WEST VIRGINIA-WESTERN MARYLAND SYNOD
OF
THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
MINUTES
Thirty-sixth Annual Assembly
1 June 2024
Monongalia County Extension Services & 4-H Center
Mylan Park
270 Mylan Park Lane
Morgantown, WV 26501
MEETING I: 10:00 – 11: 45AM
OPENING EXERCISES
RITE FOR THE OPENING OF THE ASSEMBLY – The Rt. Rev. Matthew Riegel, bishop, declared the assembly in session at 10:15 AM after The Rev. Karen Erskine-Valentine led opening devotions.
REPORT OF THE REGISTRATION COMMITTEE –
The Assembly agreed by unanimous consent to accept the committee’s report from chairman, Laurel Muhly-Alexander as follows: as of 10:00 AM
100 voting members
1 advisory member
13 visitors
3 staff members
117 TOTAL
VOTED SA24.06.01
The Assembly voted to accept the Rules of the Assembly as printed in the 2024 Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports (Section 4.2).
VOTED SA24.06.02
The Assembly voted to amend the proposed agenda by adding special orders at 11:00 AM to hear a report of no more than five minutes each for the following six ministry affiliates: Lutheran Campus Ministry, Community Lutheran Partners, Camp Luther, ELCA Foundation, and the National Lutheran Association on Scouting.
VOTED SA24.06.03
The Assembly adopted the agenda as printed in the 2024 Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports (Section 4.1) and amended in SA24.06.02.
VOTED SA24.06.04
The Assembly adopted the motion to divide the offering equally between Lutheran Campus Ministry, Community Lutheran Partners, and Camp Luther.
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE –
Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle reports per B9.04 of the Synod Bylaws that the Nominating Committee submits the following nominations:
for Synod Council — Mon Valley Mountain Conference — Clergy, Mary Sanders and Tony Setley
for Synod Council — Ohio Kanawha Conference — Laity, Vivian Grate and Ernie Miller
for Synod Council — Potomac Conference — Laity, Patricia Anzalone and Rick Losh
for Synod Council — Upper Ohio Valley Conference — Laity, Marilyn Jacobs and Alice Tribett
for Synod Council — At-Large — Laity, Bruce Dalton and Doug Hovatter;
for Synod Council — Youth, Evan Holbert;
for Synod Council — Young Adult, Mackenzie Rice
for Consultation Committee — Clergy, Tom Darr and Sherry Miller;
for Consultation Committee — Laity, Darla Stemple and Nancy Weeks;
for Discipline Committee — Clergy, Daniel Collins and Paul Shaffer;
for Discipline Committee — Laity (female), Sue Hoffman and Cindy Murphy; and
for Discipline Committee — Laity (male), Richard Niehaus and Richard Strickler.
for Churchwide Assembly — Clergy, Ruth Bullwinkle and Daniel Collins
for Churchwide Assembly — Lay Male, A.J. Beckett and Bruce Dalton
for Churchwide Assembly — Youth/Young Adult, A.J. Beckett and Laurel Muhly-Alexander
for Churchwide Assembly — Person of Color/Language Other Than English, Amelia Collins; and
for Church Council of the ELCA — Clergy Male, Daniel Collins and Rick Egtvedt
The bishop called for floor nominations, and when there were none, he closed the nominations.
REPORT OF THE BISHOP
The bishop gave his report honoring church anniversaries as well as pastoral anniversaries.
Church Anniversaries
175 Years (Quartoseptcentennial)
St. John Lutheran Church
Harpers Ferry, WV 25425
Founded: 1849
Ebenezer Lutheran Church
Baker, WV 26801
Founded: 1849
150 Years (Sesquicentennial)
St. Paul Lutheran Church
New Haven, WV 25265
Founded: 1874
125 Years (Quasquicentennial)
Trinity Lutheran Church
Wheeling, WV 26003
Founded: 1899
100 Years (Centennial)
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church
Charleston, WV 25311
Founded: 1924
50 Years (Semicentennial)
Calvary Lutheran Church
Franklin, WV 26807
Founded: 1974
Pastor Anniversaries
10 years The Rev. Nancy Knol
The Rev. Curtis Black
15 years The Rev. Sean Smith
20 years The Rev. Deb Gable
The Rev. Matt Holbert
30 years The Rev. Jim Wicker
The Rev. Randy Nairn
SPECIAL ORDERS CALLED AT 11 AM for reports
Report from Lutheran Campus Ministry – Chaplain Courtney Erzkus
Report from Community Lutheran Partners – Mary Sanders
Report from Camp Luther – Rev. Director Karen Erskine-Valentine
Report from ELCA Foundation – Ryan Ebner
Report from National Association of Scouting – Wayne Stuckey
SPECIAL ORDERS CALLED AT 11 AM FOR ELECIONS
REPORT OF THE REGISTRATION COMMITTEE
Laurel Muhly-Alexander, Registration Committee Chair, reported the following numbers as of 11:20 AM: 100 voting, 1 advisory, 13 visitors, and 3 staff.
After the first ballot was distributed and collected, the meeting adjourned for lunch at 11:45 AM.
MEETING II: 1:15 – 3:00 PM
Bishop Riegel called the meeting in session at 1:21 PM.
CHURCHWIDE REPRESENTATIVE – Jodi Slattery, Executive for Governance in the ELCA, addressed the assembly.
REPORT OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
Andrea Brock, committee chair, reported the following election results:
Synod Council, Mon Valley Conference clergy – 99 legal votes cast with 50 votes needed for election – Mary Sanders 52, Tony Setley 47. The bishop declared Mary Sanders elected.
Synod Council, Ohio/Kanawha Conference laity – 97 legal votes cast with 49 needed for election – Vivian Grate 51, Ernie Miller 46. The bishop declared Vivian Grate elected.
Synod Council, Upper Ohio Valley Laity – 91 legal votes cast with 46 needed for election – Marilyn Jacobs 47, Alice Tribett 44. The bishop declared Marilyn Jacobs elected.
Synod Council at Large Laity – 95 legal votes cast with 48 needed for election – Bruce Dalton 54 and Doug Hovatte 41. The bishop declared Bruce Dalton elected.
Synod Council Youth – 95 legal votes cast with 48 needed for election – Evan Holbert 95. The bishop declared Evan Holbert elected.
Synod Council Young Adult – 94 legal votes cast with 47 needed for election – Mackenzie Rice 89 and Abbie Spray (write in) 5. The bishop declared Mackenzie Rice as elected.
Consultation Committee/ Clergy – 96 legal votes cast with 48 needed for election – Rev. Tom Darr 39 and Rev. Sherry Miller 57. The bishop declared Rev. Sherry Miller elected.
Consultation Committee/Laity – 96 legal votes cast with 48 needed for election – Darla Stemple 37 and Nancy Weeks 59. The bishop declared Nancy Weeks elected.
Discipline Committee/Clergy – 97 legal votes cast with 49 needed for election – Rev. Paul Schafer 69 and Rev. Daniel Collins 28. The bishop declared Rev. Paul Schafer elected.
Discipline Committee/laity/female – 96 legal votes cast with 48 needed for election – Sue Hoffman 52 and Cindy Murphy 44. The bishop declared Sue Hoffman elected.
Discipline Committee/Laity/male – 92 legal votes cast with 46 needed for election – Richard Niehaus 63 and Richard Stickler 29. The bishop declared Richard Niehaus elected.
Churchwide Assembly/clergy – 97 legal votes cast with 49 needed for election – Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle 74 and Rev. Daniel Collins 23. The bishop declared Rev. Ruth Bullwinkle elected.
Churchwide Assembly/laity/male – 98 legal votes cast with 49 needed for election – A.J. Beckett 60 and Bruce Dalton 38. The bishop declared A.J. Beckett elected.
Churchwide Assembly/youth/young adult – 98 legal votes cast with 49 needed for election – Laurel Muhly-Alexander 74 and A.J. Beckett 24. The bishop declared Laurel Muhly-Alexander elected.
Churchwide Assembly/person of color or language other than English – 94 legal votes cast with 47 needed for election — Rev. Amelia Collins 93 and Rev. Ben Erzkus (write in) 1. The bishop declared Rev. Amelia Collins elected.
Church Council of the ELCA/clergy (vote for 2) – 97 legal votes cast with 49 needed for election – Rev. Daniel Collins 68 and Rev. Rick Egtvedt 66. The bishop declared both elected.
REPORT OF THE BISHOP – PART II (cont)
The Assembly divided into small breakout groups to discuss Bishop Riegel’s presentation concerning the advantages and disadvantages of alternative models or ministry.
REPORT OF THE ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
Andrea Brock, committee chair, reported the following election results:
Synod Council/Potomac Conference/laity – 96 legal votes cast with 48 needed for election – Rick Losh 52 and Patricia Anzalone 44. The bishop declared Rick Losh elected.
REPORT OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
Nancy Weeks, vice-president directed the Assembly to her written report in the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY
Secretary Norma Gensler directed the Assembly to the report of Synod Council and Executive Committee actions for 2023-24 as printed in the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports.
REPORT OF THE TREASURER
Treasurer Jim Nichols directed the Assembly to the proposed budget for 2025-2026 as presented in the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports.
VOTED SA24.06.05
The Assembly voted to adopt the proposed budget for FY 2025-2026 (SC24.04.21) as recommended by the Synod Council. The motion passed.
THE REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF EVANGELICAL MISSON
The Rev. Sherri Schafer reported on a vision for change in ministry for our Synod. Her written report is in the Pre-Assembly Bulletin of Reports.
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON RESOLUTIONS
no report
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON REFERENCE AND COUNCIL
Rev. Tony Setley recommended the adoption of a resolution to define the term limitations for Synod Council clarifying when positions begin and end.
Resolution to fix the beginning of term for members of Synod Council and Certain Standing Committees
Whereas, The current governing documents of this synod do not specify when the term begins for Synod Council members (other than officers); and
Whereas, The current governing documents of this synod do not specify when the term begins for members of either the Consultation Committee or the Discipline Committee; and
Whereas, Explicit alignment of the beginning of term for these elected positions with that of the officers would both decrease confusion and facilitate a smooth transfer of duties; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That B10.02 of the bylaws of this synod be amended by the addition of a paragraph c to read, “The term for members of Synod Council shall begin on the first day of the third month following election or, in special circumstances, at a time designated by the Synod Council.”
Resolved, That Chapter of 11 of the bylaws of this synod be amended by the addition of B11.16 to read, “The term for members of standing committees elected by Synod Assembly shall begin on the first day of the third month following election or, in special circumstances, at a time designated by the Synod Council.”
The Rt. Rev. Matthew Lynn Riegel, S.T.M.
The Rev. Sean Smith
VOTED SA24.06.06
The assembly approved the resolution to define the Synod Council and standing committee members’ term dates.
REPORT OF THE BYLAWS COMMITTEE
The Assembly dispensed the reading of the proposed bylaws by consensus.
VOTED SA24.06.07
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B7.03.
B7.03. The bishop of synod shall appoint the following convention committees:
- Committee on Elections
- Committee on Minutes
- Committee on Reference and Counsel
- Committee on Registration and Attendance
- Committee on Resolutions
Committee on Worship
VOTED SA24.06.08
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B10.02.a
B10.02.a. [Terms of office:] Four pastors, six lay members, and the young adult member shall be elected for a three-year term and shall not serve for more than two consecutive terms in that seat.
VOTED SA24.06.09
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B10.02.b.
B10.02.b. [Terms of office:] The youth member shall be elected to a one-year term without term limitation.
VOTED SA24.06.10
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B11.01 with one nay vote.
B11.01. There shall be a Consultation Committee consisting of twelve (12) persons. The bishop of the synod shall be a member of the Consultation Committee ex-officio except in instances when the bishop brings charges against an ordained minister.
VOTED SA24.06.11
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B11.16.
B11.16. The bishop or the vice president may call a special meeting of any committee, commission, or board.
VOTED SA24.06.12
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B.11.17.
B11.17. Committees, Commission, and Boards of the Synod may conduct meetings by telecommunications and employ mail voting under the same rules as apply to Synod Council.
VOTED SA24.06.13
The Assembly adopted the recommendation to amend bylaw B12.01.c.7.
B12.01.c.7. [There shall be four conferences designated as follows: Potomac Conference:] Moorefield WV, Mt. Olive (Peru).
There is no unfinished business before the Assembly.
There is no new business for the Assembly.
Bishop Riegel declared the Assembly adjourned at 3:27 PM.
A mass was held after adjournment led by The Revs Courtney and Ben Erzkus with Deacon Mary Sanders assisting.
Recorded by
Norma Gensler, secretary WV-WMD Synod of the ELCA
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