The West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod (8-H) includes the 55 counties of West Virginia, 3 counties in Maryland (Allegheny, Garrett, and Washington), and 1 county in Virginia (western Frederick county).
We are one of 5 synods totally within Appalachia.

This has influenced not only our way of life, our heritage, but also our highway system. A favorite expression is
“You can’t get there from here, but it is a beautiful trip.”
We are truly a rural synod in the mountains, and of the mountains.

The West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod is:

• One of the 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
• One of the 8 synods of Region 8
• Divided into 4 conferences with 5 Deans
• Potomac
     East - The Rev. Dr. Fred Soltow
     West - The Reverend Larry Cantu
• Ohio-Kanawha Valley
     The Reverend Jeff Wick
• Monongahela Valley - Mountain
     The Reverend James L. Caton, II, Dean
• Upper Ohio Valley
     The Reverend Judith Marlow

Social Ministry
We have 1 Social ministry organization within the synod

• Community Lutheran Partners, Inc

Congregations

We have 65 congregations
We have 1 developing mission congregation.

Size of congregations by baptized members:

• 1-175 members     38
• 176-350 members   11
• 351-500 members    7
• 501-700 members    5
• 701-950 members    3
• 951-1500 members   1

Membership

We have 15,722 Baptized members.
We have 11,709 Confirmed members.
Our average weekly worship attendance is 4,112

Ordained Clergy / Lay Leaders

We have 43 Pastors under call.
We have 5 Pastors in specialized ministries.
We have 1 Pastor on leave from call.
We have 17 Retired pastors.
We have 1 Associate in Ministry.
We have 1 retired Associate in Ministry.
We have 21 Bishop’s Lay Worship Leaders.
We have 1 Lay church worker.
We have 2 Interns.
We have 11 students attending Seminary.

Partner Synods

Our Companion synod is the Betioky Atsimo Synod, Madagascar
Our Sister synod is the Indiana-Kentucky Synod

Copyright © 2007 - West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod 2008.
This site is maintained by the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod (ELCA) and is the authorized web site of that synod.
Questions, comments and recommendations for this site should be submitted to the web manager

Web site design by: Riverbend Consulting, New Haven, WV

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The West Virginia
Western Maryland
Synod

The Atrium
503 Morgantown Ave.
Second Floor
Fairmont, WV
26554-4374

Phone
304.363.4030

Fax
304.363.4042

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