Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws

Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws to the 2021 Synod Assembly

Amendments to Bylaws

Set I

The Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws recommends the following amendments to the Bylaws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to take effect immediately:

B9.09. All terms of office, except as otherwise provided in the constitution and bylaws of the Synod, shall begin the first day of the second month September 1 following election.

B10.08. Synod Council and all other committees may, at the discretion of the chair, employ mail (including asynchronous telecommunications) voting so long as all members have been notified of the call for vote and have acknowledged that call for vote, a unit veto striking down the question.

Set II

The Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws recommends the following amendment to the Bylaws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to take effect immediately:

B7.12. Holy Communion shall be administered at each regular synod assembly.

Set III

The Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws recommends the following amendment to the Bylaws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod to take, per our rules, at the end of this session:

B7.03. The bishop of synod shall appoint the following convention committees:
• Committee on the Bishop’s Report
• Committee on Elections
• Committee on Minutes
• Committee on Reference and Counsel
• Committee on Registration and Attendance
• Committee on Resolutions
• Committee on Worship

B7.15. The report of the bishop to each regular synod assembly shall be referred to the Committee on the Bishop’s Report, which shall study the same, make the appropriate comment thereon and transmit to the assembly the recommendations of the bishop together with any additional relevant recommendations of its own that it may deem desirable.

B9.02. Ninety days prior to the Synod Assembly, the Nominating Committee shall post on the synod website, shall post on The Bishop’s Roadshow, and shall send to the pastors of the Synod a list of the offices and positions to be filled by election and a list of positions to be filled by appointment to the pastors of the Synod and to the presidents/vice presidents of the congregational councils and to the Conference officers and shall invite nominations for these offices and positions.

B9.03. Nominations by pastors, and congregational councils, conferences, and voting members of synod congregations, along with the necessary vita information requested by the Nominating Committee, shall be sent to the Nominating Committee within thirty days.

B9.04. The Nominating Committee shall nominate a minimum of two persons for each office and position to be filled by election, with the exception of those positions assigned to young adults, youth, or persons of color and/or primary language other than English.

B9.06. The Nominating Committee shall suggest to the Synod Council one nominee for each position to be filled by appointment. The Synod Council will make necessary appointments after its meeting held during the Synod Assembly.

B10.01. The Synod Council shall consist of the four officers of the synod, four pastors, six lay members, and one youth member and one young adult.
a) Four pastors shall be elected, one from each of the four conferences.
b) Six lay members shall be elected, one from each of the four conferences and two members at large. As far as possible, 50% of the lay members shall be male and 50% shall be female.
c) The youth member shall be elected at large. The youth member shall not have reached the age of 18 at the time of election.
d) The young adult member shall be elected at large. The young adult member shall be between (and inclusive of) the ages of 18 and 30 at the time of election.

B10.03. The Synod Council shall meet in regular session at least three times a year. Any additional meeting(s) shall be by call of the vice president, the bishop, the presiding bishop of the ELCA, or petition by ⅓ of the voting members of the council as the council deems necessary.

B10.06. From within its membership, and also including other members of the synod as it desires, the Synod Council shall appoint a Mutual Ministry Committee. The committee shall seek to give encouragement by its concern for the spiritual, emotional and physical well-being of the synod bishop and of assistants to the bishop. It will offer support when they are experiencing personal or pastoral stress. It will allow for open communication concerning attitudes and conditions within this synod.

B10.07. From within its membership, and also including such other members of the synod as desired it desires, the Synod Council shall appoint a Budget and Finance Committee.

B11.11. The Synod Council shall appoint the chairpersons of committees and commissions from among the membership of the committees and commissions.

B11.16. The Synod Council shall appoint the Synod’s representatives to the West Virginia Council of Churches. Each appointment shall be for a two-year term. The West Virginia Council of Churches shall indicate how many representatives shall be appointed.

B12.01. There shall be four conferences designated as follows:

B12.01. There shall be four conferences designated as follows:
a). Monongahela Valley – Mountain Conference
1. Bittinger MD, Emmanuel
2. Jennings MD, Zion
3. Swanton MD, St. John’s (Meadow Mountain)
4. Clarksburg WV, St. Mark
5. Davis WV, St. John
6. Elkins WV, Holy Trinity
7. Fairmont WV, Grace
8. Grafton WV, Church of the Covenant
9. McHenry MD, Shepherd of the Hills
10. Morgantown WV, St. Paul
11. New Milton WV, St. Johannes
12. Oakland MD, St. Mark’s
13. Accident MD, St. Paul’s
14. Accident MD, St. John’s (Cove)
15. Friendsville MD, Grace
16. Aurora WV, St. Paul
17. Red House MD, St. John’s
b). Ohio – Kanawha Valley Conference
1. Beckley WV, St. Luke
2. Charleston WV, Trinity
3. Huntington WV, Christ the King (Barboursville)
4. Huntington WV, St. Paul
5. Hurricane, WV, Cross of Grace
6. Letart WV, St Mark (Upper Flats)
7. New Haven WV, St. Paul
8. Point Pleasant WV, St. Peter
9. Ravenswood WV, Our Saviour
10. Parkersburg WV, First
11. Vienna WV, Christ
c). Potomac Conference
1. Martinsburg WV, St. John
2. Martinsburg WV, Trinity
3. Charles Town WV, St Thomas
4. Harpers Ferry WV, St John
5. Sharpsburg MD, Holy Trinity Memorial Evangelical
6. Petersburg WV, Grace
7. Baker WV, Zion
8. Moorefield WV, Mt. Olive (Peru)
9. Gore VA, Fairview
10. Rio WV, Ebenezer
11. Wardensville WV, St. Peter
12. Yellow Spring WV, Hebron
13. Franklin WV, Faith
14. Minnehaha Springs WV, New Hope
15. Moyers WV, St. John
16. Upper Tract WV, Mt. Hope
17. Brandywine WV, Calvary
18. Keyser WV, Trinity
19. Westernport MD, Mt. Calvary
20. Shepherdstown WV, St. Peter
21. Uvilla WV, St. James
d). Upper Ohio Valley Conference
1. Wheeling WV, First English
2. Wheeling WV, Christ (Mozart)
3. Wheeling WV, Grace (Bethlehem)
4. Wheeling WV, St. James
5. Wheeling WV, St. Mark (Elm Grove)
6. Weirton WV, Trinity
7. Wheeling WV, St. Matthew (Benwood)
8. Wheeling WV, Trinity
9. Moundsville WV, Messiah
10. New Martinsville WV, Good Shepherd

Jason Felici
Sally Bartling
Matthew Riegel

Implementing Resolution #1: To adopt the recommendation set forth in Set I in the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws.

Implementing Resolution #2: To adopt the recommendation set forth in Set II in the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws.

Implementing Resolution #3: To adopt the recommendation set forth in Set III in the Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Bylaws.