Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
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29 August 2026
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
Psalm 145 (appointed in our lectionary for 2 August 2026) includes the verses Luther employed in his table prayer for blessing the meal. To learn more, click here.Clergy Changes
We announce The Rev. Amelia Collin's resignation from St. Thomas, Charles Town, WV, and the deaths of The Rev. Richard Hembrock and The Rev. Joe Connor. For full stories, visit our Clergy page.IRS Increases Mileage Rate
The IRS Standard Mileage Rate increased to 76¢ per mile, effective 1 July 2026. Details are posted here.Help! I Have To Plan Worship (without a
Pastor)
With new congregations entering pastoral vacancy, it is a
good time to remind everyone that the synod provides several
resources for worship planning. Visit our Worship
page to get started.ELW Mass for Ordinary Time (Following Pentecost)
A new template and planners' edition for the ELW's Service of Holy Communion in Ordinary Time following Pentecost has been added to our Liturgy for Ordinary Time (Season of Pentecost) page. It is in MS-Word and can be cut and pasted into your congregational worship bulletin. Simply insert your hymn numbers or verbally announce them.ELW Service of the Word Template
A pew edition template for ELW Service of
the Word has been added to our Liturgy
for Ordinary Time (Season of Pentecost) page. It is in
MS-Word and can be cut and pasted into your congregational
worship bulletin. Simply insert your hymn numbers or
verbally announce them. To accompany this template a planners'
edition has also been added. The planners' edition
includes extensive discussion of liturgical options.| Workshop Description
& Worksheet |
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
Synod Assembly 2026 has adjourned sine die, but the mop up work is far from over.A summary of the actions is now available in the preliminary proceedings (accessible online from our our Synod Assembly 2026 page). The finalized proceedings are not quite ready.
Directories
Directories of congregations, clergy, lay voting members, etc. are included in the proceedings. You can help us verify their accuracy by reviewing them and reporting inaccurate information to Synod HQ at Registrar@wv-wmd.org.Synod Assembly 2027
The search is on for a venue for Synod Assembly 2027. Find out what questions get asked in the process on our Synod Assembly page. |
 |
Occasionally, a congregation, agency, or individual will have something they either want to sell, give away, or acquire. To that end, we've set up The Exchange, a place to post items and requests. There are two items (a total of forty choir robes) now posted on The Exchange. Check them out, and feel free to contact the Synod Office if you have something to request or post.
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.
℅St. Paul Lutheran Church, 309 Baldwin Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-363-4030 + Porter@WV-WMD.org