Constitutional and Bylaw Amendments
  Recommended by Synod Council
for Consideration by
Synod Assembly 2026

7 September 2025

The Synod Council of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod hereby serves notice of the following proposed amendments to the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to be considered by Synod Assembly 2026 (italics indicating additions, strikethroughs deletions).

Amendments not requiring notice per †S18.12:
  • †S8.51.c. [The terms of office of the officers of this synod shall be as follows:] The treasurer of this synod shall be elected appointed to a term of 4 2 years and may be re-elected reappointed. The treasurer shall serve until a successor takes office. {note well: the four (4) is being struck and replaced with two (2); because of typesetting, the strikethrough on the 4 is difficult to see}
  • S9.04. The bishop shall be elected by the Synod Assembly by ecclesiastical ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election on the first ballot. If no one is elected, the first ballot shall be considered the nominating ballot. Three-fourths of the legal votes cast on the second ballot shall be necessary for election. The third ballot shall be limited to the seven persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes (including ties in the final qualifying position) on the second ballot, and two-thirds of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. The fourth ballot shall be limited to the three persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes (including ties in the final qualifying position) on the third ballot, and 60 percent of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. On subsequent ballots a majority of the legal votes cast shall be necessary for election. These ballots shall be limited to the two persons (plus ties) who receive the greatest number of legal votes (including ties in the final qualifying position) on the previous ballot.
  • S10.05. No eElected members of the Synod Council shall not receive compensation solely for such their service as council members.
  • S10.0607. If a member of the Synod Council ceases to meet the requirements of the position to which she or he was elected, the office filled by such member shall at once become vacant.
  • S10.0708. The composition of the Synod Council, the number of its members, and the manner of their selection, as well as the organization of the Synod Council, its additional duties and responsibilities, and the number of meetings to be held each year shall be as set forth in the bylaws.
  • S10.09. Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition, shall govern parliamentary procedure of all meetings of the Synod Council.

Amendments requiring notice per †S18.13(b)

  • S11.04. The Mutual Ministry Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Committee of the Synod Council to provide support and counsel to the bishop. A Mutual Ministry Advisory Board shall be appointed jointly by the vice president and the bishop. Term of office on the board shall be 2 years, with 3 members to be appointed from the voting membership of the congregations of this synod each successive year, without term limitation. The vice president or his/her designee, who shall be a member of Synod Council, and the bishop shall be members ex officio of the board. The Mutual Ministry Advisory Board shall function as a board of this synod, adopting for itself such bylaws (subject to ratification by the Synod Council) and rules as best facilitate the fulfillment of its purpose. The duties of the Mutual Ministry Advisory Board shall be defined by continuing resolution.
The Synod Council of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod hereby serves notice of the following proposed amendments to the Byalws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to be considered by Synod Assembly 2026 (italics indicating additions, strikethroughs deletions).
  • S8.11.01. Upon dispensation by the Synod Council, the bishop shall be engaged for less than full-time service.
  • S8.11.02. Usual perquisites and honoraria shall not be denied the bishop, but both volunteer and compensated service beyond the terms of engagement shall be subject to review and approval by the Synod Council.

   



West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
℅ St. Paul Lutheran Church
309 Baldwin Street, Morgantown, WV 26505
304-363-4030  +  Porter@WV-WMD.org