Constitutional Amendments
  Approved by Synod Assembly 2026
Awaiting Ratification by
Church Council of the ELCA
9 June 2026
The 2026 Synod Assembly approved several amendments to the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod under †S18.12; these are now in effect.

Additionally, the Synod Assembly approved four amendments under †S18.13(b); these are not in effect until ratification by the Church Council of the ELCA. Ratification is expected in the late fall of this year. These amendments (requiring ratification) are here listed (underlining indicating additions, strikethroughs deletions).

S10.10.
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.
S10.11.
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).
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.
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.

   



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