Synod Council is required to meet at least twice a year, but ours typically meets three to four times during the year with special meetings held, often by teleconference, as needed. 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.

Summary of Actions, 1 December 2025

A special meeting of the Synod Council convened 1 December 2025 by Zoom, the following actions taken.

Polity Matters

• To recommend to the Synod Assembly the amendment of the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod by appending the underlined material as follows to S10.09:

S10.09. A majority of the members, excluding the youth member, of the Synod Council shall constitute a quorum. The members who attend a meeting that has been previously adjourned for one or more periods aggregating at least 6 days because of an absence of a quorum, although less than a quorum as fixed by this provision, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon any matter set forth in the notice of the meeting if the notice states that those members who attend the adjourned meeting shall nevertheless constitute a quorum for the purpose of acting upon the matter.

• To recommend to the Synod Assembly the amendment of the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod by creation of S10.10 to read:

S10.10. The Synod Council may by a two-thirds vote declare vacant the seat of a Synod Council member (other than that of an officer whose removal is governed under †S8.57) who

a)     has been judicially declared of unsound mind,
b)     has been convicted of an offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, or for any other proper cause which the constitution and bylaws may specify,
c)     does not accept the office either in writing, within 60 days after notice of election, or by attending a meeting of the board of directors, or
d)     has been persistently absent in the judgment of the Synod Council by failure to

1) attend in-person meetings,
2) attend meetings by electronic means (under †S10.09.01), or
3) acknowledge mail ballots (under B10.08).

• To recommend to the Synod Assembly the amendment of the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod by creation S11.06 to read:

S11.06. The Finance Board of the this synod shall consist of three to six members, not including the treasurer who shall be a member ex officio. The Finance Board members shall be appointed by Synod Council for a term of two years and be eligible for re-election without term limitation. The terms of the Finance Board members shall be staggered. The Finance Board may adopt its own bylaws subject to ratification by the Synod Council. The Finance Board shall be responsible for the management of the synod's reserves and investments with authority to hold, invest, and liquidate investment within the parameters set by Synod Council and shall perform such other duties as may be committed to it by Synod Council or the governing documents of this synod.

• Acknowledging the resignation of Abigail Spray from the office of Synod Secretary, to appoint David Finney (St. Paul Lutheran Church, Morgantown) Synod Secretary.

Financial Matters

• To order the treasurer to purchase of a 5-month CD for $50,000 in January 2026. Carried.
• To authorize the treasurer to allow the $50,000 CD maturing 22 December 2025 to automatically renew at his discretion. Carried.