West Virginia Council of Churches

2023 Report to the West Virginia-Western Maryland ELCA Synod

Greetings from the West Virginia Council of Churches! Although the COVID pandemic was still very much in force last year, the West Virginia Council of Churches weathered the storm well and, we were able to achieve some major accomplishments.

First and foremost, the Council was pleased to welcome the Charleston Black Ministerial Alliance as an Associate Member of the Council! Membership on the Council now includes 15 member body denominations and two associate members.

The work of the Dismantling Racism Task Force has been important in the life of the Council. The Task Force led the 2022 WVCC Board Retreat and has been focusing on establishing a memorial for lynching victims in West Virginia, hopefully to be placed on the West Virginia Capitol grounds.

The Council addressed the issue of COVID-19 by producing two new COVID-19 Vaccination PSAs; distributing a COVID-19 vaccination information flyer and letter to congregations; and by holding several Faith and Health Town Halls on COVID-19 with West Virginia state health officials.

The Interfaith Program Unit successfully held a webinar on the Jewish Holiday of Tu B’Shevat, often known as the Birthday of the Trees. The webinar is available on the Council’s Facebook page.

The Government Concerns Program Unit was very busy this past year. In advocating for the Extended Child Tax Credit, the Council launched its most major initiative since confronting the gambling issue at the West Virginia State Legislature. Some of our activities on this issue included four published op-eds; two meetings with Senator Manchin; visiting with staff from Senator Shelley Moore Capito’s and Rep. David McKinley’s office; and meeting with Josh Dickerson, Senior Advisor for Public Engagement, White House Office of Public Engagement. The Government Concerns Program Unit also continued the tradition of having a “Compassion Calls Us” Day at the Legislature this past February.

Other important accomplishments for last year included:

• Publishing the results of our foster and kinship listening sessions and helping to sponsor the 2022 Caring for Kids in Care Conference.
• Providing a grant to The REACH Initiative for rapid reentry.
• Participating in the Synodical listening process at the invitation of Bishop Mark Brennan, Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston.
• Holding the 141 st Annual Assembly of the West Virginia Council of Churches. The Assembly featured a keynote presentation by Rev. Sekinah Hamlin, Minister of Economic Justice, United Church of Christ; workshops on Ministry to Mothers in Prison, the Aftermath of COVID and the Condition of Our Faith, The Dangers of Christian Nationalism, and Practical Steps to Reconciliation and Healing in America; an Interfaith webinar on Repentance, Reparation, and Reconciliation; presentation of the Mary Virginia DeRoo Award to Bishop Mike Klusmeyer; and closing worship.
  

Thank you for all your support of the West Virginia Council of Churches!

Peace,
Jeffrey S. Allen
Executive Director
WEST VIRGINIA COUNCIL of CHURCHES
2207 Washington Street East
Charleston, WV 25311-2218
phone 304.344.3141
www.wvcc.org