VICE PRESIDENT’S REPORT TO 2023 SYNOD ASSEMBLY

After serving twelve years as vice president of our WV-WMD Synod, it is time to pass the mantle to new leadership. It has been a distinct honor to serve our synod in that position.

As I reflect over these twelve years, I would like to share highlights of these years, which include my own experiences as well as some of the changes our synod has experienced.

2013

The Synod Council formed a task force charged with planning a process named The Way Forward. The purpose was to consider the future directions of the synod, considering the changes the synod was experiencing. This task force recommended that Bishop Dunkin, Director for Evangelical Mission Helen Harms, and I should travel throughout the synod sharing observations of this task force as well as reviewing for the synod members the changes we were experiencing at that time.

2014

Bishop Dunkin, DEM Harms, and I travelled throughout the synod sharing this information, which included the financial realities we were experiencing. As Bishop Dunkin would be retiring in 2015, we also considered the various options for the role of our next bishop. The significant question asked was whether we should go with a full-time or a part-time bishop .
From feedback we received and the study made, it was determined that we needed to go forward with a full-time bishop.
A Transition Team was established to plan for the new bishop election in 2015 and how we should communicate the election process. Furthermore, we knew it was important that the synod members be aware of the challenges facing our synod as we moved forward with a new, full-time bishop.
The Transition Team also developed a synod profile that would not only be shared with the whole synod, but would also provide the new bishop, whomever would be elected, such background information on our synod.
The Transition Team planned to hold regional meetings throughout the synod to share this information.

2015

These conference forums were held with Bishop Dunkin, members of the Transition Team, and me presenting this information.
The Transition Team continued its work planning for a retirement recognition for both Bishop Dunkin and DEM Harms.
At the 2015 Synod Assembly, The Rev. Matthew Riegel was elected as our new bishop.
The Transition Team then continued its work in planning the Installation Service for Bishop Riegel, which was held September 26.

2016 and 2017

Dr. Gil Waldkoenig was contracted as new Director for Evangelical Mission. With his appointment, Bishop Riegel, DEM Waldkoenig, and I travelled throughout the synod as we held “Listening Post” meetings. As in our other two all-synod meetings, almost every congregation sent a representative to these gatherings.

2018

The financial reports to the 2018 Synod Assembly raised significant concerns regarding our future viability. The SA passed a resolution calling for the main focus of the 2019 SA to address our financial challenges.

2019

With the financial realities shared at the 2019 Synod Assembly, the SA requested that Synod Council rework the synod budget by discarding the current budget and building a new budget starting from scratch.
At this 2019 SA, I shared the following data about changes within the synod from 2009 to 2018:
- Baptized membership dropped by 33%, from 15,000 to 10,000;
- Weekly attendance dropped by almost 45%, from 4,300 to 2,400;
- Mission Support dropped by 33%, from $612,000 to $409,000
Yet, with these changes, I shared that the synod needed to remain as one whole synod to continue its work among all our congregations.

2020

COVID hit, impacting all congregations, and Synod Council meetings continued on ZOOM.
The Synod Finance Committee reworked the budget starting from scratch. This new budget was a balanced budget, bringing income and expenditures to be equal. The budget was approved by the Synod Council at its July meeting.
Due to COVID, the 2020 Synod Assembly was postponed to a date in 2021.
In a budget saving measure, the synod office was moved to St. Paul, Morgantown, and the office manager position was eliminated. Various part time positions were approved to assist with the new realities.

2021

In January, the Synod Council approved the contract hiring Pastor Sherri Schaffer as our new Director for Evangelical Mission.
The Synod Assembly was held October 16 as a one day event. At this SA, Bishop Riegel was elected to a second six year term on the first ballot.

2022

The Synod Council held a retreat on November 4 and 5 with the main objective to establish a key purpose and direction for our synod. This work for our synod is to: “Equip and train synod members to have the ability and confidence to share their faith . . . to say and share what Jesus means in her/his life.”
Lutherans generally find it difficult to share their faith, and yet Lutherans have a strong conviction that Jesus is at the center or their lives. We need to learn how to share this faith.
Addressing this purpose, DEM Sherri Schaffer will begin to work on this focus as she develops “Faith Formation” events.

In conclusion:

As I said at the outset, it has been a pleasure and a joy to serve our WV/WMD Synod as vice president these past twelve years. I am deeply indebted to both Bishop Dunkin and Bishop Riegel for their support. I also thank all those Synod Council members who have worked with me and served our synod over these years. I have full confidence that our synod will continue its ministry within our geographical boundaries. I pray God’s blessings on our new vice president.

Report of the Vice President