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Synod Council
of the
West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod

Synod Council meets regularly three to four times during the year with special meetings held, often by teleconference, as need. The Synod Council is chaired by the vice president. The membership of the Synod Council includes the four officers of the synod and twelve voting members from around the synod, representing a balance of clergy and laity, geographical distribution, and age. Click here for the roster of the Synod Council and its committees.

Consultation of 16 March 2024

The Synod Council, convened Saturday morning, 16 March 2024, in Morgantown, twelve representatives (pastors and [vice] presidents) of congregations of the Mon Valley-Mountain Conference being in attendance for a consultation. An invitation was issued to all the pastors of the conference and the congregational [vice] presidents. Five guiding questions were included as part of the consultation:

  1. What is happening in your congregation that makes you happy, excited, proud, hopeful, etc.?
  2. What challenges, anxieties, fears, etc. are your congregation facing?
  3. How are things going with the Mon Valley-Mountain Conference and in intercongregational relationships and work?
  4. What do you think our disposition toward Caroline Furnace be? What do you need to know to address this question?
  5. Where do you see synodical and Churchwide expressions fitting into all this?

Summary of Actions, 16 March 2024

Synod Council, meeting on 16 March 2024, took the following actions.

Appointments

  • To reappoint The Revs. Nancy Knol and Timothy Spence to the Board of Directors of the Tri-Synod Archives.
  • To establish a select committee to investigate possible legacy and planned giving with the ELCA Foundation for the synod.

Fiscal & Property Actions

  • To grant authorization for a fund-raising appeal to the congregations of the synod by Camp Luther, the appeal window closing 31 July 2014.
  • To accept the revised agreement with Thiel College for the housing of the Tri-Synod Archives.

Polity Actions

  • To have the bishop contact Caroline Furnace leadership, inviting them to come to a Synod Council meeting as soon as possible for the purpose of discussing possible disaffiliation.
  • To request that Camp Luther, by 31 July 2024, designate a team to review the financial prospectus and long-range stability of Camp Luther, including a) location, b) number of staff, and c) cost for families, with the director of Camp Luther to report responses to these questions to the Synod Council.

Roster Management Actions

  • To renew authorizations for extended ecumenical service by The Rev. Susan Claytor to St. Luke's, Beckley, and The Rev. Darick Biondi to Cross of Grace, Hurricane, WV.
  • To renew authorization for local altar & pulpit fellowship by The Rev. John "Jack" Jackson to St. Peter's Lutheran Church, Pt. Pleasant, WV.

Program

In addition to the consultation, Ryan Ebner, Tri-Synod Planned Giving Officer, ELCA Foundation, gave a presentation on legacy and planned giving and the services provided by the ELCA Foundation.

Next Meeting

The Synod Council adjourned to Friday, 26 April 2025, 5:00 p.m., at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Morgantown.


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