Proposed Amendment of the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
†S18.12. Whenever the secretary of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America officially informs this synod that the Churchwide Assembly has amended the Constitution for Synods, this constitution may be amended to reflect any such amendment by a majority vote at any subsequent meeting of the Synod Assembly without presentation at a prior Synod Assembly. An amendment that is identical to a provision of the Constitution for Synods shall be deemed to have been ratified upon its adoption by this synod. The Church Council, through the secretary of this church, shall be given prompt notification of its adoption.
The following are offered as proposed amendments to the Constitution of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod, these proposed amendments conforming with select amendments by Churchwide Assembly 2022 to the Constitution for Synods.
Strikethroughindicates a proposed deletion of text.- Italic indicates a proposed insertion of text.
S7.22. This synod may establish processes that permit retired rostered ministers, or those granted disability status, or on leave from call, on the roster of the synod to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly, provided that such processes not result in fewer than 60% of the voting members of the Synod Assembly being laypersons in contravention of consistent with †S7.21.c. If the synod does not establish processes to permit the rostered ministers specified above to serve as voting members, they shall have voice but not vote in the meetings of the Synod Assembly.
S7.26. This synod may establish processes through the Synod Council that permit lay representatives of authorized worshiping communities of the synod, which have been authorized under ELCA bylaw 10.01.04., to serve as voting members of the Synod Assembly, consistent with †S7.21.
S7.27. This synod may establish processes through the Synod Council to grant a minister of Word and Sacrament from a church body with which a relationship of full communion has been declared and established by the Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the privilege of both voice and vote in the Synod Assembly during the period of that minister’s service in a congregation of this church.
S8.42. The treasurer shall provide and be accountable for: […] c. Receipt and acknowledgment of offerings, contributions, and bequests made to this synod, collecting interest and income from its invested funds, and paying regular appropriations and orders on the several accounts as approved and directed by the Synod Council. The treasurer shall transmit each month to the treasurer of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America the funds received by this synod for the general work of this church as well as any funds to support restricted programs of this church. […] f. Obtaining a fidelity bond in the amount determined by the Synod Council for persons handling synod funds, which bond shall be in the custody of the secretary. The premium for the bond shall be paid by this synod. Fidelity coverage provided by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America shall be deemed a fulfillment of this requirement.
S11.10. General Provisions
S14.13. The pastor a) shall keep accurate parochial records of all baptisms, confirmations, marriages, burials, communicants, members received, members dismissed, or members excluded from the congregation, b) shall submit a summary of such statistics annually to this synod, and c) shall become a member of the congregation upon receipt and acceptance of the letter of call. In a parish of multiple congregations, the pastor shall hold membership in one of the congregations.
S14.15. Each minister of Word and Sacrament on the roster of this synod shall submit a report of his or her ministry to the bishop of the synod at least 90 days prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
S14.34. Each minister of Word and Service on the roster of this synod shall submit a report of his or her ministry to the bishop of the synod at least 90 days prior to each regular meeting of the Synod Assembly.
Proposed Amendment of the Bylaws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod
†S18.21. This synod may adopt bylaws not in conflict with this constitution or with the constitution and bylaws of the churchwide organization. This synod may amend its bylaws at any meeting of the Synod Assembly by a two-thirds vote of voting members of the assembly present and voting. Newly adopted bylaws and amendments to existing bylaws shall be reported to the secretary of this church.
The following are offered as proposed amendments to the Bylaws of the West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod. Explanation for each proposed amendment follows the stating of the provision.
- The prorivision to be amended is in bold.
- The explanatory material is indented.
Strikethroughindicates a proposed deletion of text.- Italic indicates a proposed insertion of text.
S7.21.01. Voting members shall begin serving with the opening of upon their registration for a regular Synod Assembly and shall continue serving until voting members are seated at the next regular Synod Assembly.
Makes it explicit that a voting member is seated upon receipt of registration which is usually done in the time between the call of the assembly (officially 60 days before assembly) and the day of the assembly. Seating prior to the convening of the assembly allows key assembly committees to operate legally in the lead up to the assembly. While this has been our practice, changes made to non-required provisions of the Constitution for Synods, could lead to confused interpretation. This change mitigates that possibility. Although this is coded with an S prefix, it is a bylaw as indicated by the third set of numerals.
B9.03. The Nominating Committee shall nominate a minimum of two persons for each office and position under its purview to be filled by election by the Synod Assembly, with the exception of the vice president and those positions assigned to young adults, youth, or persons of color and/or primary language other than English, for which the Nominating Committee shall nominate at least one person.
Brings provision into concord with provisions that locate the nomination of the Synod Secretary and the Synod Treasurer in the Synod Council.
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 following election.
Provision voided by Churchwide Assembly 2022’s amendment of †S8.52.
B11.14. The synodical women’s organizational president or her appointee will serve as the representative of the synodical women’s organization to the Synod Council and will report to the Synod Council and the Synod Assembly.
In part, eliminates an unnecessary duplication of “B10.04. The president of the synodical women’s organization or her appointee will serve as an advisory member of the Synod Council with voice, but without vote,” and eliminates a claim of authority over WELCA that the synod does not have (i.e., the synod cannot demand that the synodical women’s organization report to either the Synod Assembly or the Synod Council, as the relationship is not one of a subordinate entity). Striking this provision does not remove the privilege of reporting.
B11.15. The synod bishop or the bishop’s appointee, if requested by the synodical women’s organization, will serve as the representative of the synod to the synodical women’s organization and will provide reports to the board meetings and conventions of the synodical women’s organization.
Again, eliminates a claim of authority over WELCA that the synod does not have. The synod cannot demand that a separately incorporated affiliate that is not a subordinate entity seat the bishop (or the bishop’s appointee). The proposed amendment, however, does require that the bishop (or the bishop’s appointee) respond to a request for such if issued by WELCA.
B12.01(a)17. [There shall be four conferences designated as follows: Monongahela Valley – Mountain Conference] Red House Redhouse MD, St. John’s.
Redhouse is one word.
B12.01(b)6. [There shall be four conferences designated as follows: Ohio – Kanawha Valley Conference] Letart WV, St Mark (Upper Flats).
St. Mark, Upper Flats, Letart, WV, closed this past fall.
Submitted,
Laurel Muhly-Alexander
Matthew Riegel
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