Listed here are the candidates, arranged by the position for which they are nominated, along with their congregation of members, place of residence, and accompanying exposition. N.B., in some cases, the candidates have written their own expositions; in others, the expositions have been written by someone else.
Position: Synod Council – Ohio-Kanawha Valley Conference – Clergy
Candidate: Tom Darr
Congregation: Christ, Vienna
Residence: Vienna, WV
Tom has served 21 years as an ordained pastor, He has completed the training for intentional interim training in 2016 as well as redevelopment training in 2015. He is currently in a new call at Christ Lutheran Church in Vienna, WV.
Candidate: Kevin L. Mackey
Congregation: St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
Residence: Huntington, WV
Ordained pastor for 35 years currently serving at St Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church. Former Dean is SW Penn Synod of ELCA and Ohio Kanawah Valley Conference of WV-WMD Synod.
Position: Synod Council – Potomac Conference – Clergy
Candidate: Jason Felici
Congregation: Mountain Lutheran Parish, Franklin
Residence: Franklin, WV
Jason is currently serving on Synod Council. He is eligible for re-election. He is a valuable member of the council. His knowledge of parliamentary procedure is extensive. Jason is also a life-long Lutheran from this synod.
Candidate: John Unger
Congregation: St. John Lutheran Church, Harpers Ferry
Residence: Martinsburg, WV
With God’s strength, helping church congregations overcome challenges while supporting them as they fulfill their mission through the love of Jesus Christ.
Position: Synod Council – Upper Ohio Valley Conference – Clergy
Candidate: William “Bill” Ridenhour
Congregation: First English Lutheran, Wheeling
Residence: Wheeling, WV
Bill is finishing his first term on Synod Council. He is an invaluable member to the council, as he shares great wisdom and keeps the meetings moving forward. Bill has a deep knowledge of the Robert’s Rules of Order.
Candidate: Sean Smith
Congregation: Messiah, Moundsville
Residence: Moundsville, WV
Smith has served previously on Synod Council, proving himself to be an asset to the governance of the synod. He serves a 3-point cooperative ministry and has supervised several interns. He has been on the territory for roughly 12 years. He serves on the Candidacy Committee and the Synodical Lay Worship Leaders Commission. He has served on the seminary board of directors. He has also served as a catechist at Camp Luther.
Position: Synod Council – Mon Valley-Mountain Conference – Laity
Candidate: John B Knoll
Congregation: St Mark Clarksburg
Residence: Clarksburg, WV
John is a retired Data Processing Manager for Petrol Developers, Is active in his church as council, endowment committee, Thrivent Chapter officer, etc. He enjoys traveling and hiking (Appalachian Trail) . He has a daughter and son in law who are Lutheran ministers in Ohio. I feel he is well qualified for this position and will serve you well.
Candidate: Stephanie Setley
Congregation: St. Paul, Morgantown
Residence: Morgantown, WV
B.A. – WVU. M.A. – Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. Alum – Lutheran Campus Ministry at WVU. Tech Team – ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza. Synodical Development of Lay Worship Leaders Comm. WELCA Participant. Employment – Security Dispatch, West Viginia University, Ruby Hospital.
Position: Synod Council – Youth
Candidate: Andrew “A.J.” Beckett
Congregation: Grace, Wheeling
Residence: Wheeling, WV
A.J. is an active youth in his church. He recently served commendably on their call committee helping to craft the Ministry Site Profile and interview candidates. He would make an excellent youth representative on our synod council, and it would give him more leadership experience within the larger church.
Candidate: Tiana Tauber
Congregation: First Lutheran Church, Parkersburg
Residence: Parkersburg, WV
Tiana Tauber has participated in Camp Luther and is involved at First Lutheran Church Parkersburg as a reader. She is a junior in High School at Parkersburg Catholic and plays volleyball and basketball. She is interested in serving on Synod Council.
Position: Consultation Committee – Clergy
Candidate: Ruth Bullwinkle
Congregation: St. John’s, Davis
Residence: Davis, WV
I have been in this synod for 9 years. I have been on Synod Council for 5 years. I know most of the clergy and many of the congregations of the synod. One of my gifts is being a calming presence. I have also had some training in conflict management.
Candidate: Tom Darr
Congregation: Christ Lutheran, Vienna
Residence: Vienna, WV
I have served 21 years as an ordained pastor, I have completed the training for intentional interim training in 2016 as well as redevelopment training in 2015. I am currently in a new call at Christ Lutheran Church in Vienna, WV.
Position: Consultation Committee – Laity (male)
Candidate: Harry “Chap” Holbert
Congregation: Grace Bethlehem
Residence: Wheeling, WV
Over the years served as congregational President of Christ in Mozart and Zion in Wheeling. Filled in during pastoral absenses St. Paul in S Wheeling, St. Paul’s in Wolfhurst, OH, Trinity in Bridgeport, OH, and presently providing worship leadership at St. Johns in Martins Ferry, OH (3 years).
Candidate: John B Knoll
Congregation: St Marks Clarksburg
Residence: Clarksburg, WV
John is a retired Data Processing Manager for Petrol Developers, is active in his church as council, endowment committee, Thrivent Chapter officer,etc. He enjoys traveling and hiking (Appalachian Trail), and his family. He has a daughter and son in law who are Lutheran ministers in Ohio. He is well qualified for this position and will serve well.
Position: Consultation Committee – Laity (female)
Candidate: Lois Broyles
Congregation: Christ the King, Huntington
Residence: Barboursville, WV
Lifelong Lutheran, lay worship leader, several church councils. Worked for a non-profit organization managing a program for which I sent volunteers to teach English overseas.
Candidate: Sylvia “Sue” Hoffman
Congregation: Messiah Lutheran Moundsville
Residence: Wheeling, WV
Retired Registered Nurse, volunteer taking clients to appointments etc for our agency in Ohio. Previously served on church council and was treasurer for St Matthews before joining Messiah. Active in WELCA. I feel she would do very well on this committee with her background.
Position: Consultation Committee – Laity (MVMC female)
Candidate: Mary Sanders
Congregation: St. John’s, Red House
Residence: Oakland, MD
Nearly 16 years of environmental regulation, involving discretion, consistency, multiple communities and a willingness to listen.
Candidate: Darla Stemple
Congregation: St. Paul’s, Aurora
Residence: Aurora, WV, WV
Darla is an active member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aurora. She is a member of the church council. She has been elemental is keeping things running at St. Paul’s during their pastoral vacancy.
Position: Discipline Committee – Clergy
Candidate: Jason Felici
Congregation: Mountain Parish
Residence: Franklin, WV, WV
Jason has the experience of having served on the Discipline Committee 6 years ago. He has exhibited the temperament, judgement, and ministry experience needed to be an excellent addition to this committee.
Candidate: Sean Smith
Congregation: Lutheran Cooperative Ministries, Moundsville
Residence: Moundsville, WV
Sean would be great on the Discipline Committee. He is a strong voice in the synod. He is well-known and follows rules well.
Position: Discipline Committee – Laity
Candidate: Cheryl K. Stemple
Congregation: St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Aurora, WV
Residence: Aurora, WV
I have been a member of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Aurora, WV since my husband and I married in 1989. I have held many offices on Church Council through the years, and currently hold the office of Secretary of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church Council. For over 25 years I worked in the printing industry, and when I was forced to change directions due to a life changing diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis, I learned computers and have worked extensively with accounting. The things in my life that I feel would be useful in the position is that I listen well to others. I can look at both sides of an equation equally and logically, and while I ask God to guide me in the decisions that need to be made, I do not shy away from difficult situations.
Candidate: Richard “Dick” Strickler
Congregation: St. Marks Wheeling
Residence: Wheeling, WV
Retired Mechanical Engineer, Manager Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel, active in church as trustee, council, choir, fin. sec. president of council. Worked with Thrivent Financial Chapter in various jobs. Dick is very well qualified for this position and I know he would do very well
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