| Synod
Assembly of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod |
The West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod gathered in assembly, June 2-3, under the theme...
Faith Comes from What Is Heard
A Digest
The
30th
Assembly of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
convened in Vienna, WV, on Friday, June 2, 2017, under
the theme, “Faith Comes from What Is Heard,” First
Lutheran Church, Parkersburg, serving as the host
congregation.
Pre-assembly
activities included:
- Sternwheeler cruise on the Ohio River that featured a covered dish dinner co-hosted by First Lutheran, Parkersburg, and Christ Lutheran, Vienna.
- Evening beer sampling of home brew for clergy at Pr. Ian Reid’s.
- Friday morning Matins at Christ Lutheran Church, Vienna, under the leadership of Pr. Theobald-Rowlands.
The
Synod Assembly Mass was held Friday night at First
Lutheran Church, Parkersburg. Luther’s 1526 Deutsche
Messe was employed for the liturgy (albeit in
English). The offering was designated for the Lutheran
seminary in Bezaha, Madagascar.
The
Rev. Paul Hoffman was featured speaker at the assembly.
Seventeen lay participants joined Pr. Hoffman for
training in catechumenal Bible study the morning before
the assembly convened. During the assembly, the assembly
participants split up into seventeen small groups, each
facilitated by one of the newly trained leaders. Pr.
Hoffman also spoke to the assembly several times about
the catechumenal model and faith formation. Super
well-received.
Mr. Andrew Steele, Director of Global Church Sponsorship, served as Churchwide representative.
Mr. Andrew Steele, Director of Global Church Sponsorship, served as Churchwide representative.
In
order to accommodate a request by a presenter for a
minimum hour to cover the Women & Justice study, the
assembly adjourned at 1:45 PM until 3:30 PM so that
concurrently, during the adjournment, the following
could be held:
- Ms. Pamela Pritt, a member of the Church Council of the ELCA and member of the ELCA’s Women & Justice TF, introduced, Faith, Sexism, Justice: Conversations toward a Social Statement, leading an overflowing lecture room through Module 2.
- An open hearing of the Resolutions Committee, chaired by The Rev. Jerry Kliner, in which the committee and interested attendees heard reports from the several church-affiliated agencies and entities that usually report to the assembly.
Vice-President
Paul Wangerin’s highlighted the “listening posts” being
conducted around the synod, reporting that they have
been well-received and that analysis is ongoing.
Treasurer
Joseph Solberg (the youngest treasurer, perhaps officer,
in the ELCA) gave a very sobering report on the fiscal
situation, highlighting that the reversal in mission
support decline was short lived. A 2018 budget was
adopted that draws $23K from unrestricted reserves.
Hosting
pastor, Pr. Ian Reid, reported on our trip to Madagascar
and the companion synod relationship.
A
resolution from a member acknowledging the 55 years of
ordained service and impending retirement of The Rev.
Larry Cantu was adopted.
The Resolutions Committee presented three resolutions (in addition to the concluding resolution). Two related to flooding and one related to Madagascar.
The Resolutions Committee presented three resolutions (in addition to the concluding resolution). Two related to flooding and one related to Madagascar.
- A resolution related to the flooding of the church camp while it was in session,
- Praising the dean of the camp and the staff for their work related to the evacuation of the camp;
- Praising the Emmanuel Assembly of God, Cowen, WV, and the people of the local community for providing shelter and necessities to the evacuated camp; and
- Praising the Webster County emergency services community and Camp Caesar for their efforts during the evacuation.
- A resolution commending Community Lutheran Partners for its flood relief and recovery work and calling for the members and the congregations of the synod to resupply and refill CLP’s disaster cache and bank account with attention to maintaining the general operating fund.
- A resolution authorizing Synod Council to explore formalizing a companion synod relationship with the Betroka Synod, Malagasy Lutheran Church, and confecting the same should there by no obstacles.