Workshops

This assembly includes a several workshops, most of which are keyed to the primary focus of the assembly’s deliberations, namely, the fiscal position of the synod. There will be three sets of concurrent workshops, each workshop being thirty minutes in length with five minutes to move between them. The workshops will be at 4:00, 4:35, and 5:10 PM. The concurrent workshops are also arranged by “tracks.” One track will focus on the income side of the synod. Two tracks will look at expenses: Expense Track A focuses on grant recipient agencies; Expense Track B is, with some exceptions, spending internal to the synod. There will also be a non-financial track. You are not required to follow one track through all three concurrent workshops; you may jump from one to another to suit your interests. Room assignments may change; listen for announcements. The descriptions of each workshop follows.

4:00 PM

Mission Support (Victoria Floor & Joseph Solberg; Bruce Dalton, moderator): Building off the keynote presentation, this workshop permits participants to dive deeper into questions surrounding mission support.

Campus Ministries (Sally Bartling & Tony Setley; Sean Smith, moderator): The Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU is a Lutheran, center-based campus ministry. The Campus Ministry at Potomac State is a parish-based campus ministry shared by the local Lutheran congregation and the local Methodist congregation.

Synod Programs (Matthew Riegel; Paula Mitchell, moderator): Candidacy (for ministry), Pastoral Care, First Call Theological Education, Rostered Leader Debt Reduction, and much more are supported by lines in this synod’s budget under the general category heading, “Synod Programs.” There are also things that don’t have specific lines but are still functions of the synod (e.g., mobility and call process, discipline, and oversight). Find out what they are and what they do.

Evangelism (Tim Spence): Grace Lutheran Church has been doing some interesting things in outreach and evangelism. Spend some time with Pr. Spence to find out what has been happening in Bethlehem.

4:35 PM

Synod Investments and Funds (Joseph Solberg; Bruce Dalton, moderator): This synod has a small investment portfolio. This synod also has a diverse collection of restricted (and self-restricted) funds. This workshop examines both.

Camping Ministries (Matt Day & Jess Felici, Paul Wangerin, moderator): Camp Luther and Caroline Furnace provide camping ministry opportunities. Both have been supported by the WV-WMD Synod since its formation. The two camps have very different structures (physically, administratively, and programmatically).

Polity (Matthew Riegel; Paula Mitchell, moderator): Synod Council, Synod Assembly, Region 8, West Virginia Council of Churches all have budgetary dimensions. In addition, there is the Mission Support which passes through this synod to the Churchwide expression, and there are relational expenses that are under other lines. This workshop explores the web of relationships that come with being a synod.

Bible Study (Michael Wright): One of our most recent arrivals in the synod, Pr. Wright, will lead a brief Bible Study. Wright writes, “I’ll be looking at Matthew 14:22-33, when Jesus calls Peter from the boat and lead a discussion on Thanksgiving for Baptism regarding not just that we are washed and claimed by God in it, but that in our baptism we are also called to events and things that will challenge us.”

5:10 PM

Legacy & Planned Giving (Ryan Ebner; Paul Wangerin, moderator): Ryan Ebner, the Tri-Synod Planned Giving Officer, brings with him the resources of the ELCA Foundation, helping individuals, congregations, and church-related agencies think about legacy and planned gifts that can support and sustain the ministries you care about far into the future.

Social Ministry Organizations (Sherri Schafer; Pam Pritt, moderator): From the high point of five social ministry organizations to the current two, this synod supports Community Lutheran Partners, Inc., and Glade Run. What’s the latest in the social ministry world in Central Appalachia?

Payroll & Office (Joseph Solberg; Bruce Dalton, moderator): There is a cost to doing business. We have staff, an office, insurances, travel, tech, and much more that is usually behind the scenes. Bring your spreadsheets for this tour of the back office.

Prayer (Christine Olson): Pr. Olson has been leading the Synod Council in an exploration of prayer, and she delivered a thought-provoking paper at SCALD II on the topic. Join her for a conversation about prayer and how we might as individuals and as a synod grow into a more prayerful relationship with God.