Headline
News
(2
July 2022)
Synod Website
Updates
We've moved the list of updates to the WV-WMD.org to a
page of its own. Click here
(or on the pic at right) to find out what has been
recently updated.
IRS Mileage Rate Change
The IRS has announced a mid-year increase to the
standard mileage deduction for business travel. Beginning
1 July 2022, the standard deduction for business travel
will be 62.5¢ per mile. This is an increase of 4¢, the
rate for 1 January 2022 through 30 June 2022 being 58.5¢.
N.B., this affects the supply preaching/presiding
rate, as the compensation level for such is set to the IRS
standard and, thus, automatically adjusts.
Mutual Ministry Committee and the Driesen Manual
In partial fulfillment of an order from Synod Assembly
2021, information about the Driesen Manual has been
uploaded to the website on a new page, Mutual Ministry
Committee and the Driesen Manual. You will find
there an explanation an a link to the manual.
Synod Assembly 2022 Synopsis
The synopsis of Synod Assembly 2022 is now online. Visit the
Synod Assembly 2022 to find out
what happened.
Educational Opportunities
Have you checked out the latest updates to the Education
for Clergy & Laity page? The page lists a wide
variety of educational offerings. Click on the link to
explore.
SLWL: Licensed Readers
On-Line Reader's Sermon Library
The third edition of the sermon library for Synodical Lay
Worship Leaders is now online, adding sermons for the
first part of the Pentecost season. To learn more about
the SLWL program and the first level license, the
"reader," click here. You'll also find
there a link to the library.
Licensed Readers Page Uploaded
A page dedicated to explaining the Licensed
Readers aspect of the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders
program has been uploaded. You'll also find an application
for licensure on the page.
Apply To Be a Reader (Supply Preacher)
The Synodical Lay Worship Leaders Program is now online,
and applications are being accepted for the reader
license. A reader does not write his/her own sermon but
reads a sermon and leads worship. This is the first of the
licenses available under the SLWL program. To learn more,
visit
the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders page.
Worship Aids for Pulpit Vacancy
The constellation of pages to assist congregations in pulpit
vacancy with worship planning continues to evolve.
Originally uploaded on 14 May 2022, updates have been added
daily, and pages dedicated to Pentecost, Holy Trinity, and
Ordinary Time (following Pentecost) have been uploaded.
These pages provide advice on liturgical form and the
managing church appointments. Check out our Worship
Aids for Pastoral Vacancy page.
Supply Preachers Added
If you are responsible for securing supply preachers but
haven't checked the Supply
Preaching & Presiding page lately, you should.
In just the last week, her have added four new people
available for supply.
Seminary
Graduations
Congrats, Sanders!
Sem. Mary Sanders is no longer Sem. Mary Sanders. Now,
Mary Sanders is Mary Sanders, M.A.M.L., and she moves on
to her next step in candidacy: approval. Sanders
graduated, 20 May 2022, from United Lutheran Seminary with
Master of Arts in Ministerial Leadership. In addition to
two years of class work, Sanders was required to do a
year-long internship, which she fulfilled in a split-time
arrangement between St. John’s, Davis, and WV Catholics
for Sustainable Economy. Sanders is diaconal candidate of
the WV-WMD Synod. The M.A.M.L. degree program supports the
ELCA's diaconate. The ULS website, under the degree
program, states, "Deacons serve in congregations and other
ministries of the ELCA, including family ministries,
youth, administration, volunteer ministry, social
services, music or parish nursing. Deacons connect the
church with the needs of the world and work to equip
others to lead a living, active and caring Christian
life." Sanders is currently employed as the Executive
Director of Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.. To learn
more about Sanders in her CLPi capacity, click
here.
Stay, Pray, and Play
The "Working Vacation" program announced several weeks back
has a new name thanks to Cindy Murphy. We won't get
everything "rebranded" until after Synod Assembly. In the
meantime, explore it here.

Home Base: Youth Event
Something is going to happen right here in WV-WMD. Home
Base is a youth event taking place in the synod this
summer, 25-28 July, in Morgantown, WV. The infographic
gives you some basics, but full information can be found
on our Youth page.
Camp Luther: Camper Registration Opens
Camper registration for Camp Luther 2022 is now open. Visit
our Camping
Ministry page for more information.
Bishop's Pastoral: On Baptism during a Pandemic
At the direction of the Synod Assembly, Bishop Riegel has
published a pastoral letter addressing matters related to
baptism during a pandemic. This is now available on a
webpage, "On Baptism
during a Pandemic," and also a PDF downloadable from
that page. The pastoral includes a discussion of the
benefits of baptism, of the importance of baptism during a
pandemic, and of matters directly related to baptismal
practice under pandemical conditions. If you downloaded
the PDF previously, be advised that it is revised as of 21
January 2022, here.
Mission Support Pledge Form Available for Download
It was brought to our attention that the mission support
commitment (pledge) form was not properly uploaded. We've
fixed that problem, and, now, you can download it. Visit
our Congregations
page for information, instructions, and various mission
support forms.
Clergy Compensation Package and Mission Support Request
posted
Synod Council has acted on both the Clergy Compensation Package
recommendation for 2022 and the Mission Support Request
for 2022. For details, click the links.
Call Openings
Three congregations just activated their MSPs. With several
clergy vacancies across the territory, there are
opportunities for clergy interested in serving in the WV-WMD
Synod. Visit the clergy
page to find out whats available (or will be available
once the MSP is completed).
Are you looking to learn something?
We have a webpage dedicated to educational opportunities
for both clergy and laity. Not surprisingly, it is titled,
Education for Clergy & Laity. Check
it out.
Bishop's Roadshow: Time to Resubscribe
We are rebuilding the mailing list for the Bishop's Roadshow
from scratch. Even if you were subscribed, you will have to
subscribe again. More information and subscription links here.
If you haven't checked out the members portal...
Don't forget to take a peek of the members portal (click the
button at right near the top of this page). It's not
password protected. We only call it the "members portal"
because it's mostly stuff that deals with the internal
workings of the synod. Visitors looking for more general
information about the synod, will probably find the "guest
portal" more interesting. |