Headline
News
(21
May 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.
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.
Congrats, Christensens!
And we forgot to mention yesterday that Sems. Hillary and
Evan Christensen, are now Hillary Christensen, M.Div., and
Evan Chistensen, M.Div.. Both graduated 20 May 2022 from
United Lutheran Seminary. Both Hillary and Evan earned
certificates in Town and Country Church Ministry. In
addition, Evan graduated with honors in Biblical Studies
and in Church History & Theology. The Christensens
were the first seminarians to serve internships in the
WV-WMD Synod under the ELCA's Holy Innovations Grant. The
grant proposal brought together the Mountain Lutheran
Parish, served by The Revs. Jess and Jason Felici, and the
Chapel on the Mount, the Episcopal Church congregation at
Snowshoe, making it possible to provide internships over
two years. Hillary was the first intern, engaged in that
field work while Evan took classes remotely. The second
year, they switched. The Christensens are presbyteral
candidates of the Nebraska Synod. They plan to return to
Nebraska, taking with them not only the ministry
experience gained on our mountains and in our hollows but
also their infant son, Wilder Lane Christensen.
Women of the ELCA Meet in Morgantown
The Women of the ELCA met in Morgantown, 21 May 2022, at
St. Paul Lutheran Church for a day of education,
fellowship, and activity. Chap. Courtney Erzkus led a
Bible study for the gathering and talked about the work of
the Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. A quilting project
was undertaken. Announcements related to the upcoming
convention, to be held at Canaan Valley Resort in
September, were made. Lunch with a chance to enjoy each
other's company, something that has not been done in
person since the beginning of the pandemic, took place in
the festively decorated fellowship hall. If you would like
to connect with the WV-WMD WELCA, visit their facebook page.
Synod Assembly 2022
Call of the Assembly
By order
of the Synod Council of the West
Virginia-Western Maryland Synod of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, a
regular meeting of the Synod Assembly
shall convene on Saturday, 4 June 2022, at
10:00 AM, at the Mon County 4H Center,
Mylan Park, Morgantown, WV. |
|

Synod Assembly 2022: On-Line Registration Now Open
On-line registration for Synod Assembly 2022 is now open.
Visit our Synod
Assembly 2022 page for complete information on who
should register and how to register.
COVID Mitigation
Synod Council, at its 9 April 2022 meeting, set COVID
mitigation policy for the up-comping Synod Assembly. You may
review it at our Synod Assembly 2022 page.
Budget & Bylaws
Synod Council, in its 19 May 2022 special meeting, voted to
refer to Synod Assembly, with recommendation to adopt, both
the budget proposal for FY2023-2024, as prepared by the
Finance Committee, and the proposed changes to the bylaws,
as prepared by the Bylaws Committee. Both will appear in the
Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports that will be
published on 25 May 2022.
Pretty Much Everything You Might Like to Know about
Synod Assembly at This Point
You will find at our Synod Assembly 2022 page
information related to registration, time & venue,
nominations, resolutions & memorials, reporting &
exhibiting, communications, COVID mitigation, etc.,
etc., etc..
Big News for Pam Pritt
Pam Pritt, member of New Hope, Minnehaha Springs, and
former member of the WV-WMD Synod Council and the ELCA
Church Council, has been named the Executive Editor of WVU
Magazine communications. You can read the big news on MOUNTAINEERENEWS. Pritt is in the
foreground of the photo at right, pic taken at Churchwide
Assembly 2019; sorry, it is the only photo we have on
file.
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 a page dedicated to Pentecost has been
uploaded. These pages provide advice on liturgical form
and the managing church appointments. Check out our Worship
Aids for Pastoral Vacancy page. The pages for Holy
Trinity and Ordinary Time are expected out by the end of
this coming week.
Bartling To Be Installed
The Rev. Sally Bartling will be installed at St. Luke's,
Cumberland, MD, on Sunday, 22 May 2022, at 3:00 p.m..
Before you start worrying that she is leaving
Keyser---we've already received one panicked call---read
the full story in the "Transitions"
section of our Clergy page.
You will also find there news about other clergy
movement. For example, The Revs. Erzkus have been
installed at WVU. The Rev. Darick Biondi of the United
Methodist Church has been invited to extended ecumenical
service to Cross of Grace. The Rev. Curtis Black
receives a call to Bethlehem. Read all about it.

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.
SLWL: Licensed Readers
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.
Sermon Library On-Line
The first edition of the sermon library for Synodical Lay
Worship Leaders is now online. To learn more about the
SLWL program and the first level license, the "reader," click here.
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.
Camp Luther: Camper Registration Opens
Camper registration for Camp Luther 2022 is now open. Visit
our Camping
Ministry page for more information.
Working Vacation
WV-WMD is exploring a "working vacation" program. Some of
our congregations in pastoral vacancy have parsonages, and
those parsonages are located in some beautiful central
Appalachian country. By offering clergy (retired, on
sabbatical, on leave from call, working on a dissertation,
etc.), in return for some ecclesiastical service (Sunday
service, a round of shut-in calls, and the handling of any
emergencies that come up) the clergy gets lodging and access
to peace and quiet and recreational opportunities afforded
by the territory. To find out more, click
here
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.
Educational Opportunities
The Education for Clergy &
Laity page lists a wide variety of educational
offerings. To find out about this offering and other
offerings, click here.
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. |