse a portion of the travel expenses of this synod’s members on

Page 62 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

the Regional Council. (See ELCA Constitution Chap.18 for an explanation of the functions of a region)

West Virginia Council of Churches: This grant supports the work of the WVCC, including payroll and program (e.g., advocacy & legislative review, Faith & Order, Recreational Ministries, Disaster Relief). WVCC makes an annual request for support from each participating denomination. The amount of the request is based upon the baptized membership of the denomination.

Synod Operations and Staff

Office Operations: There is a cost to doing business. Operational expenses increase with inflation. Included are rent & utilities, telecommunications, service contracts, supplies, equipment, postage, banking fees, and insurance. Note that we have allocated nothing for the “Copier” line for 2017. This is because the synod now owns the copier we had been renting, and, thanks to email communication, we anticipate no expense related to it.

Bishop: Includes salary, housing, social security allowance, and Portico (ELCA Board of Pensions) benefits.

Office Administrator: Includes salary, benefits (Pension, Medical, etc.), and social security.

WV Workers Compensation: WV Workers Compensation as required by law.

Bishop’s Travel: This line covers the Bishop’s mileage and other travel expenses. Should the need arise for the Synod Office Administrator to travel on synod business, it would be covered from this account.

Professional Services: This line item reflects the cost of the independent annual audit of synod books and records, legal services, and other professional services that may be necessary. Note that, since our auditor fell ill this past year, we have no audit and minimal expenses for this account. However, next year we anticipate the greater expense of a two year audit.

Miscellaneous Expenses: These are the miscellaneous expenses that don’t fit well anywhere else or could not be anticipated.

Synod Reserves: A line for intentional building unrestricted savings.

Total Expenses: The sum of the expense lines of the budget; does not include mission support for Churchwide.

Page 63 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

5.4.3. White Paper on the Synod’s Financial Position

First, an apology. Last year at Synod Assembly the assembly asked for a white-paper well in advance of the next Synod Assembly. Well in advance is a flexible phrase, but I don’t think I met it by anyone’s standards. Family and work emergencies that persisted for longer than two months kept it from being possible for me, and the result is a white-paper coming out at the same time any other report of the treasurer would come out. I am sorry.

For those who don’t know the background, the Synod is in a rough financial position, and, if current trends persist, it is not sustainable. In 2016 we lost a little over $2000. In 2017 we lost $13,199. In 2018 we lost $16,813. In 2018 we lost less than we projected to lose thanks to large non-regular gifts to the Synod totaling over $20,000. We had initially projected to lose about $23,000, but as the year went on, it became clear that we could have lost closer to $37,000 had it not been for those non-regular gifts. We projected ourselves to lose $36,000 in this fiscal year, but without any other surprise gifts, we will likely come in over that projection.

This position didn’t start in 2016, it goes back much further. At the time of the formation of the ELCA, the Commission for a New Lutheran Church (CNLC) identified 150-200 congregations as being the magic number for a sustainable Synod. With this number in mind they did their best to carve out synods considering a variety of factors as they saw fit. The WV-WMD Synod was a new synod, and it was one of the few synods with fewer than 100 congregations.

Just prior to the economic collapse of 2008; the Synod saw a reduction in mission support due to issues of conflict in three congregations. The economic recession of 2008 hurt our already economically distressed territory, and all of Appalachia, especially hard. Giving began to decrease. The recession ended, and for a short term, giving increased a little, but it began decreasing again.

Following controversial decisions made at the Churchwide Assembly in 2009, two congregations chose to leave the WV-WMD Synod and the ELCA altogether. One of these congregations accounted for about 4.5% of the support coming into the Synod. Other congregations saw a loss in giving members, which also affected overall support.

The Synod was not unresponsive when the writing on the wall started to come into focus. Mission support to the ELCA was cut from 51.5% all the way down to 33% where it is now. Entire line items in the budget were removed. The then-treasurer and Finance Committee went after some lines in the budget with a scalpel, and other lines with a chain saw. Our budget is now a skeleton of what it once was, but the work is not done.

I am including as an appendix a document that Bishop Riegel prepared for our November Mission Support

Page 64 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Consultation. Find it titled “Appendix A: WV-WMD: Some Stats”. In this document you see two major trends. First, Confirmed-Communing-Contributing Members (Abbreviated “CCC”) is down. In fact, all membership statistics are down. Second, see that regular giving by members is up! Way up when you take the recession into consideration. It isn’t that we aren’t giving enough per capita; it’s a matter of not having enough capita. Or, to put it more simply, West Virginians and Western Marylanders have proven themselves to be a generous people; there simply aren’t enough of us. The trends, both in church attendance and in the general population of the region, don’t show that changing.

“How long, Treasurer?” is the question I get asked the most. There are two ways to predict what the future holds. One involves a crystal ball, and the other involves using trends to graph out likely events. The cost of mailing each congregation a heavy crystal ball in advance of Synod Assembly would surely blow our postage line out of the water, so here are some charts:

Understanding these charts

These charts should be viewed in color. These charts chart how much money we are losing, and how much money we have in savings. This “savings” number includes all dollars unrestricted and self-restricted (which can become unrestricted) from all pots everywhere, scraped together. When the savings line hits zero, we will be unable to pay our bills.

Page 65 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 66 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

THERE IS HOPE… in moderately aggressive action, and continued action over time.

Last year at Synod Assembly I projected that if loss plateaued, we might have 10 years. Unfortunately, loss is not positioned to happen that way, if we continue to operate the way we do now, we will cease to be solvent sometime between 2022 and 2024. What looked like ‘10 years’ just one year ago now looks like 5 years.

“What can we do, Treasurer?” is the next question, and there are answers!

Our budget is really made up of three components. Income, Expenses, and the Income we share with the ELCA Church-wide expression.

Income

It is not statistically likely that we can make a significant impact on our income in the short term. For that, we would need a miracle (and we do believe in those!). Our members are already among the most generous in the entire ELCA (no, really! For their income levels and willingness to give and pass along to the greater church our synod blows almost all other synods out of the water). In the short term, we would need either

Page 67 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

membership growth in a territory that is seeing population shrinkage, for several of our members see sudden increases in their own income, or see a sudden increase in legacy gifts left to the Synod… Keep preaching the Gospel and administering the Sacraments in your communities. Evangelize, baptize, teach, and feed the people with the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ.

In the long-term there is one sure-fire way to increase the number of Lutherans in the Synod. My new bride and I hope to begin being a part of this solution in the next couple of years. The solution is one that grew the church for many decades: make Lutheran babies! Or at least, make sure the up and coming generation understands the importance of replacing themselves and multiplying the church “the old fashioned way.”

Expenses

Expenses need an immediate fix. This will be the primary task of the Synod Assembly. Where do we cut a budget that has already been cut down to the bone, into the marrow, and even sucking the marrow in some places? To answer this, we first have to ask, “What is the Synod? Why does it exist? What functions can we not do without?” I believe that if we look closely, and historically, we will see that the Synod exists first to lift up leadership out of congregations to send them to Seminary; to place pastors in congregations; and for the office of the ministry of the Bishop, who facilitates the candidacy process, the placing of pastors, who acts as pastor to the pastors. These are things that only the Synod can do. A lot of the other things in our budget are good things for a Synod to do, but are not exclusive to the Synod. Any of you can write checks to other agencies and institutions whose mission you support, but you can’t send a candidate to seminary without the Synod’s help. If you can be doing it on your own, why is Synod doing it for you?

The Income We Share

When you drop $1 in the plate, a portion of that stays local, a portion of that comes to Synod, and a portion of that goes to Chicago to support the greater ministry of the whole church. The Synod has asked that we receive just under $0.10 on that dollar, retaining $0.90 in the congregation. Of that $0.10 we used to send a little more than $0.05 to the greater church – that was when we sent 51.5%. Now we share just 33%, or a little more than $0.03 with the greater ELCA church.

Until the late 1990s, the synod set no proportional goal for congregational mission support. The median support from congregations at this time was between 8% and 9%. At one of the synod assemblies in the late 1990s, the assembly asked congregations to include the synod in their budgets at 15% (or $0.15 on the dollar). Due to increasing budgetary constraints in congregations, the Synod has walked that number back over time and most recently calculated 9.79%, or about $0.10 on the dollar, as being what we need for sustainability. Unfortunately, most congregations are not sustainable enough themselves to send the whole $0.10 on every dollar to the Synod. Our Synod itself could not sustain its level of giving to the ELCA and has cut it already. Additional cuts may be necessary, but we are already at a level where each additional cut will make a relatively small dent in our budget. If we were to try to balance our entire budget on the backs of the

Page 68 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

ELCA, we would need to cut their $0.03 to a measly $0.01 on the dollar, and even then, we would have less than 10 years before we began deficit spending again. This is not by itself a real solution to the problem…

Next I bet you are wondering, “What if there is no WV-WMD Synod?” This hasn’t happened before in the ELCA, so we can only speculate what might happen to a Synod once it reaches insolvency. This much I know: your congregation will continue to be a Lutheran congregation of the ELCA that preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christs and administers His sacraments.

Finally, I hope you are asking, “What can I do ahead of Synod Assembly?” The best answer I have is pray. Remain in prayer. Be at peace. Talk to your congregations. Come ready to face challenging decisions. Come ready to make cuts.

Joseph Solberg Synod Treasurer WV-WMD Synod 5.4.3.1. Mission Support Statistics 1987-2017

Bishop Riegel prepared this spreadsheet with graphs for the Mission Support Symposium held November 2018. The spreadsheet includes demographics and financial data in five year increments. If you find it difficult to read on this platform, you may download a copy by clicking here.

Page 69 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 70 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

6. Reports of Standing Committees 6.1. Report of the Nominating Committee (Part 1)

The Nominating Committee is charged, under Synod Bylaw B9.04, with presenting to the Synod Assembly two nominees for every position to be elected. There are a few exceptions to this bylaw, only one of which applies this year, that being the requirement, under Synod Constitution provision S9.05, to presented only one nominee for synod vice president.

The Nominating Committee, as in previous years, was not overwhelmed by an excess of recommendations for nomination for any of the positions through the thirty-day public input phase. Some of those commended to the committee declined. Some did not meet eligibility requirements. The Nominating Committee, as in the past, engaged in additional recruitment activity, leading to the production of this report, meeting the requirements for the number of nominees and exceeding them in the vice president category.

To review, eight are to be elected this assembly. We elect…

• Synod Vice President – Laity – Four Year Term • Synod Council Member – Clergy – Ohio-Kanawha Valley Conference – Three-year term • Synod Council Member – Clergy – Potomac Ohio Valley Conference – Three-year term • Synod Council Member – Clergy – Upper Ohio Valley Conference – Three-Year Term • Synod Council Member – Laity – Mon Valley-Mountain Conference – Three-Year Term • Synod Council Member – Laity – Potomac Conference – ThreeYear Term • Synod Council Member – Laity – Youth At Large – One-Year term • Synod Consultation Committee – Clergy – Six-Year term

A minimum eligibility standard for all elected positions is to be a voting member of a congregation of the synod.

The list of the nominees follows. The nominees are listed first according to the position for which they are nominated and then in alphabetical order of the last name. Each nominee’s congregational membership is included. Immediately after each nominee’s name and congregational membership, the response to the question, “Congregational responsibilities / education / training / employment that would be applicable or helpful,” is provided. In some cases the nominee answered this; in others, the individual recommending the nominee did.

Page 71 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Note well, nominations from the floor are allowed under the rules. When the Nominating Committee reports in assembly, the chair of the assembly will open the floor for additional nominations. The following bylaw applies:

B9.08 Members of the Synod Assembly who desire to make nominations from the floor shall have prepared beforehand and be ready to distribute copies of vita information sheets, similar to those provided earlier by the Nominating Committee for those nominees.

Should you wish to make a nomination from the floor, you may download the form found on the synod website (Nomination & Elections Page, under “Floor Nominations”), complete it, and make copies for distribution (130 should be sufficient), turning over the copies to the synod secretary at the time of nomination.

Mary Sanders, Chair 18 May 2019 6.1.1. Nominees (Report of Nominating Committee, Part 2)

Synod Vice President

Paul Wangerin of Trinity, Martinsburg WV (6023) Paul has served and currently serves on many church and congregational leadership teams, councils, and boards. He is a careful and thoughtful leader with a high level of responsibility. More importantly, Paul has a vision that helps lead within our synod. He has the experience and skills needed in the role of Vice President and is already serving well in that role.

Nancy Weeks of Grace, Wheeling WV (31157) Current VP/Interim President of congregation. Served on church council 6 separate 3-year terms since 1979. Serve as: worship leader, lector, leader in prayer, usher. Taught: Sunday school and confirmation. Co-chair for transition team to unite Edgewood Evangelical Lutheran Church with Zion Evangelical Church to form Zion. Employed 40 years in public education: first grade teacher -1 year, special education teacher – 10 years, school psychologist/ special education coordinator – 29 years. Volunteer as a WV 4-H leader – 45 years. Member of the Ohio County Development Authority – Highlands Development VP Ohio County Country Fair. Married to Bradley Weeks for 28 years. They have one son, daughter-in-law and two granddaughters.

Page 72 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Synod Council | Clergy | Ohio-Kanawha Valley Conference

Carl Ames of Christ the King, Huntington WV (13210) Pastor in this Synod- former member and Chair of Community Lutheran Partners, former member of Road to Renewal Team, member of Nominations Committee, Lutheran member of Partners in Careworks with WV National Guard and Challenge Academy, member of Barboursville Ministerial Association, interim pastor at St. Paul Huntington and Cross of Grace Hurricane-all previous activities in this Synod. In previous Synods member of Synod Outreach Committee and interim at a Finnish Lutheran Church. Member of Synod Council, member of Tri – Synodical Small Town and Rural Task Force. Chair of the Board of Lutheran Good Shepherd Nursing Home and County Food Bank. Mission Partner Coordinator, Board of Lutheran Social Services- Columbus, Chair of Synodical Veterans Task Force.

Emilie Theobald-Rowlands of Christ, Vienna WV (6618) Pastor of Christ Lutheran Church, Vienna (2012-present). Ordained Minister of Word and Sacrament. Serve as a Pastoral Adviser to the Vienna Sanctuary of Light House Board (an ecumenical ministry of Christ Lutheran Church and 12 other churches in the Mid Ohio Valley). Secretary, Board of Directors for Community Resources, Inc., Parkersburg WV (2018-present as Secretary, Board member since 2016). Chairperson of the Advisory Committee for Faithlink, Parkersburg WV (2019 as Chairperson, 2017- present Board Member) Member of Vienna Ministerial Association and Wood County Ministerial Alliance Synod Council Clergy Representative for Ohio Kanawha Valley Conference (2016-present, completing 1 term). Parliamentary Procedure Training on Roberts Rules of Order (3/28/19 – Parkersburg WV).

Synod Council | Clergy | Potomac Conference

Karen Erskine-Valentine of Saint Peter, Shepherdstown WV (6038) Karen is the pastor of Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish, where she has been serving for about 4 years now. Before that, she served Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Sharpsburg and St John Lutheran Church in Harper’s Ferry, so she has been serving congregations in the Potomac Conference for 13 years. Karen has served as Dean for the Eastern half of the Potomac conference. She is involved with our conference activities, involving most of our congregations, both laity and clergy. Karen’s parents live in WV and she has raised her children here. She knows what it is to be a part of the local community in WV and to serve in the WV-WMD Synod. Karen comes to any table of discussion with a wide perspective and a focus on grace. She is bold enough to speak her mind, but compassionate enough to know when to listen. She would serve our Synod and the Potomac Conference well on Synod Council.

Jason Felici of New Hope, Marlinton WV (10419) Pastor Jason serves as the Director of Camp Luther. He grew up in WV-WMD Synod and has served as co- pastor of the Mountain Lutheran Parish for almost seven years. He is a graduate of Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, the predecessor of our Synod’s affiliate seminary. He is practical and a gifted

Page 73 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

steward of finances. Pastor Jason prioritizes work within our Synod boundaries and has built important collegial relationships over the years. He would be an approachable and valued member of our Synod Council.

Synod Council | Clergy | Upper Ohio Valley Conference

Joel Richter of Christ, Wheeling WV (6612) Pastor Joel Richter has served at Christ Lutheran Church in Wheeling for the past 7 years. For most of time, Pastor Joel has been on the Community Lutheran Partners Board of Directors and is currently President of the Board. Since coming to the Synod, he has taken interest in ELCA World Hunger and currently works with our appeal. Further, Pastor Joel has deep passion for those affected by the Opioid Crisis helping with various ministries in Wheeling and the WV Council of Churches. He understands that people are suffering and need help. Further, Pastor Joel has found many ways to care for those in need and be in solidarity with the poor. One of his driving forces is asking the question, how are we living the Gospel in the world?

Bill Ridenhour of First English, Wheeling WV (6614) Riegel asked, so I said I was willing. Actually, I think I was “volun-told.” On Advent I 2018, I began the year of 23rd’s at First English. A 23rd Christmas Eve. A 23rd Ash Wednesday. A 23rd WV-WMd Synod Assembly (God help us, everyone). I mention my longevity simply to observe that I know something of what it is to slog through the muck and the mire of a downtown congregation in a small Appalachian city that has lost jobs and population in every decade since 1930. I am acquainted with the depression that comes with preaching resurrection Sunday after Sunday and seeing little to no evidence that there is any truth to that of which you speak. I suspect my description of Wheeling’s context is true for many of our communities. Doing church in this territory is hard work. Much to my once horrified surprise, 23 years in Appalachia has turned this former LCA kid comfortable with hierarchy into a proud Congregationalist. The work is done on the congregational level where the preaching is as pure as it can be, the sacraments are administered rightly, the faith is taught, the sick are visited, the dead are buried and all the people (preacher and laity) live out their Christian vocation in whatever form that may take. There is nuance to be considered here (as well the truth of how we are perceived by the wider church) but space does not permit it . . . Often, we are asked to do more for the Synod and we and the Synod are asked to do more for the ELCA. The primary work of “this church” is done in our congregations not in Fairmont or Chicago. I think the banner hanging above the Synod council table ought to read, “Is this agenda item helping our congregations increase the health of their discipleship?”

Synod Council | Laity | Mon Valley-Mountain Conference

Ellda Bennett of Saint Mark, Oakland MD (6627) Office manager at St. Marks-Oakland. Book-keeping/accountancy knowledge. Pleasant, cheerful, efficient, willing to speak her mind. Ellda asks questions and takes initiative willingly.

Page 74 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Debby Borrelli of Saint Paul, Morgantown WV (6640) Congregational Treasurer, Saint Paul Lutheran Church. Member of the Board of Directors, and Treasurer, Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. Long time participant, Women of the ELCA. Former Board Member, Community Lutheran Partners (CliP).Former Committee Member, LYO of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod.

Synod Council | Laity | Potomac Conference

William Hinkle of Saint Thomas, Charles Town WV (6026) I have served 8 years on St Thomas Council, two years as Treasurer, and six yeas as President. During an absence of a permanent Pastor, I sought the advise and council of our Interim Pastor, and then my wife and I taught our two Confirmation students. I assisted with the consultation effort at Salem Lutheran Church in Maryland and later attempted to assist that congregation until they chose to leave ELCA. I graduated High School in 1965 at Laramie, Wyoming. I earned a BS Degree in Mathematics (University of the State of New York, 1982) and an MS Degree in Computer Science (Hood College, 1991). I enlisted in the US Army in 1965 and served until 1986, retiring as a Chief Warrant Officer Three. My family and I attended and were members of Lutheran Congregations in Massachusetts; Virginia; Frankfurt, Germany; and Maryland. After more than 20 years with the US Army, I had a second career in the civilian work force, serving as a Requirements Engineer, Program Manager, Executive Director, and Vice President. When I retired from the Army, my family and I moved to Charles Town, WV in November 1986 and joined the congregation of Saint Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church, and my wife and I are still members (42 years). I was baptized and Confirmed at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Casper, Wyoming. I am now retired for a second time. We are involved and support, as we can, the activities of St Thomas and Pastor Diane Day and family.

Elizabeth Rini of Saint Peter, Shepherdstown WV (6038) Member St. Peters congregation council. Professionally: PhD in Nursing (RN), teach at Shepherd University.

Synod Council | Laity | Youth at Large

Agnese McAllister of Saint Thomas, Charles Town WV (6026) Confirmed Youth-thoughtful, asks hard questions. Baptismal Sponsor for best friend just this past year.

Abigail Spray of Saint Johannes, New Milton WV (6639) Member of my church council and chair of the evangelism committee.

Synod Consultation Committee | Clergy

Jacqueline Campbell of Saint Mark, Clarksburg WV (6632) Retired pastor. Served Church of the Covenant, a federated ELCA/PCUSA congregation. Before that,

Page 75 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

served in SW Penn Synod, the Hatfield Ferry (2-point) Lutheran Parish. Plenty of experience navigating potentially difficult congregational issues. MDIV in the Town and Country Church Institute, from Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. Incumbent, completing a 1-yr vacancy election to Consultation Committee. Has been diligent in that service.

Jess Felici of Calvary, Brandywine WV (16003) Jess is the co-pastor of the Mountain Lutheran Parish, and currently serves on the Synod’s Candidacy Committee. She graduated from the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg in 2012. Jess would be a valued member of this committee, and would be a level-headed voice when congregations are in conflict. She works well with others and is extremely organized. 6.2. Report of Reference and Counsel

The following resolutions have been submitted as of 29 May 2019:

• The Definition of Voting Members • Regarding the Affordability of Synod Assembly • To Memorialize on Engagement in the Holy Land

6.2.1. Resolution – The Definition of Voting Members

WHEREAS, Luther states in the preface of the Small Catechism, “…Whoever does not seek or desire the Sacrament at least some four times a year, it is to be feared that he despises the Sacrament and is no Christian, just as he is no Christian who does not believe or hear the Gospel…;” and

WHEREAS, Model Constitution for Congregations C8.02.c. states, “Voting members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members, during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation;” and

WHEREAS, Model Constitution for Congregations C8.02.c. by not specifying the reception of the Sacrament more than one time a year allows for those who, according to Luther’s Small Catechism, may be feared to despise the Sacrament and not be a Christian; and

WHEREAS, this lax provision has allowed for the hijacking of important votes in small congregations by gathering in people for the vote who remain on the roles but are loosely connected to the congregation; and

WHEREAS, voting members, to have the ability to thoughtfully navigate the ministry of the congregation,

Page 76 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

need to be sufficiently invested in the congregation so that they receive the Sacrament and hear God’s word regularly; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod memorialize the Churchwide Assembly to amend by substitution Model Constitution for Congregations C8.02.c. which reads:

• “Voting members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members, during the current or preceding calendar year, shall have communed in this congregation and shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation,” to read:

• “Voting members are confirmed members. Such confirmed members, during the 365 days prior to and inclusive of a properly called congregational meeting, regular or special, shall have communed at least four times in this congregation and shall have made a contribution of record to this congregation.”

Respectfully submitted: Rev Christine Olson Trinity, Martinsburg, WV 6.2.2. Resolution – Regarding the Affordability of Synod Assembly

WHEREAS, Synod Assembly is a part of the church’s work; and

WHEREAS, Synod Assembly is a constitutional obligation of congregation to send voting members and their rostered leaders to the assembly; and

WHEREAS, the cost of Synod Assembly drastically effects the bottom line for congregations to do other ministries in their community; and

WHEREAS, the cost of Synod Assembly should not deter congregations from participating in the wider church; therefore be it

RESOLVED, that the WV-WMD Synod take action to ensure that Synod Assembly is at the lowest price point possible; and be it furthered

RESOLVED, that congregations continue to make their own hotel arrangements for voting members and rostered leaders; and be it furthered

Page 77 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

RESOLVED, that the Synod Office continues to contact hotels from three-four different price points and block off a number of rooms at each place; and be it furthered

RESOLVED, that the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod seek venues that allow for flexible prices and cheaper meals so that, the overall price will remain low; and be it furthered

RESOLVED, that the Synod Council continue to explore what is necessary for a venue for synod assembly; and be it furthered

RESOLVED that the Synod Council should consider forming a Synod Assembly Planning Committee that would handle logistics for the Assembly. Membership of this committee can and should be limited to the area where the Synod Assembly is hosted, and would need to be in contact with the Synod Office to ensure all the needs of the Assembly are met; and finally

Let it be known that the 2019 Synod Assembly wishes to enthusiastically thank Bishop Riegel, the Synod Council, and the local Planning Committee for this year’s Synod Assembly for all their work to find an affordable venue and decreasing expenses.

Respectfully submitted,

The Rev. Matthew A. Day Pastor at St. John’s Lutheran Church – Martinsburg, WV

The Rev. Diane L. Day Pastor at Saint Thomas Evangelical Lutheran Church – Charles Town, WV 6.2.3. Resolution – To Memorialize on Engagement in the Holy Land

Whereas, The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) is committed to continuing its awareness- building, accompaniment, and advocacy on behalf of a peaceful and just resolution of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and on behalf of ending the occupation; and

Whereas, The ELCA in its three expressions continues to pray for and accompany the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (“ELCJHL”); and

Whereas, The ELCA’s 2013 Glocal Mission Gathering document “Accompaniment” states. “…we are called to love and be loved by those who are not like us, whom we might have to work quite hard to understand, or who may not understand us at all. God’s reconciliation is across borders and boundaries.”; and

Page 78 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Whereas, The ELCA’s 2013 Glocal Mission Gathering document “Accompaniment” further states, “God calls us to include everyone in the mission of reconciliation…In accompanying one another, we look to see who is excluded, and why, and commit to change community structures and habits that can exclude people without any deliberate intention.” As a result accompaniment of our companion churches should not mean otherwise excluding people outside of the church; therefore, be it,

Resolved, That the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod Assembly memorialize the 2019 Churchwide Assembly to encourage this church’s members, congregations, synods, churchwide office including the Office of the Presiding Bishop to expand our relationships and dialogue beyond accompaniment with companion churches to engagement with those non-church groups and individuals in the Holy Land, whose perspective we may not yet understand, including mainstream Jewish Israelis “to undo the boundary of strangeness or suspicion between us” while at the same time continuing to affirm our unique relationship with and accompaniment of Palestinian Christians and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and the Holy Land (ELCJHL).

Submitted, The Rev. Michael Wright Aurora-Redhouse Parish

Page 79 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

7. Reports of Special Committees 7.1. Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws to the Synod Assembly 2019 1 May 2019

Having been charged by Synod Council to review the bylaws of the synod and report to the 2019 Synod Assembly any recommendations, the following is set before the assembly for its consideration and action.

Submitted, Jason Felici Sally Bartling Matthew Riegel

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #1

To amend B7.02, which reads,

B7.02. The secretary of the synod shall prepare in advance of any assembly the roster of the synod, delivering a copy thereof to the Committee on Registration and Attendance. The secretary shall list as voting members those persons whose credentials have been sent by the congregations. The official roster of registered delegates shall be closed at the end of the second business session. by striking out the final sentence so that it shall read,

B7.02. The secretary of the synod shall prepare in advance of any assembly the roster of the synod, delivering a copy thereof to the Committee on Registration and Attendance. The secretary shall list as voting members those persons whose credentials have been sent by the congregations.

Rationale: A rationale for the concluding sentence did not present itself to the committee members. The term, “session,” appears to be incorrect, reflecting colloquial usage. It would seem that the technical term, “meeting,” is intended. When exactly the second meeting would be might change from assembly to assembly. Even so, no benefit for such a limitation is obvious. If a special meeting of the Synod Assembly were called or were the Synod Assembly to adjourn to a date in the future, this provision would preclude additional registrants. The provision also seems to conflict with B7.07, which relates to the seating of alternate voting members.

Page 80 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #2

To strike out B7.04, which reads,

B7.04. Every conference shall have the right to memorialize the assembly of this synod on any subject affecting the welfare of the church.

Rationale: None of our conferences, at this point, are constituted as deliberative assemblies. Our conferences would have the right to do so, as provided for in B12.03. Until a conference chooses to exercise the prerogative, none of the conferences have standing under parliamentary law. Elimination of the provision avoids potential confusion, and should a conference organize as a deliberative assembly, seeking standing, an appropriate bylaw could be created at that time.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #3

To amend B7.05, which reads,

B7.05. Every congregation shall have the right to petition the assembly of this synod on subjects affecting its own welfare and legitimate interests. by striking out the word, “petition,” and inserting the word, “memorialize,” so that it shall read,

B7.05. Every congregation shall have the right to memorialize the assembly of this synod on subjects affecting its own welfare and legitimate interests.

Rationale: While “memorialize” is a more esoteric term, it is the one commonly used in the ELCA. It is to be preferred over the term, “petition,” which is open to misinterpretion.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #4

To strike out B7.09, which reads,

B7.09. Each voting member, or those persons accorded the privilege of seat and voice, when recognized by the chair, shall state his or her name, congregation or the institution or group he or she represents. Persons speaking from the floor shall use the floor microphones (if they are provided) and shall address and speak to the chair. Speeches by an individual voting member, or a person with the privilege of voice, shall be limited to five minutes on each assembly issue. Speakers may speak a second time on the same issue, but only after all others desiring to speak have been given opportunity to do so. Those speaking a second time shall be limited to three minutes of rebuttal.

Rationale: The parliamentary authority, Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised, allows for the setting of speaker limits. The committee is of the opinion that each Synod Assembly should be free to set speaker limits as it sees fit and free to amend them while the assembly is in session. A bylaw militates against such

Page 81 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

freedom. The committee expects that this rule (or something similar to it) will be proposed as a special rule of order for each assembly.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #5

To amend B7.10, which reads,

B7.10. All motions, resolutions, amendments, and nominations shall be submitted in writing and on proper forms available from the secretary of synod or the assembly pages. by adding, “This provision may be waived by the secretary,” so that it shall read,

B7.10. All motions, resolutions, amendments, and nominations shall be submitted in writing and on proper forms available from the secretary of synod or the assembly pages. This provision may be waived by the secretary.

Rationale: Some motions etc. are so simple that requiring submission in writing will only slow business. It is, nevertheless, critical that the secretary hear and record the motion. If the secretary is confident that the motion has been properly heard and recorded, the secretary should be free to waive the requirement. On the other hand, the secretary should be free to enforce it as well. Since this provision is entirely about what the secretary needs, the chair should not be able to waive it.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #6

To strike out B7.11, which reads,

B7.11. Except for items introduced by the Committees on Reference and Counsel or items previously tabled, items of business which are not on the agenda may be introduced on the last day of the assembly only by a two-thirds vote.

Rationale: This provision appears to be a hold-over from three-day assemblies. The committee is of the opinion that it is unnecessary if not unhelpful. Matters that are not germane to the pending question or report, per B7.16, must be submitted (prior to introduction on the floor) to Reference & Counsel. Reference & Counsel has the prerogative of recommending that a matter not be addressed by the assembly. Furthermore, Reference & Counsel is free to set its own deadline, and one should assume that Reference & Counsel will not convene late in the assembly (unless specifically ordered to do so by the assembly). If the matter is germane, the assembly has the right dispense with it as the assembly sees fit. This might mean that the assembly will hear it. The assembly might refer it to Synod Council if the assembly is of the opinion that it cannot reasonable consider it in the time afforded. Nothing, however, prevents the assembly from refusing to hear it through the objection to consideration of the question motion.

Page 82 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #7

To amend B7.14, which reads,

B7.14. The secretary shall post on the synod web site the bulletin of reports to all pastors and voting members-elect at least ten days before each regular Synod Assembly. by striking out, “to all pastors and voting members-elect,” so that it shall read,

B7.14. The secretary shall post on the synod web site the bulletin of reports at least ten days before each regular Synod Assembly.

Rationale: The prepositional phrase that is proposed for striking is an artifact from the days when the Pre- Assembly Bulletin of Reports was distributed through snail mail. One cannot post on the website to people; one simply posts on the website. It is the practice of the synod to send email notice of posting to all pre- registered synod assembly attendees. Notice is also sent via the Road Show and posted on Facebook. The web site posting, however, should be considered the official posting.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #8

To amend B9.05, which reads,

B9.05. A slate of nominees and their vita sheets will be shared in the pre-assembly web site based materials. These will be available at least ten days prior to the assembly. by substitution so that it shall read,

B9.05. The report of the Nominating Committee, which shall include the names of the committee’s nominees with, at minimum, congregational membership and exposition, shall be published on the synod web site at least ten days prior to the assembly.

Rationale: The use of the term, “slate,” is problematic and to be avoided as, in some organizations, a “slate” means a list of nominees, one per position, and, in others, a preprinted ballot without nominations from floor (or even a combination of both). The term, “vita,” sheet has never been formally defined. The proposed wording makes it clear that we are talking about the report of the nominating committee, and, while giving minimal parameters, leaves it in the hands of Nominating Committee to construct its report as it thinks most appropriate for any given assembly.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #9

To add, “Nominators may provide copies of the completed nomination form (as defined by the nominating committee) to the secretary of the synod for distribution,” to B9.08, the bylaw currently reading,

B9.07. In all elections by the Synod Assembly, other than for the Bishop, additional nominations

Page 83 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

may be made from the floor. so that it shall read,

B9.07. In all elections by the Synod Assembly, other than for the Bishop, additional nominations may be made from the floor. Nominators may provide copies of the completed nomination form (as defined by the nominating committee) to the secretary of the synod for distribution. and to strike out B9.08, which reads,

B9.08 Members of the Synod Assembly who desire to make nominations from the floor shall have prepared beforehand and be ready to distribute copies of vita information sheets, similar to those provided earlier by the Nominating Committee for those nominees.

Rationale: In fact, we have not followed B9.08 since, at least, 1994. The proposed conflation and amendment of these two provisions seeks to provide greater flexibility (the nominator does not have to provide nominations forms for the assembly and the assembly is free to regard the failure to do so as it sees fit) while at the same time standardizing the form of any written information that is provided.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #10

To amend B10.01, which reads,

B10.01. The Synod Council shall consist of the four officers of the synod, four pastors, six lay members, and as many designated youth and young adult members as are needed to meet the requirements of †S.10.01 and ELCA Constitution 5.01(g). (a) Four pastors shall be elected, one from each of the four conferences. (b) Six lay members shall be elected, one from each of the four conferences and two members at large. As far as possible, 50% of the lay members shall be male and 50% shall be female. © The youth members shall be elected at large. Each youth member shall not have reached the age of 18 at the time of election. (d) The young adult members shall be elected at large. Each young adult member shall be between (and inclusive of) the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election. (e) When composition of the Synod Council, following any regular Synod Assembly, does not meet the requirements of †S.10.01, the Synod Council shall create and appoint such other seats as are necessary to comply.

1) by striking out “as many designated” and insert “one” in the main paragraph, 2) by inserting “member” after “youth” in the main paragraph, 3) by inserting “one” before “young” in the main paragraph, 4) by striking out “members” and adding “member” after “adult” in the main paragraph, 5) by striking out “as are needed to meet the requirements of †S10.01 and ELCA Constitution5.01(g), from the main paragraph, 6) by striking our “members” and adding “member” in subparagraph ©,

Page 84 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

7) by striking out “each” and adding “the” in subparagraph ©, 8) by striking our “members” and adding “member” in subparagraph (d), 9) by striking out “each” and adding “the” in subparagraph (d), and 10) by striking out subparagraph (e), so that the bylaw shall read,

B10.01. The Synod Council shall consist of the four officers of the synod, four pastors, six lay members, and one youth member and one young adult. (a) Four pastors shall be elected, one from each of the four conferences. (b) Six lay members shall be elected, one from each of the four conferences and two members at large. As far as possible, 50% of the lay members shall be male and 50% shall be female. © The youth member shall be elected at large. The youth member shall not have reached the age of 18 at the time of election. (d) The young adult member shall be elected at large. The young adult member shall be between (and inclusive of) the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election. and to amend B10.02, which reads,

B10.02. Terms of office: (a) Four pastors and six lay members shall be elected for a three-year term, and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms. (b) Each youth member shall be elected to a one-year term.

1) by striking out “and” in subparagraph (a), 2) by inserting “and the young adult member” after “members” in subparagraph (a), and 3) by striking out “each” and adding “the” in subparagraph (b), so that it shall read,

B10.02. Terms of office: (a) Four pastors, six lay members, and the young adult member shall be elected for a three-year term and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms. (b) The youth member shall be elected to a one-year term.

Rationale: This rather complex compound motion attempts to meet the requirements of both †S.10.01 and ELCA Constitution 5.01(g) without increasing the size of Synod Council. It was noted by the committee that B10.01(e) is of dubious constitutionality in light of †S.10.01. If adopted, these changes will mean that there will be one young adult seat on Synod Council and one youth seat on Synod Council. In light of this change, verbiage requires cleaning.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #11

To strike out B10.08, which reads,

B10.08. From within its membership, and also including other members of the synod as it

Page 85 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

desires, the Synod Council shall appoint a Property Committee.

Rationale: The synod doesn’t need a standing committee for property. Synod Council can create an ad hoc committees to deal with specific issues as they arise.

Bylaws Committee Recommendation #12

To amend B12.01, which reads,

B12.01. There shall be four conferences designated as follows:

A. Monongahela Valley – Mountain Conference (17 congregations)

1. Bittinger MD, Emmanuel 2. Jennings MD, Zion 3. Swanton MD, St. John’s (Meadow Mountain) 4. Clarksburg WV, St. Mark 5. Davis WV, St. John 6. Elkins WV, Holy Trinity 7. Fairmont WV, Grace 8. Grafton WV, Church of the Covenant 9. McHenry MD, Shepherd of the Hills 10. Morgantown WV, St. Paul 11. New Milton WV, St. Johannes 12. Oakland MD, St. Mark’s

Accident Parish (the following three congregations)

13. Accident MD, St. Paul’s 14. Accident MD, St. John’s (Cove) 15. Friendsville MD, Grace

Aurora-Red House Parish (the following two congregations)

16. Aurora WV, St. Paul 17. Red House MD, St. John’s

B. Ohio – Kanawha Valley Conference (12 congregations)

1. Beckley WV, St. Luke 2. Charleston WV, St. Paul 3. Huntington WV, Christ the King

Page 86 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

4. Huntington WV, St. Paul 5. Hurricane, WV, Cross of Grace 6. Letart WV, St Mark (Upper Flats) 7. New Haven WV, St. Paul 8. Point Pleasant WV, St. Peter 9. Ravenswood WV, Our Saviour 10. Parkersburg WV, First 11. Vienna WV, Christ

C. Potomac Conference (22 Congregations)

1. Martinsburg WV, St. John 2. Martinsburg WV, Trinity 3. Charles Town WV, St Thomas 4. Harpers Ferry WV, St John 5. Sharpsburg MD, Holy Trinity Memorial Evangelical 6. Bakersville MD, Salem Evangelical 7. Petersburg WV, Grace 8. Baker WV, Zion 9. Moorefield WV, Mt. Olive (Peru)

Capon-North River Parish (the following four congregations)

10. Gore VA, Fairview 11. Rio WV, Ebenezer 12. Wardensville WV, St. Peter 13. Yellow Spring WV, Hebron

Mountain Lutheran Parish (the following five congregations)

14. Franklin WV, Faith 15. Minnehaha Springs WV, New Hope 16. Moyers WV, St. John 17. Upper Tract WV, Mt. Hope 18. Brandywine WV, Calvary

Keyser-Westernport Shared Ministry (the following two congregations)

19. Keyser WV, Trinity 20. Westernport MD, Mt. Calvary

Page 87 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish (the following two congregations)

21. Shepherdstown WV, St. Peter 22. Uvilla WV, St. James

D. Upper Ohio Valley Conference (12 Congregations – 10 Pastorates)

1. Wheeling WV, First English 2. Wheeling WV, Christ (Mozart) 3. Wheeling WV, Grace 4. Wheeling WV, St. James 5. Wheeling WV, St. Mark (Elm Grove) 6. Weirton WV, Trinity

St. Matthew-Trinity Shared Ministry (the following two congregations)

7. Wheeling WV, St. Matthew (Benwood) 8. Wheeling WV, Trinity

Moundsville – New Martinsville Shared Ministry (the following two congregations)

9. Moundsville WV, Messiah 10. New Martinsville WV, Good Shepherd

1) by striking out all references to multiple-point parishes, co-ops, and shared ministries, and 2) by striking out all parenthetical information accompanying the names of conferences, 3) by striking out “Bakersville MD, Salem Evangelical,” and 4) by renumbering, so that it shall read,

B12.01. There shall be four conferences designated as follows: (a). Monongahela Valley – Mountain Conference 1. Bittinger MD, Emmanuel 2. Jennings MD, Zion 3. Swanton MD, St. John’s (Meadow Mountain) 4. Clarksburg WV, St. Mark 5. Davis WV, St. John 6. Elkins WV, Holy Trinity 7. Fairmont WV, Grace 8. Grafton WV, Church of the Covenant 9. McHenry MD, Shepherd of the Hills 10. Morgantown WV, St. Paul 11. New Milton WV, St. Johannes 12. Oakland MD, St. Mark’s

Page 88 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

13. Accident MD, St. Paul’s 14. Accident MD, St. John’s (Cove) 15. Friendsville MD, Grace 16. Aurora WV, St. Paul 17. Red House MD, St. John’s (b). Ohio – Kanawha Valley Conference 1. Beckley WV, St. Luke 2. Charleston WV, St. Paul 3. Huntington WV, Christ the King 4. Huntington WV, St. Paul 5. Hurricane, WV, Cross of Grace 6. Letart WV, St Mark (Upper Flats) 7. New Haven WV, St. Paul 8. Point Pleasant WV, St. Peter 9. Ravenswood WV, Our Saviour 10. Parkersburg WV, First 11. Vienna WV, Christ ©. Potomac Conference 1. Martinsburg WV, St. John 2. Martinsburg WV, Trinity 3. Charles Town WV, St Thomas 4. Harpers Ferry WV, St John 5. Sharpsburg MD, Holy Trinity Memorial Evangelical 6. Petersburg WV, Grace 7. Baker WV, Zion 8. Moorefield WV, Mt. Olive (Peru) 9. Gore VA, Fairview 10. Rio WV, Ebenezer 11. Wardensville WV, St. Peter 12. Yellow Spring WV, Hebron 13. Franklin WV, Faith 14. Minnehaha Springs WV, New Hope 15. Moyers WV, St. John 16. Upper Tract WV, Mt. Hope 17. Brandywine WV, Calvary 18. Keyser WV, Trinity 19. Westernport MD, Mt. Calvary 20. Shepherdstown WV, St. Peter 21. Uvilla WV, St. James (d). Upper Ohio Valley Conference 1. Wheeling WV, First English 2. Wheeling WV, Christ (Mozart) 3. Wheeling WV, Grace (Bethlehem) 4. Wheeling WV, St. James 5. Wheeling WV, St. Mark (Elm Grove)

Page 89 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

6. Weirton WV, Trinity 7. Wheeling WV, St. Matthew (Benwood) 8. Wheeling WV, Trinity 9. Moundsville WV, Messiah 10. New Martinsville WV, Good Shepherd

Rationale: First, Salem Ev. Lutheran Church, Bakersville, MD, is no longer a congregation of the synod. Second, the Synod Assembly has no authority over multiple-point parish, co-op, shared ministry, etc. arrangements. Listing them in the bylaws misrepresents the authority of the Synod Assembly. Third, this section has contained extraneous information that is simply not needed, beyond the Synod Assembly’s authority, or, in some cases, changes too rapidly to be appropriate for a bylaw. 7.2. Ad Hoc Committee on ULS

The 2018 Synod Assembly adopted “A Resolution of Concern Regarding United Lutheran Seminary” (SA18.6.3), the critical operative paragraphs, for the purposes of this ad hoc committee, being,

And therefore be it resolved, that the 2018 Synod Assembly of the West Virginia—Western Maryland Synod calls upon our representative on the Seminary Board of Directors, to convey our concerns to the Seminary Board of Directors and regularly report back to the Synod Council over the next year as to how the Seminary is proceeding to respond to our concerns; specifically concerning, but not limited to, the vital ministry of the Town and Country Church Institute as it relates to our rural Appalachian context.

And therefore be it resolved, that the 2019 Synod Assembly of the West Virginia—Western Maryland Synod make a place on the agenda for a more in-depth reporting of the welfare of the Seminary, apart from the normal “report” and “representation” that the Seminary usually provides, and deliberation upon the future relationship between the West Virginia—Western Maryland Synod and United Lutheran Seminary.

Synod Council picked up the matter at August 2018 meeting, taking the following action:

Council approved by general consent to authorize the appointment of a committee to address the ULS resolution from SA 2018. The committee will be comprised of all current and former Gettysburg Seminary Board members including Bishop Riegel, Paul Wangerin, Rev. Ralph Dunkin, Rev. Sean Smith, and Rev. Bill Ridenhour.(SA18.8.7)

United Lutheran Seminary (ULS) was proactive in approaching the synod with an eye to a face-to-face meeting with clergy, asking to do so in conjunction with the Winter Synod Clergy Continuing Ed Event. Given the packed schedule of that event, the Synod Clergy Continuing Ed Committee refused the request.

Page 90 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

The ad hoc committee, in addition to email correspondence, met face-to-face in Morgantown on 9 January 2019. At that time, the committee outlined concerns and questions, made plans to invite representatives from ULS to meet on the synod’s territory. Two members of the Bisynodical Candidacy Committee (Tamara Riegel, chair of the Bisynodical Candidacy Committee, and The Rev. Jess Felici, synod member on the committee) and The Rev. Jason Felici, the most recent member of the Lutheran Theological Seminary Gettysburg Alumni Council from WV-WMD, were invited to join the committee in its meeting with ULS representatives as supernumeraries. ULS had already indicated that President Green and The Rev. Dr. Martin Zimmann, Director of Congregational Relations, would meet with the ad hoc committee. The ad hoc committee indicated that it wanted the ULS Board chair to attend as well, and, barring that, some other member of the ULS Board.

On 22 February 2019, M.Riegel, Ridenhour, Smith, Wangerin, T.Riegel, and Jessica Felici met at Grace Lutheran Church, Friendsville, MD, with President Green, Dr. Zimmann, and The Rev. Craig Miller, ULS Board member. The conversation was candid.

Email communication continued between committee members and the supernumeraries.

A plan was developed for the presentation at Synod Assembly, in which a member of the ad hoc committee would question the representatives of ULS, the questions being provided in advance. The list of questions was drawn up by ad hoc committee members and transmitted to ULS on 20 May 2019. The bishop prepared the assembly program such that the ULS presentation would occur outside of session, in a forty-five minute time slot immediately prior to Saturday’s lunch, as an open hearing of the ad hoc committee.

Submitted, Matthew L. Riegel

Page 91 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

8. Reports from Auxiliaries 8.1. West Virginia-Western Maryland Women of the ELCA

Mission Statement: As a community of women created in the image of God, called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.

Our ladies met August 10-11, 2018 at Bishop Hodges Catholic Pastoral Center in Huttonsville, WV for our annual convention. Priscilla Horner coordinated our 31st convention using the theme, “Here I Am; Send Me – Called to Serve”. The Churchwide representative was Angela Bell from Bellville, Texas. Bishop Matthew Riegel reported from the Synod and led one of the Bible Studies. Pastor Tony Setley gave a report on WVU Campus Ministry; Pastor Ian Reid talked about his trip to our sister synod in Madagascar. Pastor Diane Day led our Eucharist and worship service.

Each unit continues to work on their outreach ministries. Clusters continue to hold spring and fall events.

Our goals for this year are:

Goal 1: We encourage all women to lift up in prayer ALL of God’s creation as we deal with the issues of diversity, violence especially in the home, and all who are in crisis. Goal 2: We will involve more women in the ministries of WELCA. Goal 3: We will continue to support Community Lutheran Partners, Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU, Lutheran World Relief, and our sisters in Madagascar.

We will also continue to pray our prayer for all of our Christian sisters this year.

Oh, Lord, hear our prayer. Come close to us so we can feel your presence. You are a gracious and a loving God. Help us and our sisters and brothers deal with the diversity in our communities. Oh, Lord, our

Page 92 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

differences are many. Help us see you in our neighbors. And help them see you in us. Help us turn away from violence and learn to honor you together as peacemakers. May we learn to share your love with each other and truly forgive when occurrences are out of control around us. We need your comfort and peace. We need you Lord. Please help us make our communities safe. You are awesome and we praise you. You are a blessing to us. We pray this in your Son’s name, Jesus Christ, Our Lord. Amen

Our women continue to keep in contact with our synodical newsletter, Lutheran Lines, which is published twice a year and is available (free) by mail or email. We encourage and support one another in ministry, share ideas for activities and resources, share happenings in our units, and share our joys and sorrow. We are Christian women working together as God’s hands.

Officers: President: Beverly McDonald Vice President: Priscilla Horner Treasurer: Denise Porter Secretary: Barbie Chewning

Board of Directors: Ellen Bragg Jane Hazer Christine Johnson Gail Kohlhorst Kay Rowan Vicki Tomich Jonalee Young

Cluster Coordinators: Monongahela Valley Mountain: Denise Porter Ohio-Kanawha Valley: Lois Broyles Potomac: Priscilla Horner Upper Ohio Valley: Karen Yoders

Lutheran Lines Gail Kohlhorst

Respectfully submitted, Beverly McDonald, President West Virginia-Western Maryland Women of the ELCA

Page 93 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

9. Reports from the ELCA

Page 94 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

9.1. Message from Bishop Eaton

Page 95 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 96 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

9.2. ELCA Annnual Report 2018

Page 97 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 98 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 99 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 100 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 101 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 102 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 103 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 104 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 105 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 106 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 107 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 108 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 109 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 110 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 111 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 112 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 113 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 114 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 115 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 116 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 117 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 118 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 119 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 120 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 121 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 122 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 123 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

9.3. ELCA Foundation Regional Gift Planning Partnership

Thank you to our synod, the regional Lutheran ministries, congregations, and donors I have been blessed to work with over this past year. I am consistently humbled and honored to see generosity take action through the services of the ELCA Foundation.

In 2018, the charitable estate planning efforts in our region created over $4.4 million in gift plans. Just over $1 million in gift plans are being directed to local congregations while over $2 million in gift plans are being directed to the many ELCA charities in our region and beyond.

2019 marks the fourth year of the partnership. I am hopeful that this year, we will be able to exceed $10 million in total planned gift expectancies. All of this is being accomplished through a two-pronged approach and objectives:

1. Prepare congregations to receive and properly steward special and legacy gifts 2. Assist church members in making those gifts

I have had the privilege to work with 26 congregations to create a comprehensive gift acceptance policy which serves as a guide for receiving and using generous donations. I have also been able to help 16 congregations create or update their mission endowment fund bylaws or long-term investment policies.

These two documents provide a future-focused Ministry Funding Plan designed to give each congregation the opportunity to confidently engage in a planned giving stewardship effort. From there members are encouraged to consider their legacy and work with me create a plan that fulfills their desires for their loved ones and the charities that mean the most to them.

BEGIN NOW!

Pastors and council/committee members – contact Ryan Ebner now to begin a conversation to see how charitable planned giving can benefit your congregation and your members. Call 814.823.3285 or send a message to [email protected]

Respectfully Submitted, Ryan Ebner Regional Gift Planner, ELCA Foundation

In Partnership with: NWPA Synod, SWPA Synod, WV/W MD Synod Lutheran Senior Life, Lutheran University Center, Pittsburgh,

Page 124 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Camp Luther, Camp Agape, Lutherlyn, WVU Lutheran Campus Ministry Community Lutheran Partners, Bethesda Lutheran Services, United Lutheran Seminary 9.4. Candidacy and Leadership Manager for ELCA Regions 7 and 8

“Called to Lead” 2019 Report to Synod Assemblies

Paul Baglyos, ELCA Candidacy and Leadership Manager for Regions 7 & 8

“Called to Lead” is the title of a new discernment guide regarding ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Baptism includes a call from God to share the ministry of Jesus Christ in the world, and some baptized people discern a call from God to the particular ministries of pastors and deacons in the church. “Called to Lead” is intended to help people figure out whether God is calling them to become pastors or deacons.

Trying to figure that out involves paying attention to the suggestions, encouragements and nudges we might receive from the people around us. Has anyone ever suggested that you might become a pastor or a deacon? Has anyone ever encouraged you to consider that possibility? Has anyone ever nudged you to take some steps in that direction? Perhaps the suggestions, encouragements and nudges have occurred as internal stirrings, leading you to wonder about becoming a pastor or deacon or to imagine yourself serving in those particular ministry roles. In any case, “Called to Lead” can help you to decide whether and how to act upon those suggestions, encouragements and nudges.

“Called to Lead” can also help you to give other people the suggestions, encouragements and nudges they might need to figure out whether God is calling them to become pastors or deacons. Do you know anyone you believe would serve well as a pastor or a deacon? Do you know anyone you perceive to be well suited to those particular ministry roles? If so, “Called to Lead” is a resource you can recommend to that person.

“Called to Lead” is available on the ELCA website as a downloadable resource. Click “Resources” on the ELCA homepage, then click “Candidacy on the menu of photo icons. A Spanish translation of “Called to Lead” will soon be available as well.

I am pleased to recommend “Called to Lead” to your use in discernment, as I am pleased also to work with your synod’s candidacy leaders and candidacy committees in our churchwide work of guiding the people God has called to become pastors and deacons in the ELCA.

Page 125 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10. Reports from Affiliates 10.1. Centurion Connection

Centurion Connection-Care for Military Members, Veterans and Their Families

The congregational Liaison Working Group is continuing to grow a connection for all 65 synods and nearly 10,000 ELCA congregations with an effort called Centurion Connection. In each synod is one or more volunteer representatives, often a retired Federal Chaplain, who are resources for the congregations and the Synod Bishop Staff for active member and veteran support.

Programs like the VA Rural Clergy Outreach Program, intentional outreach by ELCA congregations near military bases, contacts with local VA medical centers all signal the creative and caring ministry among our neighbors. Right now, twenty-eight synods have a Centurion Contact (Mark 15:39, Matthew 8:8, Acts 10:1-8) who is a communicator and link to support the bishop, pastors, and congregations interested in military and veterans’ ministries. Of course, the website, https://elcachaps.com/ gives great examples and ideas for such ministries. Retired Air Force Chaplain Paul Cannon and Retired Air Force Line Officer Laura Olsen are working this effort. More synods are being added as Bishops sign up for this addition to ministry in their areas. A list of the twenty-eight synods and representatives with contact information is on the website.

Centurion Contact: the identified contact persons within each synod who fosters connections between Lutheran veteran/military personnel/families with congregations, synods, and ELCA churchwide colleagues, agencies and institutions. Encourages prayer, networking and fosters support by highlighting and advancing creative ministries taking place within the synod. Key Emphases:

1. Fosters support for the ELCA Prayer Book for Armed Services. 2. Highlights the ELCA Federal Chaplaincy Ministries Scholarship Fund for Leaders Endowment. 3. Directs synod members to the “ https://elcachaps.com/ ” web site 4. Links, as available, with other outreach initiatives, such as the Veterans Administration Rural Clergy Outreach Training project or the VA chaplains Veterans Clergy Outreach Initiative.

In our Synod at the Assembly last year we focused on Federal Chaplaincies which includes the work of Centurion Connection. We advocate for veterans and active duty military and their families and inform congregations of their needs and important events. If you have questions or concerns about any military or veteran issues, please contact one of our Centurion Connection representatives below.

Page 126 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Pr. Carl Ames ( [email protected] ) ; Pr. Richard Egtvedt, ( [email protected] ) Pr. John Unger ( [email protected] ); Pr. Ron Kreiensieck, ( [email protected] ) 10.2. Camp Luther

10.2.1. Camp Luther Report

Camp Luther 2018 – Synod Assembly Report

Camp Luther 2018 was held on June 17-23 at Camp Caesar in Cowen, WV. This was our 73rd year and we met under the theme “This Changes Everything.” We were blessed to welcome 280 campers and 88 staff members for our week of camp.

The financial report for 2018 follows the written report. This year, due to rising costs associated with operating camp, we made the difficult choice to increase the cost of camp for the first time in 5 years. All applications and payments received by May 1 were charged $215, and all applications received after this date were $230. Once again, all campers received a Camp Luther T-Shirt with their registration. This year we have one leadership change after the resignation of Functional Staff Dean David Alfred. We are excited to have Rick Crummitt (First English, Wheeling) serving in this position beginning in 2019. Camp Luther continues to be blessed by its all-volunteer leadership and staff, and all of them go above and beyond to plan a great week for the campers.

This year we had five exchange campers, four from the sister congregation of First, Parkersburg located in Vaanta, Finland and an exchange student from Italy. In addition, the Finnish congregation sent an adult who served on camp staff in Senior Program. These campers brought so much to our group, and we were blessed to meet them and share a week with them. Many of our stateside campers have kept in touch with

Page 127 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

these international friends throughout the year.

I always enjoy seeing campers around the synod and at other events outside of camp. It is humbling to hear how much a week at Camp Luther makes a difference in their faith and their year. These conversations and messages keep me hopeful for the current life and future direction of our church.

In closing, we are blessed to have supportive congregations and pastors in our synod, and we thank you! We thank our bishop, Synod Council, and the Synod Assembly for your monetary support and prayers for a good week of camp. Please remember us in your prayers this year during the third week of June!

Respectfully submitted, The Rev. Jason Felici Director, 2016-2020

Page 128 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.2.2. Camp Luther Financial Statement

Page 129 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.3. Caroline Furnace

Page 130 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.4. Lutheran Campus Foundation WVU

Page 131 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 132 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.5. Mission Investment Fund

Page 133 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 134 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.6. Partners In Care

Partners in Care is a group of denominations; Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopal and United Methodist, contacted by the West Virginia National Guard State Chaplain for the initial purpose of assisting the Guard Chaplains in caring for members of the Guard and their families. The reason for this is that West Virginia has no regular military base like most states so when the Guard deploys or returns home there are not those services at a base where the Guard and families live like with regular active duty military in many states. There are several Guard chaplains but only one is full time so there is sometimes a need that cannot be met by the chaplains and the idea is to have churches available to help when asked.

After the denominations approved the Partners in Care idea then individual congregations sign a letter of agreement that basically says that when contacted by the State Chaplain, other Chaplains or one of Partners in Care (PIC) team they will render to the best of their ability the asked for assistance and while they may invite those being helped to their church they can not make participation in their church a requirement of that help.

Congregations are still being asked to sign up to be a PIC congregation and information on that can be obtained from the Lutheran representatives on the PIC team below.

After PIC began the team was meeting at the Guard with General Hoyer, who is their commanding General, when he asked us to help him with Challenge Academy, which is run by the Guard and is a 26 week in residency program for 16-18 year old WV youth who are in need of academic help, goal setting, life coping skills and other parts of growing into adulthood. During the program each student must have a mentor who will meet with them during the program, is trained by Challenge Academy and maintains a year long relationship with them after graduation and reports on progress regularly to the Challenge Academy. There is sometimes difficulty getting suitable mentors for the students and now PIC has also added this to their work with the Guard, when again asked to do so. You can find out more information about the Challenge Academy and mentoring from the Lutheran representatives and no letter of agreement is need for this part of PIC work.

The PIC team asks you if your congregation does not have a letter of agreement with PIC to do so and to also seek more information on mentoring and to volunteer to do so and help give our youth a second chance at life.

Lutheran PIC Team Members: Jerry Harman ( [email protected] ), and Pastor Carl Ames ( [email protected] )

Page 135 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.7. Portico

Page 136 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 137 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.8. United Lutheran Seminary (Gettysburg and Phildelphia)

Page 138 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 139 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 140 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

10.9. Wartburg College

Page 141 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 142 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 143 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

11. Directory

This section includes directories for the synod council, committees, boards, congregations, minister, supply preaches, etc.. Directories, by the very nature of the rapidly changing world in which we live, out of date almost as soon as the are published. Thinking of a directory, then, as a work in progress can be helpful. It can also be helpful to report to the Synod Office any errors or omissions one might find as one peruses these pages. Please email the office through Bishop Riegel ([email protected]) with the subject line beginning with the words, “Directory Correction: …,” followed by some short specific to be addressed. Then, in the text, include a description of the error, the subsection where there error is located, and how it should be fixed. 11.1. Attendees

11.1.1. Voting Members

Synod Council Last Name First Name Home City Home State Brock Andrea Parkersburg West Virginia Dalton Bruce Canaan Valley West Virginia Gensler Norma Huntington West Virginia

Page 144 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Solberg Joseph Weston West Virginia Weeks Nancy Wheeling West Virginia

Bishops and Bishop Emeritus Last Name First Name Dunkin Ralph Riegel Matthew

Clergy First Type Last Name Affiliation City State Name West Clergy Under Call Ames Carl Christ the King Huntington Virginia West Clergy Under Call Bartling Sally Trinity Keyser Virginia West Clergy Under Call Bullwinkle Ruth Saint John Davis Virginia West Clergy Under Call Day Diane Saint Thomas Charles Town Virginia West Clergy Under Call Day Matthew Saint John Martinsburg Virginia Shepherd of the Clergy Under Call Egtvedt Richard Oakland Maryland Hills Clergy Under Call Ernest Andrea Holy Trinity Sharpsburg Maryland Mountain West Clergy Under Call Felici Jessica Franklin Lutheran Parish Virginia West Clergy Under Call Gable Deborah Saint James Wheeling Virginia Clergy Under Call Heycock Ryan Emmanuel Bittinger Maryland West Clergy Under Call Holbert Matt Grace Fairmont Virginia West Clergy Under Call Kliner Jerry Saint Paul Morgantown Virginia Church of the West Clergy Under Call Lieneman Casey Grafton Covenant Virginia

Page 145 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

West Clergy Under Call Mackey Kevin Saint Paul Huntington Virginia West Clergy Under Call Muhly Linda Saint Mark Clarksburg Virginia Emmanuel West Clergy Under Call Nairn Roland Keyser Episcopal Virginia West Clergy Under Call Nielsen Erik Saint Johannes New Milton Virginia West Clergy Under Call Olson Christine Trinity Martinsburg Virginia West Clergy Under Call Reid Ian First Parkersburg Virginia West Clergy Under Call Richardson Randolf Trinity Charleston Virginia West Clergy Under Call Richter Joel Christ Wheeling Virginia West Clergy Under Call Ridenhour William First English Wheeling Virginia Clergy Under Call Robinson C Scott Saint Mark Oakland Maryland West Clergy Under Call Schafer Paul Saint Mark Wheeling Virginia Community West Clergy Under Call Schafer Sherri Wheeling Lutheran Partners Virginia Cooperative West Clergy Under Call Smith Sean Lutheran Moundsville Virginia Ministries West Clergy Under Call Spence Tim Grace Wheeling Virginia Accident Lutheran Clergy Under Call Suwak Peter Accident Maryland Parish Theobald- West Clergy Under Call Emilie Christ Vienna Rowlands Virginia Shepherstown West Clergy Under Call Valentine Karen Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish Virginia Brooke-Hancock West Clergy Under Call Van Dam Philip Episcopal Wellsburg Virginia Ministries West Clergy Under Call Weirick Patrice Saint Paul New Haven Virginia

Page 146 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

West Clergy Under Call Wicker James Cross of Grace Hurricane Virginia Aurora-Red Clergy Under Call Wright Michael Oakland Maryland House Parish

Clergy Voting Member Neither West Campbell Jacqueline Saint Mark Clarksburg Under Call Nor Serving Interim Virginia Clergy Voting Member Neither West Schafer Alvin Saint Mark Wheeling Under Call Nor Serving Interim Virginia Clergy Voting Member Neither Van Dam Sharon Under Call Nor Serving Interim

Ecumenical Clergy Serving West Claytor Susan Saint Luke Beckley WV-WMD Congregation Virginia

Voting Member Representing an Lutheran Campus West Institution (Campus Ministry/SMO/ Setley Anthony Morgantown Ministry at WVU Virginia etc.)

Voting Member From A Congregation First Home Last Name Home City Affiliation City State Name State West West Abele Ann Williamstown First Parkersburg Virginia Virginia West Armstrong Larry Cutler Ohio Christ Vienna Virginia West West Bland Bonnie Franklin Calvary Sugar Grove Virginia Virginia West Boone Bob Egon Saint John Oakland Maryland Virginia West West Borrelli Debby Morgantown Saint Paul Morgantown Virginia Virginia Bosley Dr. Nicole Oakland Maryland Saint Mark Oakland Maryland West West Bradley William Fairmont Grace Fairmont Virginia Virginia West West Brill Michael Baker Zion Baker Virginia Virginia

Page 147 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

West Cross of West Broyles Lois Barboursville Hurricane Virginia Grace Virginia West West Cooper Thisbe Davis Saint John Davis Virginia Virginia West West Coughlan Diane Wheeling Grace Wheeling Virginia Virginia West West Crawford Brian Wheeling Grace Wheeling Virginia Virginia Crites Julie Sharpsburg Maryland Holy Trinity Sharpsburg Maryland West Cunningham John J. Belmont Ohio Saint Mark Wheeling Virginia West Cunningham Stephanie Belmont Ohio Saint Mark Wheeling Virginia West Dailey Coleen East Liverpool Ohio Trinity Weirton Virginia West West Durst Sandra Petersburg Grace Petersburg Virginia Virginia Fost Donna Accident Maryland Saint John Accident Maryland West West Freed Katherine Wheeling Saint Mark Wheeling Virginia Virginia West Church of the West Freeman Eric Grafton Grafton Virginia Covenant Virginia West Church of the West Freeman Stacy Grafton Grafton Virginia Covenant Virginia New West Good New West Friedline Dorcas Martinsville Virginia Shepherd Martinsville Virginia New West Good New West Friedline George Martinsville Virginia Shepherd Martinsville Virginia West West Gabbert Steven Morgantown Saint Paul Morgantown Virginia Virginia West West Gregory Dorothy Petersburg Grace Petersburg Virginia Virginia West West Hammers Freda Wheeling Christ Wheeling Virginia Virginia West West Hammers Jack Wheeling Christ Wheeling Virginia Virginia West West Hedrick Jack Upper Tract Mount Hope Upper Tract Virginia Virginia

Page 148 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

West West Hedrick L Starr Upper Tract Mount Hope Upper Tract Virginia Virginia West West Jackson Gerru Beckley Saint Luke Beckley Virginia Virginia West West Jacobs Marilyn Wheeling Trinity Wheeling Virginia Virginia Johnson Christine Accident Maryland Saint Paul Accident Maryland West West Keller Patricia Keyser Trinity Keyser Virginia Virginia West West Knoll Diana Clarksburg Saint Mark Clarksburg Virginia Virginia West West Knoll John Clarksburg Saint Mark Clarksburg Virginia Virginia West West Lauffer Barb Hurricane Christ the King Huntington Virginia Virginia West West Lauffer Dan Hurricane Christ the King Barboursville Virginia Virginia Shepherd of Leighton Barbara Oakland Maryland McHenry Maryland the Hills West West Loetterle Lynn Mount Hope Saint Luke Beckley Virginia Virginia West West Losh Richard Martinsburg Saint John Martinsburg Virginia Virginia West West McKinney Rosa Hurricane Trinity Charleston Virginia Virginia West West Michael-King Moynelle Baker Zion Baker Virginia Virginia West West Mills Alvin Charles Town Saint Thomas Charles Town Virginia Virginia West West Mitchell Paula Sugar Grove Saint John Moyers Virginia Virginia S. West West Mitchell Sugar Grove Saint John Moyers Thomas Virginia Virginia West West O’Cull Howard St Albans Trinity Charleston Virginia Virginia West Cross of West Pemberton Jay Winfield Hurricane Virginia Grace Virginia Pritt Kenneth Hillsboro West New Hope Marlinton West

Page 149 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Virginia Virginia West West Pritt Pamela Hillsboro New Hope Marlinton Virginia Virginia West West Pyle Carol Moundsville Messiah Moundsville Virginia Virginia West West Ridder Richard New Creek Trinity Keyser Virginia Virginia West West Rini Elizabeth Shepherdstown Saint Peter Shepherdstown Virginia Virginia Robinson Laura Oakland Maryland Saint Mark Cumberland Maryland Sheperd of the Salsgiver Mark Oakland Maryland Mchenry Maryland Hills Sanders Mary Oakland Maryland Saint John Oakland Maryland Schenk Mary Grantsville Maryland Emmanuel Bittinger Maryland West West Schumacher Gregory Elkins Holy Trinity Elkins Virginia Virginia West West Schumacher Nancy Elkins Holy Trinity Elkins Virginia Virginia West Saint West Spray Abigail Roanoke New Milton Virginia Johannes Virginia Clara West Saint West Spray Roanoke New Milton Mae Virginia Johannes Virginia West West Steege Jerry Parkersburg Christ Vienna Virginia Virginia West West Stemple Cheryl Aurora Saint Paul Aurora Virginia Virginia West West Tomich Vicki Moundsville Messiah Moundsville Virginia Virginia West West Tribett Alice Wheeling Trinity Wheeling Virginia Virginia West West Vogler Carol Charles Town Saint James Shepherdstown Virginia Virginia West West Vogler Larry Charles Town Saint James Shepherdstown Virginia Virginia West West Wangerin Paul Martinsburg Trinity Martinsburg Virginia Virginia Whitacre David Winchester Virginia Fairview Winchester Virginia

Page 150 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

West West Woolley Doug Vienna First Parkersburg Virginia Virginia 11.1.2. Visitors

Visitor First Last Name Home City Home State Affiliation City State Name West Virginia Allen Jeffrey Charleston West Virginia Council of Charleston West Virginia Churches Blatt Peggy Wheeling West Virginia Grace Wheeling West Virginia Claytor Parr Beckley West Virginia Saint Luke Beckley West Virginia ELCA Ebner Ryan New Castle Pennsylvania New Castle Pennsylvania Foundation Shepherd of the Egtvedt Darlene Oakland Maryland Oakland Maryland Hills United Lutheran Evener Vincent Gettysburg Pennsylvania Gettysburg Pennsylvania Seminary McKinney George Hurricane West Virginia Trinity Charleston West Virginia United Lutheran Oslikova Andrea Gettysburg Pennsylvania Gettysburg Pennsylvania Seminary Richardson Cindy Charleston West Virginia Trinity Charleston West Virginia Riegel Tamara Morgantown West Virginia Saint Paul Morgantown West Virginia Church of the Solberg Courtney Weston West Virginia Grafton West Virginia Covenant Wolf Marjorie Wheeling West Virginia Grace Wheeling West Virginia

Churchwide Representative Evangelical Lutheran Flood Victoria Chicago Illinois Chicago Illinois Church in America

Synod Staff Higgins Barbara Fairmont West Virginia WV-WMD Fairmont West Virginia

Page 151 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Synod ELCA

WV-WMD Synod Seminrian (Entranced) Ames Devin Huntington West Virginia Christ the King Huntington West Virginia Shepherdstown Demmel James Shepherdstown West Virginia Shepherdstown West Virginia Parish Lutheran Roegner Beth Moundsville West Virginia Cooperative Moundsville West Virginia Ministries 11.1.3. Exhibitors

Community Lutheran Partners Post Office Box 3054 Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 Reverend Sherri Schafer, Executive Director 304.312.4222 EMail: [email protected] EMail Sherri Schafer

ELCA Foundation 214 West Northview Avenue New Castle, Pennsylvania 16105

Page 152 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

814.823.3285 EMail: [email protected] EMail Ryan Ebner

Lutheran Campus Ministry WVU 1497 University Avenue Morgantown, West Virginia 26505 304.296.5388 EMail: [email protected] EMail Anthony Setley 11.2. Anniversaries 11.2.1. Congregation Anniversaries

100 Years Mount Calvary Lutheran Church (6629) Post Office Box 268 Westernport, Maryland 21562 Established 1919

150 Years Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church (10463) Post Office Box 385 Petersburg, West Virginia 26847 Established 1869 11.2.2. Rostered Leader Anniversaries

Synod Roster Category Anniversary Name Date Rostered 8H Minister of Word and Sacrament 10 Sean P Smith 5/24/2009 15 Deborah L Gable 6/28/2004 Matthew C Holbert 6/10/2004 25 Roland E Nairn III 11/19/1994

Page 153 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

James Wicker 9/10/1994 Matthew L Riegel 7/9/1994 11.3. Synod

West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, ELCA 412 Fairmont Avenue, Suite 3 Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 Telephone: (304) 363-4030 Facsimile: (304) 363-4042 eMail: [email protected] Web Site: www.wv-wmd.org 11.3.1. Officers and Staff of the Synod

Bishop The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel, S.T.M. 412 Fairmont Avenue, Suite 3 Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 Office: 304.363.4030 Mobile: 304.680.5388 eMail: [email protected] Term: 2015.09.01-2021.08.31

Vice President Paul Wangerin 3936 Ashton Woods Drive Moorefield, West Virginia 26836 Home: 304.434.3708 eMail: [email protected] Term: 3015.09.01-2019.08.31

Page 154 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Secretary Norma Gensler 346 Cherokee Trail Huntington, West Virginia 25705 Mobile: 304.633.1927 eMail: [email protected] Term: 2017.09.01-2021.08.31

Treasurer Joseph Solberg 3785 Lynn Chapel Road Post Office Box 26 Grafton, West Virginia 26354-0026 Mobile: 304.365.0604 eMail: [email protected] Term: 2016.09.01-2020.08.31

Office Manager Barbara Higgins 412 Fairmont Avenue, Suite 3 Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 Office: 304.363.4030 eMail: [email protected]

Bishop Emeritus The Most Rev. Dr. L. Alexander Black

Page 155 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Bishop Emeritus The Most Rev. Dr. Ralph Dunkin

11.3.2. Synod Council 11.3.2.1. Synod Council Officers and Members

Officers

Seat Occupant Term ends Bishop The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel, S.T.M. 2021 Vice President Paul Wangerin 2019 Secretary Norma Gensler 2021 Treasurer Joseph Solberg 2020

Members

Seat Occupant Term ends Clergy MVMC The Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle 2021 Clergy PC The Rev. Christine Olson 2019† Clergy OKVC The Rev. Emilie Theobald-Rowlands 2019 Clergy UOVC The Rev. Sean Smith 2019† Laity MVMC Bruce Dalton 2019† Laity PC Paula Mitchell 2019 Laity OKVC Andrea Brock 2021 Laity UOVC Nancy Weeks 2021 Laity At-large #1 Mary Sanders 2021

Page 156 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Laity At-large #1 Pamela Pritt 2020 Youth #1 Katlyn Ruddle 2019† Youth #2 Laurel Muhly-Alexander 2020

MVMC = Mon Valley – Mountain Conference PC = Potomac Conference OKVC = Ohio – Kanawha Valley Conference UOVC = Upper Ohio Valley Conference † indicates final term according to term limitations ‡ indicates filling a partial term by vacancy appointment

Advisory Members

Women of the ELCA Beverly McDonald Directory of Evangelical Mission 11.3.2.2. Synod Council Committees (Appointed)

Synod Council Committees (Appointed) 01 September 2018 – 31 August 2019

Audit Committee Clergy Smith, Reverend Sean Lay Persons Dalton, Bruce Solberg, Joseph (Treasurer) Wangerin, Paul (Vice President) – Chairperson

Budget and Finance Committee Clergy Muhly, Reverend Linda Lay Persons Felici, Brian Kohler, William

Page 157 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Solberg, Joseph (Treasurer) – Chairperson

Executive Committee Clergy Riegel, Matthew (Bishop) – Chairperson Olson, Christine, Theobald-Rowlands, Emilie Lay Persons Gensler, Norma (Secretary) Solberg, Joseph (Treasurer) Wangerin, Paul (Vice President) Dalton, Bruce Weeks, Nancy

Mutual Ministry Committee Clergy Olson, Reverend Christine Lay Persons Wangerin, Paul (Vice-President)

Nomination Committee Clergy Ames, Reverend Carl – OKVC Erskine-Valentine, Reverend Karen – PC Kliner, Reverend Gerald – MVMC Richter, Reverend Joel – UOVC Lay Persons Ack, Heather (PC) Crummitt, Rick (UOVC) Sanders, Mary, Chairperson (MVMC) Schillings, Pat – OKVC

Page 158 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

11.3.3. Synod Committees (Elected)

Consultation Committee

Seat Occupant Term ends Clergy #1 The Rev. Diane Day 2024 Clergy #2 The Rev. Linda Muhly 2024 Clergy #3 The Rev. Emilie Theobald-Rowlands 2020 Clergy #4 Campbell, Jacqueline 2019 Clergy #5 Rev Randolph Richardson 2021 Clergy #6 The Rev. Sally Bartling 2022 Laity #1 John Harney 2024 Laity #2 Pamela Pritt 2020 Laity #3 Steve Gnegy 2021 Laity #4 Dinah Courrier 2022 Laity #5 Jeanne LeMasters 2022 Laity #6 Jane Hazer 2022

Discipline Committee

Seat Occupant Term ends Clergy #1 The Rev. Matt Day 2024 Clergy #2 The Rev. Tony Setley 2024 Clergy #3 The Rev. Jason Felici 2021 Clergy #4 The Rev. Carl Ames 2021

Page 159 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Clergy #5 The Rev. Ian Reid 2023 Clergy #6 The Rev. R. Paul Schafer 2023 Laity #1 Brandon Mitchell 2024 Laity #2 Nancy Weeks 2024 Laity #3 Paul Wangerin 2021 Laity #4 Joseph Solberg 2021 Laity #5 Norma Gensler 2023 Laity #6 Jim Nichols 2023 11.3.4. Synod Operational Committees (Appointed)

Bishop’s Lay Worship Committee The Rev Gerald Kliner, Chair

Global Missions The Rev Ian Reid, Chair

Worship and Spiritual Life Committee The Rev. Gerald Kliner, Chair

Youth Ministry Clergy The Rev. Karen Erskine-Valentine The Rev Jessica Felici, Chair The Rev. Sean Smith Lay Persons Deborah Borelli Kate Davis

Page 160 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Patricia Elliott Dillon Muhly-Alexander 11.3.5. Other Teams and Committees

Professional Candidacy Clergy Riegel, Bishop Matthew Felici, Reverend Jessica Smith, Reverend Sean Lay Persons Freidline, George Reid, Rebecca Riegel, Tamara – Chairperson

World Hunger Task Force Richter, Reverend Joel – Chairperson

Ecumenical Officer Riegel, Bishop Matthew 11.3.6. Boards of Directors/Trustees

Camp Luther Riegel, The Rt Rev Matthew President Felici, The Rev Jessica Secretary Propst, Angela Treasurer

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp 2016.06-2021.06 Day, The Rev Matthew Noll, Michael

Page 161 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Glade Run Lutheran Services 2014.05-2017.09 Thomas, The Rev Donald

United Lutheran Seminary 2014.06-2018.06 Wangerin, Paul

Mid-Atlantic Region 8 Steering Committee Riegel, The Rt Rev Matthew Friedline, Dorcas Wangerin, Paul

Tri-Synod Archives Board Blatt, Peggy Wolf, Marjorie 11.4. Rostered Leaders

Rostered Leaders (Ministers of Word & Sacrament)

Rostered Leader Call Conference Status Ames, The Rev Carl W Christ the King 224 Forest View Dr 5700 Rt 60 E OKVC Congregational Call Huntington, WV 25705 Huntington, WV 25705 [email protected] (304) 736-1402 Trinity-Mount Calvary Shared Lutheran Ministry

Mount Calvary Bartling, The Rev Sally L 1 Fusner St 310 Valley View Ave Westernport, MD 21562 PC Congregational Call Keyser, WV 26726 (304) 359-3504 [email protected] Trinity 76 N Davis St Keyser, WV 26726 (304) 788-3200 Black, The Rev Dr L Alexander 101 Braddock St MVMC Retired Fairmont, WV 26554 (304) 366-0316 Blank, The Rev Paul PO Box 3094 MVMC Retired Swanton, MD 21561 (301) 387-8026

Page 162 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

[email protected] Bullwinkle, The Rev Ruth D Saint John PO Box 21 3rd Ave PC Congregational Call Davis, WV 26260-0021 Davis, WV 26260 [email protected] (304) 259-5635 Campbell, The Rev Jacqueline L 258 Sapps Run Rd Fairmont, WV 26554 MVMC Retired (304) 365-0164 [email protected] Cantu, The Rev. Larry M PO Box 1260 201 Jefferson Ave PC Retired Petersburg, WV 26847-1260 (304) 257-4219 [email protected] Day, The Rev Diane Saint Thomas 119 S Seminary St 111 S Seminary St PC Congregational Call Charles Town, WV 25414 Charles Town, WV 25414 [email protected] (304) 725-5284 Day, The Rev Matthew Saint John 119 S Seminary St 101 W Martin St PC Congregational Call Charles Town, WV 25414 Martinsburg, WV 25414 [email protected] (304) 263-9291 Dunkin, The Most Rev Doctor Ralph W 27 Finch Ave UOVC Retired Wheeling, WV 26003-4587 (304) 280-0710 [email protected] Egtvedt, The Rev Richard Shepherd of the Hills 21303 Garrett Hwy PO Box 374 Oakland, MD 21550 17869 Garrett Hwy, Unit D MVMC Congregational Call (301) 501-8218 Oakland, MD 21550 [email protected] (301) 387-0400 Holy Trinity Ernest, The Rev Andrea PO Box 427 903 Israel Creek Court 201 E Main St PC Congregational Call Knoxville, MD 21758 Sharpsburg, MD 21782-0427 [email protected] (301) 432-5447 Erskine-Valentine, The Rev Karen Shepherdstown Lutheran Parish R 1828 Tomahawk Run Rd Saint James PC Congregational Call Hedgesville, WV 25427 4320 Shepherdstown Pike [email protected] Shenandoah Jct, WV 25442

Page 163 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

(304) 876-6771

Saint Peter 112 N King St Shepherdstown, WV 25443 (304) 876-6771 Mountain Lutheran Parish

Calvary 5545 Sugargrove Rd Brandywine, WV 26802 (304) 249-5316

Faith 102 Maple Ave Franklin, WV 26807 (304) 358-2438 Felici, The Rev Jason N PO Box 838 Mount Hope PC Congregational Call Franklin, WV 26807-0838 Mt Hope Rd [email protected] Upper Tract, WV 26866 (304) 358-2438

New Hope 9820 Huntersville Rd Minnehaha Springs, WV 24954 (304) 799-9954

Saint John 26 Black Thorn Rd Moyers, WV 26815 Mountain Lutheran Parish

Calvary 5545 Sugargrove Rd Brandywine, WV 26802 (304) 249-5316

Felici, The Rev Jessica L Faith PO Box 838 102 Maple Ave PC Congregational Call Franklin, WV 26807-0838 Franklin, WV 26807 [email protected] (304) 358-2438

Mt Hope Mt Hope Rd Upper Tract, WV 26866 (304) 358-2438

New Hope

Page 164 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

9820 Huntersville Rd Minnehaha Springs, WV 24954 (304) 799-9954

Saint John 26 Black Thorn Rd Moyers, WV 26815 Fondrliak, The Rev John G 921 Bryant Rd OKVC Retired Charleston, WV 25314 (304) 345-1338 Gable, The Rev Deborah L Saint James PO Box 6107 1409 Chapline St 130 N 16th St UOVC Congregational Call Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling, WV 26003-6107 (304) 232-6511 [email protected] Heckathorn, The Rev Michael L Trinity 2981 Eldersville Rd 3432 West St Retired under Follansbee, WV 24739 PC Weirton, WV 26062 Congregational Call (717) 386-4080 (304) 748-2940 [email protected] Emmanuel Heycock, Rev Ryan 22 Maynardier Ridge Road 215 Brenneman Road Bittinger MD 21522 MVMC Congregational Call Bittinger MD 21522 (301) 245-4202) (717) 339-6084 [email protected] Holbert, The Rev Matthew C Grace 10 Tiger Trail 300 Gaston Ave MVMC Congregational Call Fairmont, WV 26554 Fairmont, WV 26554 [email protected] (304) 366-4667 Kliner, Reverend Gerald R Saint Paul 1236 VanVoorhis Rd 309 Baldwin St MVMC Congregational Call Morgantown, WV 26505 Morgantown, WV 26505 [email protected] (304) 599-0620 Kreiensieck, Rev Ronald 240 Fox Dr, Winchester VA 22601 PC Retired Ph: 540-450-8846 [email protected] Lieneman, The Rev Casey 1068 Koontz Avenue Church of the Covenant Synodical Call Morgantown, WV 26505 PO Box 26 MVMC Ecumenical Service ( 681) 209-0951 Grafton, WV 26354 [email protected] Mackey, The Rev Kevin Saint Paul OKVC Congregational Call

Page 165 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

2 Paris Dr 721 12th Ave Huntington, WV 25705-2424 Huntington, WV 25701-3223 [email protected] (304) 525-9630 Muhly, The Rev Linda M Saint Mark 309 Elm Street 1766 Millford St MVMC Congregational Call Clarksburg WV 26301 Clarksburg, WV 26301 [email protected] (304) 624-6138 Nairn, The Rev Roland E III Emmanuel Episcopal Church 127 Main St 301 S Mineral St Synodical Call PC Grantsville, MD 21536 Keyser, WV 26726 Ecumenical Service [email protected] (301) 501-2410 Nielsen, The Rev Erik L Saint Johannes 3505 10th Ave 2746 Little Buck Run MVMC Congregational Call Vienna, WV 26105 New Milton, WV 26411 [email protected] (304) 873-2964 Olson, The Rev Christine L Trinity 1646 Pitzer’s Chapel Rd 1643 Pitzer’s Chapel Rd PC Congregational Call Martinsburg, WV 25403 Martinsburg, WV 25403 [email protected] (304) 260-0428 Pittsnogle, Lawrence 444 Warden Circle Road PC On Leave From Call Wardensville WV 26851 (570) 768-6705 Pittsnogle, Patricia 444 Warden Circle Road PC Retired Wardensville WV 26851 (570) 768-6705 Prather, The Rev Mary A 53 Hummingbird Ln PC Retired Falling Waters, WV 25419 [email protected] Reid, The Rev Ian B First 1701A 19th St 1701 19th St OKVC Congregational Call Parkersburg, WV 26101 Parkersburg, WV 26101 [email protected] (304) 428-6174 Richardson, The Rev Randolf E Trinity 506 Nancy St 1600 Kanawha Blvd E OKVC Congregational Call Charleston, WV 25311 Charleston, WV 25311 [email protected] (304) 342-5212 Richter, The Rev Joel Christ 11 Richmond Ave 2 Richmond Ave UOVC Congregational Call Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling, WV 26003 [email protected] (304) 232-5751

Page 166 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Ridenhour, The Rev William C First English 107 Maple Ave 35 16th St UOVC Congregational Call Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling, WV 26003 [email protected] (304) 233-2951 Riegel, The Rt Rev Matthew L WV-WMD Synod 829 Ridgeway Ave 412 Fairmont Ave Ste 3 MVMC Synodical Call Morgantown, WV 26505 Fairmont, WV 26554 [email protected] (304) 363-4030 Riley, The Rev James D Jr 114 Rosewood Dr Martinsburg, WV 25401 PC Retired (304) 263-4402 [email protected] Robbins, The Rev Dr Jerry K 312 Laurel St Morgantown, WV 26505 MVMC Retired (304) 599-6450 [email protected] Robinson, The Rev Dr C Scott Saint Mark 771 Paradise Ridge Rd 6 S Second St MVMC Congregational Call Oakland, MD 21550 Oakland, MD 21550 [email protected] (301) 334-2668 Schafer, The Rev R Alvin 3609 Big Wheeling Creek Rd Wheeling, WV 26003 UOVC Retired (304) 280-0208 [email protected] Schafer, The Rev R Paul Saint Mark 27 Crispen Court 141 Kruger St UOVC Congregational Call Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling, WV 26003 [email protected] (304) 242-3466 Schafer, Rev Sherri 27 Crispen Court Community Lutheran Partners Wheeling WV 26003 Post Office Box 3054 UOVC Executive Director (304) 312-4222 Wheeling WV 26003-3054 [email protected] Lutheran Campus Ministry at Setley, The Rev Anthony WVU 824 Monogalia Avenue 1497 University Avenue Morgantown, WV 26505 Synodical Call Morgantown, WV 26505 MVMC eMail: Campus Ministry (304) 296-5388 [email protected] eMail: (681) 209-6192 [email protected] Smith, The Rev Sean P Cooperative Lutheran Ministries UOVC Congregational Call 241 Ash Ave

Page 167 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Good Shepherd 196 N State Route 2 New Martinsville, WV 26155 (304) 455-3443

Messiah 503 LaFayette Ave Moundsville, WV 26041 (304) 845-8764 Moundsville, WV 26041 [email protected] Saint Matthew 1057 Boggs Run Rd Benwood, WV 26031 (304) 233-2292

Trinity 3536 Eoff St Wheeling, WV 26003 (304) 232-4344 Spence, Reverend Timothy Grace 2099 Louise Ave 16 Ridgecrest Ave UOVC Congregational Call Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling, WV 26003 [email protected] (304) 242-5830 Accident Parish

Grace Maple St and 2nd Ave Friendsville, MD 21520 (301) 746-8235 Suwak, The Rev Peter M 109 N Main St Saint John MVMC Congregational Call Accident, MD 21520 1019 Cove Rd [email protected] Accident, MD 21520 (301) 746-8466

Saint Paul 102 N Main Street Accident, MD 21520 (301) 746-8466 Theobald-Rowlands, The Rev Christ Emilie 4513 Grand Central Ave 4505 Grand Central Ave OKVC Congregational Call Vienna, WV 26105 Vienna, WV 26105 (304) 295-9241 [email protected] Thomas, The Rev Donald R Saint John of Meadow Mountain 1006 Polk Hill Rd 5214 Bittinger Rd MVMC Retired Interim Addison, PA 15411 Swanton, MD 21561 [email protected] (301) 245-4202

Page 168 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Capon-North River Parish

Ebenezer 6365 Needmore Rd Rio, WV 26755 (304) 897-6533

Fairview Twedt, The Rev David A 464 Fairview Rd PO Box 87 Gore, VA 22637 PC Congregational Call Wardensville, WV 26851-0087 (540) 858-2643 [email protected] Hebron WV Rt 259 Yellow Spring, WV 26851

Saint Peter 60 W Main St Wardensville, WV 26851 (304) 874-3860 Saint John Unger, The Rev John PO Box 668 1022 Williamsport Pike 950 Washington St PC Congregational Call Martinsburg, WV 25404 Harper’s Ferry, WV 25425-0668 [email protected] (304) 535-3105 Brooke-Hancock Episcopal Ministries

Van Dam, The Rev Philip Christ Church 434 Washington Pike, Wellsburg, WV Synodical Call Wellsburg, WV 26070 UOVC Ecumenical Service (740) 296-9175 Olde St John’s [email protected] Colliers, WV

St. Thomas Weirton, WV Van Dam, The Rev Sharon 835 Hanover St Martin’s Ferry, OH 43935 UOVC Retired (740) 633-2201 [email protected] Weirick, The Rev Patrice Saint Paul 131 Ripley Landing Rd PO Box 428, 412 Fifth St OKVC Congregational Call Millwood, WV 25262 New Haven, WV 25265-0428 [email protected] (304) 882-2304 Wicker, Rev James Cross of Grace OKVC Congregational Call 22 Keeling Drive Post Office Box 1025

Page 169 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Hurricane WV 25526 Hurricane WV 25526-1025 (304) 377-3044 (304) 377-3044 [email protected] Aurora-Red House Parish

3304 Garrett Highway Wright, Rev Michael Oakland MD 21550 3304 Garrett Highway Oakland MD 21550 Saint John MVMC Congregational Call (301) 334-4778 Red House MD [email protected] Saint Paul 46 German Settlement Way Aurora WV 26705 Yelovich, Rev Stephen 523 Lowell Avenue MVMC Retired Cumberland MD 21502 (301) 724-7609

Deacons (Ministers of Word & Service)

Minister Call Conference Status Messick, Margaret A 8757 Millpond Drive Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068 Retired Home: (740) 450-0111 Commissioned: 1987

Ecumenical Pastors

Minister Call Conference Status Claytor, Susan Saint Luke 208 Virginia Street 700 Maxwell Hill Road Ecumenical Service Beckley, WV 25801 Beckley, WV 25801 Phone: (77) 602-9002 Phone: (717) 602-9002 Vial, The Rev Peter Holy Trinity Davis Mem. Presbyterian Address: 302 1st St 450 Randolph Ave Ecumenical Service Elkins, WV 26241 Elkins, WV 26241 Phone: (304) 636-3019 Phone: (304) 636-2788

Page 170 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

11.5. Supply Preaching and Presiding

To assist congregations in their search for worship leadership in times of pastoral vacancy or whenever regular ordained leadership is not available, the WV-WMD Synod provides a list of capable and authorized worship leadership. This list as well as policies and rates for supply ministry can be found on the web at http://wv-wmd.org/vacant/supply.html. 11.5.1. Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders

Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders are equipped through the synod’s training program and authorized by the Bishop for service in the territory of the synod at the invitation of the congregation’s pastor or congregational leader appointed for the task of coordinating supply preachers.

The WV-WMD Synod is currently revising its standards for the Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders. Until the revision is adopted, applications to enter the roll of Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders are not being accepted.

Name Address Telephone E-Mail 1902 Market Street Bannister, Melissa Parkersburg, West Virginia 304.428.8865 [email protected] 26101 6607 Clark Drive Broyles, Lois Barboursville, West Virginia 304.962.2541 [email protected] 25504 Friedline, George 411 Susan Street 304.455.2798 [email protected]

Page 171 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

New Martinsville, West Virginia 26155 Post Office Box 8 Graham, Lola (temporarily Upper Tract, West Virginia 304.358.7733 unavailable) 26866-0008 25 South Second Street Harman, Jerry (temporarily Parkersburg, West Virginia 304.481.1160 [email protected] unavailable) 26101 3039 Glen Dale Heights Road Hawk, William 304.232.7260 [email protected] Glen Dale, West Virginia 26038 Post Office Box 208 Hodges, Henry Wardensville, West Virginia 304.874.4491 [email protected] 26851 1755 Boggs Run Road Hoffman, Sylvia Sue Benwood, West Virginia 304.232.7012 [email protected] 26031 1051 Southwind Drive Apartment 502 Humberston, Leroy 304.366.3434 Fairmont, West Virginia 26554 170 HC 82, Marlinton Keller, Patricia 304.788.25351 [email protected] West Virginia 24954 2607 Cleveland Avenue McDowell, Barbara Parkersburg, West Virginia 304.483.1010 [email protected] 26104 14 Edgewood Drive McKinney, George Hurricane, West Virginia 681.220.8474 [email protected] 25526 312 Ninth Street, Moundsville Sandvik, Jodi 304.843.1721 [email protected] West Virginia 26041 Post Office Box 5518 (H)304.252.7363 807 Teel Road Sheatsley, James (O)304.252.5321 [email protected] Beckley, West Virginia (M)304.575.9827 25801-5518 515 Tenth Street Apartment 412 Tomich, Vicki 304.843.1858 [email protected] Moundsville, West Virginia 26041 1557 Bridge Road (O)800.444.1188 Wolford, Richard [email protected] Charleston, West Virginia (M)304.389.2938

Page 172 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

25314 1737 Lower Arkansaw Road Yost, Carl Baker, West Virginia 304.897.5041 226801-8319 11.5.2. Ordained Clergy Available for Supply

Ordained Clergy Address Telephone E-Mail Allen, The Rev Dr (UMC) Fairmont WV 304.830.2183 [email protected] PO Box 3094 Blank, The Rev Paul 304.387.8026 [email protected] Swanton, Maryland 21561 258 Sapps Run Road Campbell, The Rev Fairmont, West Virginia 304.365.0164 [email protected] Jacqueline 26554 365 Proclamation Drive Cantu, The Rev Larry Apartment 2110 540.773.8512 [email protected] Winchester, Virginia 22603 27 Finch Avenue Dunkin, The Most Rev Dr Wheeling, West Virginia 304.280.0710 [email protected] Ralph 26003 Kreiensieck, The Rev Ron Winchester VA 540.450.8846 [email protected] Post Office Box 325 Lee, The Rev David A Beverly, West Virginia 304.553.4969 [email protected] (PCUSA) 26253 Omholt, The Rev Thomas Oakland MD 202.368.0443 [email protected] 412 Fairmont Ave, Suite 3 Riegel, The Right Rev Fairmont, West Virginia 304.680.5388 [email protected] Matthew L 26554 3609 Big Wheeling Creek Road Schafer, The Rev R Alvin 304.280.0208 [email protected] Wheeling, West Virginia 26003 Schafer, The Rev Sherri Wheeling WV 304.312.4222 [email protected] 1497 University Avenue Setley, The Rev Tony 681.209.6192 [email protected] Morgantown, WV 26505 1006 Polk Hill Road Thomas, The Rev Donald Addison, Pennsylvania 724.622.6834 [email protected] 15411

Page 173 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Van Dam, The Rev Sharon Wellsburg WV 740.296.9176 [email protected] 11.6. Conferences & Deans

Conference Cluster Dean Mon Valley-Mountain I-79 Muhly, The Rev Linda Mon Valley-Mountain Mountaintop Thomas, The Rev Donald Ohio-Kanawha Valley I-64 Mackey, The Rev Kevin Ohio-Kanawha Valley Mid-Ohio Theobald-Rowlands, The Rev Emilie Potomac E. Panhandle Erskine-Valentine, The Rev Karen Potomac Highlands Bartling, The Rev Sally Upper Ohio Valley Schafer, The Rev R Paul 11.7. Congregations

Calvary (16003) 5545 Sugargrove Rd PC Revs Jason Brandywine WV Mountain and Jessica 26802 Parish Felici (304) 249-5316

Christ (6612) 2 Richmond Avenue Rev Joel UOVC Wheeling WV 26003 Richter (304) 232-5751

Christ (6618) 4513 Grand Central Rev Emilie Ave OKVC Theobald- Vienna WV 26105 Rowlands (304) 295-9241

Page 174 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Christ the King (13210) 5700 Route 60 E OKVC Rev Carl Ames Huntington WV 25705 (304) 736-1402

Church of the Covenant (6637) Rev Casey 16 E Washington St MVMC Lieneman Grafton WV 26354 (304) 265-1422

Cross of Grace (30546) Rev James 30 Grace Dr OKVC Wicker Hurricane WV 25526 (304) 562-0616

Ebenezer (6104) PC 6365 Needmore Rd Rev David Capon-North Rio WV 26755 Twedt River Parish (304) 897-6533

Emmanuel (6623) 22 Maynardier Ridge Rev Ryan Rd MVMC Heycock Bittinger MD 21536 (301) 245-4202

Fairview (6110) PC 464 Fairview Rd Rev David Capon-North Gore VA 22637 Twedt River Parish (540) 858-2643

Page 175 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Faith (10366) PC Revs Jason 102 Maple Ave Mountain and Jessica Franklin WV 26807 Lutheran Felici (304) 358-2438 Parish

First (6609) 1701 19th St Parkersburg WV OKVC Rev Ian Reid 26101 (304) 428-6174

First English (6614) 35 16th St Rev William C UOVC Wheeling WV 26003 Ridenhour (304) 233-2951

Good Shepherd (6608) UOVC 196 N State Rt 2 Cooperative Rev Sean New Martinsville WV Lutheran Smith 26155 Ministries (304) 455-3443

Grace (6624) Maple St & 2nd Ave MVMC Rev Peter Friendsville MD Accident Parish Suwak 21520 (301) 746-8235

Grace (6635) 300 Gaston Ave Rev Matthew MVMC Fairmont WV 26554 Holbert (304) 366-4667

Page 176 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Grace (10463) 5 Pine St Petersburg WV PC Interviewing 26847 (304) 257-1265

Grace (31157) 16 Ridgecrest Rd Rev Timothy UOVC Wheeling WV 26003 Spence (304) 242-5830

Hebron Lutheran Church (6105) PC WV Route 259 Rev David Capon-North Yellow Spring WV Twedt River Parish 26851 (304) 874-3860

Holy Trinity (2573) 201 E Main St Rev Andrea Sharpsburg MD PC Ernest 21782 (301) 432-5447

Holy Trinity (6634) 302 First St Rev Peter Vial MVMC Elkins WV 26241 (PCUSA) (304) 636-3019

Page 177 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Messiah (6619) UOVC 503 LaFayette Ave Cooperative Rev Sean Moundsville WV Lutheran Smith 26041 Ministries (304) 845.8764

Mount Calvary (6629) PC 1 Fusner St Trinity- Rev Sally Westernport MD Mt.Calvary Bartling 21562 Shared Ministry (301) 359-3504

Mount Hope (10533) PC Revs Jason Mt Hope Rd Mountain and Jessica Upper Tract WV Lutheran Felici 26866 Parish (304) 358-2438

Mount Olive (10462) 440 Blue Rock Ln Moorefield WV MVMC Vacant 26836 (304) 434-2351

New Hope (10419) PC 9820 Huntersville Rd Revs Jason Mountain Minnehaha Springs and Jessica Lutheran WV 24954 Felici Parish (304) 799-9954

Our Saviour (6601) 200 Walnut St Ravenswood WV OKVC Vacant 26164 (304) 273-2378

Page 178 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Saint James (6037) 4328 Shepherdstown PC Rev Karen Pike Shepherdstown Erskine- Shenandoah Parish Valentine Junction WV 25442 (304) 876-6771

Saint James (10551) Rev Deborah 1409 Chapline St UOVC Gable Wheeling WV 26003 (304) 232-6511

Saint Johannes (6639) 2746 Little Buck Run Rev Erik MVMC New Milton WV Nielson, Interim 26411 (304) 873-2964

Saint John (6030) 950 Washington St Rev John Harper’s Ferry WV PC Unger 25425 (304) 535-3105

Saint John (6035) 101 W Martin St Rev Matthew Martinsburg WV PC Day 25401 (304) 263-9291

Saint John (6621) 1019 Cove Rd MVMC Rev Peter Accident MD 21520 Accident Parish Suwak (301) 746-8466

Page 179 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Saint John (6626) 3301 Garrett Hwy MVMC Rev Michael Red House MD Aurora-Red Wright 21520 House Parish (301) 334-3778

Saint John (6633) 3rd Ave Rev Ruth MVMC Davis WV 26260 Bullwinkle (304) 259-5635

Saint John (10422) PC Revs Jason 26 Black Thorn Rd Mountain and Jessica Moyers WV 26815 Lutheran Felici (304) 358-2458 Parish

Saint John’s of Meadow Mountain Rev Donald (6628) MVMC Thomas, 5214 Bittinger Rd Interim Swanton MD 21561 (301) 245-4202

Saint Luke (6600) 700 Maxwell Hill Rd OKVC Susan Claytor Beckley WV 25801 (304) 252-4865

Saint Mark Lutheran Church (6632) Rev Linda 1766 Milford St MVMC Muhly Clarksburg WV 26301 (304) 624-6138

Page 180 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Saint Mark Lutheran Church (6602) % Sarah Elias OKVC Vacant 37 Elias Rd Letart WV 25253 (304) 882-3111

Saint Mark (6627) 6 S Second St Rev Dr C Scott MVMC Oakland MD 21520 Robinson (301) 334-2668

Saint Mark (10552) 141 Kruger St Rev R Paul UOVC Wheeling WV 26003 Schafer (304) 242-3466

Saint Matthew UOVC (10553) Cooperative Rev Sean 1057 Boggs Run Rd Lutheran Smith Benwood WV 26031 Ministries (304) 233-2292

Saint Paul (6606) 721 12th Ave Rev Kevin Huntington WV OKVC Mackey 25701 (304) 525-9630

Saint Paul (6607) 412 Fifth St Rev Patrice New Haven WV OKVC Weirick 25265 (304) 882-2304

Page 181 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Saint Paul (6622) 102 N Main Street MVMC Rev Peter Accident MD 21520 Accident Parish Suwak (301) 746-8235

Saint Paul (6631) 46 German MVMC Rev Michael Settlement Way Aurora-Red Wright Aurora WV 26705 House Parish (304) 735-3565

Saint Paul (6640) 309 Baldwin St Rev Gerald Morgantown WV MVMC Kliner 26505 (304) 599-0620

Saint Peter (6038) 110 N King St PC Rev Karen Shepherdstown WV Shepherdstown Erskine- 25443 Parish Valentine (304) 876-6771

Saint Peter (6106) 60 W Main St PC Rev David Wardensville WV Capon-North Twedt 26851 River Parish (304) 874-3860

Saint Peter (6610) 521 28th St Point Pleasant WV OKVC Vacant 25550 (304) 675-1540

Page 182 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Saint Thomas (6026) 111 S Seminary St PC Rev Diane Day Charles Town WV 25414 (304) 725-5284

Shepherd of the Hills (30659) Saint Peter at the Rev Richard Lake Center MVMC Egtvedt 1140 Mosser Rd McHenry MD 21541 (301) 387-0400

Trinity (6023) 1643 Pitzer’s Chapel Rd Rev Christine PC Martinsburg WV Olson 25403 (304) 263-1752

Trinity (6604) 1600 Kanawha Blvd E Rev Randolf OKVC Charleston WV Richardson 25311 (304) 342-5212

Trinity (6615) UOVC 3536 Eoff St Rev Sean Cooperative Wheeling WV 26003 Smith Ministries (301) 232-4344

Trinity (6638) PC 76 N Davis St Rev Sally Trinity-Mt Keyser WV 26726 Bartling Calvary (304) 788-3200

Page 183 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Trinity (10546) Rev Michael 3432 West St UOVC Heckathorn, Weirton WV 26062 Interim (304) 748-2940

Zion (6625) 2175 Jennings Rd Rev Steven Grantsville MD MVMC Yelovich, 21536 Interim (301) 245-4202

Zion (10492) 351 Arkansaw Rd Rev Gary PC Baker WV 26801 Koontz, Interim (304) 897-6574

11.7.1. Shared Ministries

Ministry Address Clergy Congregation Congregation Congregation Congregation Congregation PO Box 256 Rev Grace (6624), Saint John Saint Paul Accident Accident, MD Peter Friendsville (6621), (6622), Parish 21520-0256 Suwak MD Accident MD Accident MD 301.746.8235 Aurora-Red 3301 Garrett Rev Saint John Saint Paul House Parish Hwy Michael (6626), Red (6631), Aurora

Page 184 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Oakland, MD 21550 Wright House MD WV 301.616.6521 PO Box 87 Saint Peter Rev Ebenezer Fairview Hebron Capon-North Wardensville, (6106), David (6104), Rio (6110), Gore (6105), Yellow River Parish WV 26851-0087 Wardensville Twedt WV WV Spring WV 304.874.3860 WV 503 Lafayette Good Messiah Saint Matthew Cooperative Ave Rev Shepherd (6619), (10553), Trinity (6615), Lutheran Moundsville, Sean (6608), New Moundsville Moundsville Wheeling, WV Ministries WV 26041 Smith Martinsville WV WV 304.845.8764 WV Mount Calvary Keyser- PO Box 278 Trinity (6638), Rev (6629), Westernport Keyser WV 76 N Davis St, Sally 1 Fusner St, Shared 26726-0278 Keyser WV Bartling Westernport Ministry 304.788.3200 26726 MD 21562 Revs PO Box 893 Calvary Mount Hope Jason New Hope Saint John Mountain Franklin WV (16003), Faith (10366), (10533), and (10419), (10422), Parish 26807-0893 Brandywine Franklin WV Upper Tract Jessica Marlinton WV Moyers WV 304.358.2438 WV WV Felici PO Box 2008 Rev Saint James Saint Peter Shepherdstown Shepherdstown, Karen (6037), (6038), Parish WV Erskine- Shenandoah Shepherdstown 25443-2008 Valentine Junction WV WV 11.8. Region 8 Information

Page 185 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Mid-Atlantic Region for Mission, ELCA (Region 8) 61 Seminary Ridge Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325-1795 Office: 717.338.3033 Facsimile: 717.334.7998

ELCA Staff Persons Serving Region 8

Candidacy and Leadership Manager, Region 8 The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Baglyos Baltimore, Maryland Mobile: 412.951.9626 eMail: [email protected]

Portico Benefit Services Regional Representative Barbara Debski 800 Marquette Street, Suite 1050 Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 Office: 814.977.6189 eMail: [email protected]

Page 186 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Mission Investment Fund Regional Manager The Rev. Kent Peterson (Churchwide Deployed Staff) 260 Stonewall Heights Abingdon, Virginia 24210 Office: 276.698.7970 eMail: [email protected] 11.9. Auxiliaries 11.9.1. West Virginia-Western Maryland Women of the ELCA

Mission Statement: As a community of women created in the image of God,called to discipleship in Jesus Christ, and empowered by the Holy Spirit, we commit ourselves to grow in faith, affirm our gifts, support one another in our callings, engage in ministry and action, and promote healing and wholeness in the church, the society, and the world.

599 Poets Lane Innwood, West Virginia 25428

Telephone: 304.229.9505 EMail: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/groups/360897610627189/

Board of Directors

Officers

President McDonald, Beverly Vice President Horner, Priscilla Treasurer Porter, Denise Secretary Chewning, Barbie

Page 187 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Members

Bragg, Ellen Hazer, Jane Johnson, Christine Kohlhorst, Gail Rowan, Kay Tomich, Vickie Young, Jonalee

Cluster Coordinators

Mon Valley-Mountain Porter, Denise Ohio-Kanawha Valley Broyles, Lois Potomac Horner, Priscilla Upper Ohio Valley Yoders, Karen

Lutheran Lines

Kohlhorst, Gail 11.10. Affiliated Agencies

Page 188 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

11.10.1. Camps

11.10.1.1. Camp Luther

Camp Luther ℅The Rev. Jason Felici Mountain Lutheran Parish Post Office Box 893

Page 189 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Franklin, West Virginia 26807-0893 eMail: [email protected] http://www.camplutherwv.com

Director – The Rev. Jason Felici 11.10.1.2. Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center

Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center 2239 Camp Roosevelt Rd Fort Valley, VA 22652 Tel: 540-449-0012 Fax: 540-449-0050 eMail: [email protected] https://www.carolinefurnace.org

Director – Tom Powell 11.10.2. Campus Ministries 11.10.2.1. Lutheran Campus Foundation at WVU

1497 University Avenue Morgantown, West Virginia 26505

Page 190 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Telephone: 304.296.5388 eMail: [email protected] http://www.lutheranmountaineer.org

Board of Directors

Officers

Chairperson Dr Cammie Menendez Vice President Secretary/Treasurer

Members

Deborah Borelli The Rev Ryan Heycock Jana Jarrett Richard Losh Carrie Nesselrodt The Rev. Ian Reid Rev William Ridenhour Weirick, Patrice

Chaplain: The Rev. Tony Setley 11.10.3. Social Ministry Organizations 11.10.3.1. Community Lutheran Partners Incorporated (CLP)

Mission: To enable and support congregations of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod and others in service to their neighborhoods.

Post Office Box 3054 141 Kruger Street

Page 191 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Wheeling, West Virginia 26003-3054

Telephone: 304.312.4222 E-Mail: [email protected] Community Lutheran Partners Incorporated

Board of Directors

Officers

Executive Director Schafer, Sherri President Richter, Reverend Joel Vice President Thomas, Reverend Don Treasurer Dunkin, Most Reverend Ralph Secretary Slemp Cathy Bishop’s Designee Chapman, Kathy

Members

Gnegy, Steve Joe Kochy Kreinensieck, Reverend Ronald Lauffer, Dan Richardson, Rev Randy Tweedt, Cathy

Page 192 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

12. WV-WMD Statistical Reports

Page 193 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 194 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 195 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 196 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 197 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 198 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 199 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 200 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Page 201 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

13. Addenda

Stuff always comes in late and changes to registration take place right up the first gavel (sometimes after). In past years, the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports would get published, and that was that. Anything additional would have to wait until Synod Assembly for distribution of hard copies. With this new platform, we have the technical ability to post late items. Whether we have the spare human resources in the days between publication of the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports and the opening of the assembly is another matter. We’ll do what we can do, but there are no guarantees. We realized, however, that some folks might want to print their Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports several days in advance of the assembly (and we encourage this). So, this is what we are going to do. After Sunday, May 19, any new materials (late submissions, corrections, errata, or late changes to items) will be posted here in the appendices. This means that you can print your Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports as a PDF download now without having the table of contents messed up if items are added. Then, when you check back in, you don’t have to print the entire PDF over again. Just print the appendices and add them to your binder.

Download Tip: If you download and print your Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports now and * additions are added to the report afterwards, you do not have to reprint the entire bulletin. Download the update, and print only the new pages at the end.

13.1. Errata & Additions

Here follows a list of errata, corrective actions, and late additions. It is not all inclusive, as is occurs to us today (May 24) that this might be helpful to assembly attendees and others. With Manula (the on-line platform) it is possible to fix errors as they are reported and evaluated. On-going fixes, however, create incongruency between the Manula version and any PDF versions you may have already saved and/or printed.

The matrix below will include the follow:

• Date the error was addressed; • The error, its nature, the corrective action, and any consequences of note; and • A quick link to its page in this on-line Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports.

Those items that should probably be printed/downloaded to either replace what is in your already printed/ downloaded copy are marked in bold. Of course, if you are using the on-line edition, you are good to go.

Even if you downloaded an earlier version of the PDF, you can go to the specific page in the on-line Pre-

Page 202 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Assembly Bulletin of Reports and print that one page by clicking on the print icon in the upper right of the page.

Date Error/Action Link Additions to “Nuts & Bolts (Bishop’s Report, Part 1)”: added discussion of changes to Synod Assembly logistics at beginning of Part 1; added 5/22 Nuts & Bolts discussion on human resources at the end of Part 1. Some typographical fixes. Assembly Misclassification of assembly committee members and lack of personal titles. 5/24 Committees and Errors corrected. Staff Assembly Changes to committee assignments in wake of releases from appointment. Some 5/25 Committees and folks removed. Some added. Some moved. Staff Typographical corrections and grammatical and word choice corrections to Framing the 5/26 Bishop’s Report, Part 2. Conversation Assembly Changes to committee assignments in wake of releases from appointment. Some 5/26 Committees and folks removed. Some added. Staff Added, under Addenda, section titled, “Governing Documents & Guidelines.” Governing 5/26 Provides links to the Synod Constitution, the Synod Bylaws and Continuing Documents & Resolutions, and guidelines on compensation, sabbaticals, and family leave. Guidelines Assembly 5/28 More changes to committee assignments. Committees and Staff 5/28 Description of Bible Study added in the Workshops section. Workshops Resolution – To Resolution “To Memorialize on Engagement in the Holy Land” added under Memorialize on 5/28 Report of Reference and Counsel. Engagement in the Holy Land Gudie to Assembly 5/29 “Guide to Assembly Committees” added to addenda. Committees “Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on ULS” added under Reports of Special Ad Hoc Committee 5/29 Committees. on ULS 13.2. Governing Documents & Guidelines

Click on the link to access the desired document.

Page 203 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Governing Documents

• Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod • Bylaws and Continuing Resolutions of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod

Guidelines

• Pastoral Compensation Package 2019 • Sabbaticals • Family Leave 13.3. Guide to Assembly Committees

You will find in the next subsections descriptions of the following committees of the assembly:

• Committee on Elections • Committee on Minutes • Committee on Reference & Counsel • Committee on Resolutions • Ushers

13.3.1. Committee on Elections

Our Committee on Elections (Elections Committee) has, until now, been what Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, refers to as the tellers. With the 2019 Synod Assembly, we are making a change.

The Elections Committee will function as the overseers of the elections process and as judges of the election. As election judges, it will be the Elections Committee that will adjudicate questionable ballots. The Elections Committee will prepare the ballots. It will also oversee the voting process and the work of the tellers. Per the synod’s Bylaws, the Elections Committee will be appointed by the bishop.

The tellers are those folks assigned the task of counting the ballots. They also collect the ballots during the balloting phase. The tellers will be appointed during the assembly. If there is a second ballot, it is possible that a different set of tellers will be appointed. 13.3.2. Committee on Minutes

Our Committee on Minutes (Minutes Committee) is a work group not a deliberative body. It is a legacy of the

Page 204 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

days when there were no recording devices other than the human being frenetically taking notes with pen on paper. While seeing to the recording of the business of the assembly is the responsibility of the secretary, it has been deemed prudent to have a team of people taking notes so as not to miss something and ensure accuracy by comparison. In 2015, we introduced videography and live streaming of the assembly. The saving of the video allowed for review of the action, increasing the accuracy of the minutes. One would think that a team of human recorders is now obsolete. In 2017, we learned not to be so complacent. Our videographer was unable to attend because of injury. Fortunately, we were able to make an audio recording. Nevertheless, over dependence on technology could put us in a precarious position. Having a team of humans seems a salutary redundancy.

Taking minutes is not as onerous as most seem to imagine. One does not take a verbatim (a word for word transcript of everything that is said) when taking minutes unless a special order is made to do so—this is very rare! When this happens—which it never has in WV-WMD—it usually entails a narrow set of statements and not the entire proceedings. It is also customary that a person, who desires his/her words be entered into the record, present a written copy of his/her speech to the secretary.

According to Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, §48,

In an ordinary society, unless the minutes are to be published, they should contain mainly a record of what was done at the meeting, not what was said by the members. The minutes should never reflect the secretary’s opinion, favorable or otherwise, on anything said or done.

The secretary will provide Minutes Committee members with detailed instructions on the recording of the action.

Minutes Committee members work in shifts. No one, except the secretary, is taking minutes the entire session. When committee members are recording, they do so alongside others. Usually 2-3 committee members are recording at one time. When action is heavier, more members are recording. This allows for breaks. There are often long spans in which no action is taking place, e.g., during a keynote address. During these times, committee members may be told by the secretary that they can relax and even leave their post for a short time. When looking at the assembly program, Minutes Committee members do not take minutes outside of the “business meetings,” meaning committee members have no obligations at worship, workshops, etc..

Minutes Committee members should be able to use a laptop or mobile device on which they can engage in simple typing. Most committee members prefer to provide their own device because of familiarity. A few laptops are kept handy for those members who do not have their own. Basic typing skills are helpful—hunt & peck will not serve well.

It is also important that a Minutes Committee member have hearing sufficient to understand what is said by the speakers at the mics. Being able to pay attention is also important.

Page 205 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

It is not necessary that the Minutes Committee members know everyone in the synod. Speakers and those making motions are required to announce their names whenever they come to the mic for their benefit. 13.3.3. Committee on Reference & Counsel

Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, (RONR) assumes one committee handles both the review of submitted resolutions and the drafting of resolutions. Our assembly distributes those two functions to different committees. Our Committee on Reference and Council (usually referred to as, “Reference & Counsel”) performs most of the functions described under the heading, “Resolutions Committee,” in RONR §59. Those functions which belong to a “drafting committee” are assigned, in our Bylaws, to our “Committee on Resolutions.”

Our Reference & Counsel is charged, under our Bylaws, as follows:

B7.16. A resolution of a general character which is not germane to the pending question or report shall be given by the proposer to a Committee of Reference and Counsel, which shall report thereon to the assembly with its recommendations. Other duties of the committee shall be (a) to recommend special orders for the hearing or representatives, (b) to grant or deny permission to distribute printed matter not issuing from the office of the secretary and © to give such assistance to the bishop as may be desired in the course of the assembly.

Reviewing Resolutions

The primary duty is the review of all resolutions and memorials submitted to the Synod Assembly that are “of a general character which is not germane to the pending question.” What’s that mean? If a member rises immediately after a report and offers a resolution in response to the report, the resolution is germane, i.e., it relates to the report. Such a resolution does not go to Reference & Counsel (unless ordered by the assembly). If member or a congregation or conference offers a resolution that has nothing to do with a report or other action taking place on the floor, the resolution is, most likely, not germane. These automatically go to Reference & Counsel. Most of the time, these will be submitted in advance of the Synod Assembly. If a member writes a resolution while Synod Assembly is in session, and that resolution is not germane to pending business, it should be given to Reference & Counsel and not moved on the floor by the member. Even if the member does move it on the floor, the chair, if, in the judgment of the chair, it is not germane, should immediately order its referral to Reference & Counsel.

Reference & Counsel reviews each resolution and memorial submitted and reports to the assembly on each. In that report, Reference & Counsel may, at its discretion, recommend adoption or rejection. It may also recommend amendment. It may recommend any course of action allowable to a committee advising the assembly (i.e., to set consideration as a special order, to refer, to lay on the table, to postpone, to postpone

Page 206 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

indefinitely, etc.). It may also report on a resolution with “no recommendation.” Unless overruled by the assembly, Reference & Counsel may determine the order in which it reports on the resolutions and is free to request consideration en bloc, seriatim, etc.. When reporting on resolutions and memorials, the resolution or memorial in question shall be considered moved and seconded by virtue of the report and will be before the assembly for debate unless Reference & Counsel objects to consideration (RONR §26), which would then put the question of consideration before the assembly.

Recommending Special Orders

Reference & Counsel may propose special orders for the hearing of representatives, members, etc.. This provision is a hedge against episcopal tyranny. While members have defined rights under parliamentary law, non-members do not. It is possible that a representative of a synod-affiliated agency (or some other person) requests time on the agenda and the bishop (who drafts the agenda) refuses to provide it. That agency rep may approach Reference & Counsel, petitioning for time to address the assembly. Reference & Counsel, if it so chooses, may propose special orders for the hearing of that representative, and the assembly would have the right to adopt or reject the proposal. A member too might want to address the assembly on some topic, and the member could petition Reference & Counsel for the privilege.

It should be kept in mind that the entity protected is not the representative. The entity protected is the assembly. Only members have rights in the assembly (unless certain rights are accorded through the governing docs or the will of the assembly), and a fundamental right of the assembly is to hear from those the assembly believes it would benefit from hearing. Reference & Counsel protected this prerogative on behalf of the assembly. Reference & Counsel also protects the assembly from abuse of the podium/mic by not recommending special orders when the speaker would not assist the assembly in its deliberations.

Distribution of Printed Material

As the preceding section protects people from the bishop, this provision addresses tyranny by the secretary. If the secretary refuses to allow distribution of some specific printed material, the sponsor of that material may approach Reference & Counsel as something akin to a court of appeals. Reference & Counsel can order such distribution without interference by the secretary or the chair.

Assist the Bishop

Reference & Counsel may be enlisted by the bishop to assist as needed. Typically, this assistance is around matters of consequence before the assembly. Reference & Counsel, next to the parliamentarian, is the bishop’s place to seek advice and counsel during the assembly.

Page 207 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

13.3.4. Committee on Resolutions

For the purposes of the WV-WMD Synod Assembly, a distinction is made between the Committee on Resolutions (Resolutions Committee) and the Committee on Reference and Counsel (Reference & Counsel). In addition to the rules that govern committees in general, Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, (RONR) describes the work of the Resolutions Committee, as we intend the term, in RONR §53. RONR §59 relates to the work of Reference & Counsel and is not applicable to our Resolutions Committee.

Our Resolutions Committee serves as the drafting committee of the assembly. If you remember the musical 1776, you will remember the Continental Congress assigning to Adams, Jefferson, Franklin, etc. the task of drafting a resolution declaring independence for the consideration of the assembly. That is a good representation of the work of a drafting committee, the difference being that our Resolutions Committee is not ad hoc, i.e., only assigned to one particular topic. As a standing committee of the assembly, our Resolutions Committee handles the drafting of all resolutions ordered by the assembly and not otherwise assigned to an ad hoc committee. Keep in mind, any member of the assembly may prepare his/her own resolution, but a resolution presented by an individual member is handled under our rules for Reference & Counsel.

As a standing committee of the assembly, the assembly may refer any matter as a topic to the Resolutions Committee with instructions to draft a resolution for the consideration of the assembly. For example, should it come to pass during the course of the assembly’s deliberations that a member of the assembly believes there should be a resolution before the assembly on the purchase of pink flamingo law ornaments by the synod for distribution to all congregations, that member makes a motion on the assembly floor to instruct the Resolutions Committee to draft such a resolution. The member making such a motion may include further instructions for the committee. That motion from the floor would be itself debated by the assembly and possibly amended. If it is adopted, the instructions are referred to the resolutions committee with orders to draft a resolution to that effect. The Resolutions Committee would then meet, at the call of the committee chair, and set about the task of drafting such a resolution. The committee would have the freedom, within the limits of the instructions provided by the assembly, to draft the resolution as it sees fit. It also has the duty to report that it cannot comply if it deems such a resolution would be illegal. Once it has completed the drafting process, the Resolutions Committee reports to the assembly, presenting the resolution it has drafted. A minority report is possible. That would be an example of a referral to the resolutions committee. That has rarely happened, but it can. It can also happen at any point during the assembly’s session.

The Resolutions Committee may, at its discretion, draft any resolution which it believes would further the work of the assembly. For example, if, in the course of debate, there seems to be a mood in the assembly favoring a specific change in the logistics of Synod Assembly, the Resolutions Committee may draft a resolution (without being ordered to do so) to that effect and put it before the assembly for consideration. Such proactive work on the part of the Resolutions Committee can help the assembly (which is often short

Page 208 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

of members skilled in parliamentary deliberation) find its voice.

The other task of the resolutions committee is the review of reports submitted to the assembly and the generation of such resolutions as may seem appropriate in response. For example, the 2007 Synod Assembly Resolutions Committee drafted a resolution that admonished then Chap. Riegel for the use of too much Latin in his reports, instructing that he include translation aids in the future.

Resolutions Committee is free to draft a “closing resolution,” i.e., a resolution that thanks folks or makes some final comment upon the proceedings of the assembly, but there is no requirement that it do so.

The Resolutions Committee can be one of the most important committees in an assembly. Proper composition of such a committee should include a mix of people. There should be at least one parliamentary geek. There should be at least one person with the sense of the overall working of the synod in relationship to its congregations and a larger Church. There should be at least one word smith. The rest should be people of common sense and ability to listen to what is happening on the floor, sense the mood of the assembly, and put it into words. 13.3.5. Ushers

This is not wedding ushering; an assembly usher doesn’t have to escort folks to their seats while wearing a tux. Ushers do, however, provide important support to the assembly’s work.

It should also be noted that the ushers form a team. It is often not necessary that all the ushers do everything together. The Ushers’ Chair may divide the work up so that ushers are not on duty at all times.

During elections

When the Chair announces the sealing of the chamber, the ushers seal the chamber. If there are doors, the ushers close them and stand guard. If there are no doors, the ushers stand in the portals (or other obvious points of egress). The ushers may let people leave, but they do not let people enter until the Chair orders the chamber unsealed.

The ushers make sure that voting members are before the bar of the assembly and non-voting members are behind the bar. The bar is a line the separates the two. This is important because the tellers have to know who to give ballots to.

At the request of the Elections Committee Chair, the ushers assist in the distribution and collection of ballots.

Page 209 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

Distributing printed material

When necessary, ushers distribute written material to the attendees. This can either involve walking through the chamber and leaving stuff at people’s spots, giving a sufficient number to the folks at the ends of the pews, or standing at a portal and handing papers to those entering the chamber. It depends on what it is and when it is.

Herding cats

Prior to each meeting of the assembly, one or two ushers will be needed to direct voting members to sit before the bar and visitors behind the bar (unless an individual is granted a dispensation by the Chair or the Ushers’ Chair).

At the beginning of each meeting or whenever the assembly is about to resume business, the ushers direct people back to the chamber. This needs to be done after meals, breaks, and recesses.

At any point the assembly is in movement, e.g., breaking up for workshops, going to meals, going to worship, etc., the ushers position themselves such that they can direct people.

Safety and Security

Ushers also keep an eye open for dangers, be it a chair in doorway or a fire in the lobby. If it is a simple safety fix, e.g., moving that chair out of the path of egress so that no one trips over it, the usher takes care of it. Major problems should be brought to the attention of the the Ushers’ Chair.

If an emergency takes place, ushers help clear the area and any egresses so that emergency personnel can gain access quickly.

Other duties as assigned

The catchall! Ushers may be called upon to assist with all manner of things.

Page 210 of 211 Bulletin of Reports - SA.2019

14. Take Our Survey!

Make smarter decisions
www.zoho.com/survey
You have disabled JavaScript in your browser, in which case you will have to enable it to properly use this site.

Synod Assembly 2019 Attendee Survey

The survey can also be accessed here: Click here to take survey

2019 WV-WMD Synod Assembly Attendee Survey

Page 211 of 211

* I attended as a: