WVCC Faith & Public Policy Forum

The West Virginia Council of Churches annual Faith & Public Policy Forum will be held 23 September 2026 in Charleston, WV. For the first time, a panel discussion, "Perspectives on Faith in Action," featuring speakers from across the ecumenical spectrum, will be part of the day. As usual, a public hearing will be held in connection with the development of the WVCC's Public Policy Booklet for 2027.The forum is open to all. For more details, visit our Social Ministry page.

WVCC Annual Assembly

Advance information on the West Virginia Council of Churches' 145^th Annual Assembly is now available on our Education for Clergy & Laity page. To be held 16 November 2026 under the theme "American Christian or Christian in America.: Faithfully Following Jesus in a Time of Idolatry and Division," the assembly will feature The Rev. Beau Underwood, co-author of Baptizing America: How Mainline Protestantism Helped Build Christian Nationalism. Registration is now open; link posted on our Education for Clergy & Laity page.

Is Your Congregation Generating Revenue?

The Church Property Resource Hub has a new online book, What About Taxes?!!! A Guide for Churches Starting to Generate Revenue. When a congregation begins to explore income generating activities through social enterprise or renting property there often is anxiety around tax status. We have created this tool to help you ask the right questions related to the tax issues as it concerns income generating activities and churches. Visit our Congregations page for download link.

Stewardship Kaleidoscope

Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference featuring inspiring plenary speakers, engaging workshops, meaningful worship and valuable networking opportunities for those passionate about stewardship and generosity, will be held 21-23 September 2026 at Inner Harbor, Baltimore. For more information, visit our Education for Clergy & Laity page.

Lecture: Martin Luther and the Called Life

The Rev. Dr. Mark Tranvik will lecture in Wheeling as part of the Upper Ohio Valley Conference's Reformation Weekend festivities. Tranvik is Professor of Reformation History and Theology, Luther Seminary, and a respected scholar whose most recent work has focused on vocation in daily life. Open to all, the lecture we be held 10:00 a.m., Saturday, 24 October 2026, at Grace Lutheran Church (Bethlehem), Wheeling, WV. There is no charge. An optional $10 luncheon will follow (RSVP is required). A worship service will take place after lunch. For more information, visit our Education for Clergy & Laity page.

Portico Health Plan Selection Approaches

Congregations and Clergy should be preparing to make their health plan selections for CY2027. Information is posted on our Clergy Wellness page.

Mission Support for 2027

The mission support formula for 2027 has been posted on the synod's Mission Support page. You will also find there the mission support request letter, the commitment forms, and remittance forms.

Clergy Compensation for 2027

The Synod Council has published the Clergy Compensation Guidelines for 2027 on the Clergy Compensation page. You will find there the complete Clergy Compensation Kit for 2027 and the Clergy Compensation Calculator for 2027.

Ethics

A dedicated Ethics page has been uploaded, a move occasioned by approaching deadlines for public comment on both

• reconsideration of Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust (2009) and
• reconsideration of Homelessness: A Renewal of Commitment (1990).

Also included on the page is information about the Journal of Lutheran Ethics, its podcast, and the upcoming Lutheran Ethicists Gathering on AI.

Flooding

Information related to flood response and how you can help is posted on our Social Ministry page.

Youth Gathering 2027

Information is rolling out about Youth Gathering 2027. Visit our Youth page for links to official ELCA communications.

Esther Comes to Garrett County and Hagerstown

Mountainside Baroque is producing Georg Frideric Handel's first Oratorio, Esther. Most know his Messiah, but Esther is rarely performed. This masterful musical work retells one of the most dramatic stories in the Bible. Performances will be held in Garrett County (Sept. 26) and Hagerstown (Sept. 27), providing easy access for those in Western Maryland, North-Central West Virginia, and the Eastern Panhandle. Consider making this a congregational outing. Click here for more information.

Go Tell It IN the Mountains

WV-WMD has received official word from Go Tell It IN the Mountains, a Lilly funded initiative to promote excellent preaching, that all its resources are available for use by our clergy, lay preachers/readers, and those training to be preachers. Seminars, workshops, and print material is found on the Go Tell It IN the Mountain's website. To learn more, visit our Education for Clergy & Laity page.

Luther's Table Prayers

Luther's Table Prayers

Clergy Changes

IRS Increases Mileage Rate

Help! I Have To Plan Worship (without a Pastor)

ELW Mass for Ordinary Time (Following Pentecost)

ELW Service of the Word Template

Workshop Description & Worksheet

Essence, Works, and Ends

Rostered Ministers Gathering 2026 concluded July 9. Several hundred attended the event held in Indianapolis. Bishop Riegel led a well-attended and well-received workshop titled "Essence, Works, and Ends: A Philosophical Model for Discussing Ecclesiastical Purpose." If you would like your own workshop (in your congregation, conference, or ministerium), let him know.

Synod Assembly 2026

Directories

Synod Assembly 2027

The Exchange

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.

Synod Website Updates

The synod website updates frequently (as in often) and irregularly (as in not on a particular schedule). Click here (or on the picture at right) to find out what has been recently updated.