8.3. Community Lutheran Partners, Inc.

Greetings, fellow workers in Christ!

Thank you for your continued support of Community Lutheran Partners! I thank God for you and the many gifts you bring us and your communities. CLP would be nothing without you. Your prayers and financial gifts bless us and neighbors around the Synod.

It has been a busy and interesting year. The Coalition Against Domestic Violence approached CLP to help work on an initiative to increase awareness and support of domestic violence survivors in faith communities. Our congregations stand at an intersection where they could do much good and/or also much harm to these survivors. How are we a blessing rather than a curse?

CLP continues in partnership with United Methodist Committee on Relief, Mennonite Disaster Services and WV Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster as well as the podcast Creepalachia to build a bridge in MacDowell County. The town of Gary, one of the communities hit by devasting flooding in February 2025, took major infrastructure damage to roads, bridges and waterlines. One of those bridges was built by United Steel and never conveyed to the town or state. The loss of this bridge means 3 families are driving along, and in, the riverbed to get in and out of their homes. This bridge may be a first in that a non-profit may be formed to assume responsibility for it.

Emotional and Spiritual Care continues to be a persistent need. CLP, the synod’s continuing education committee, the churches and long-term recovery folks of Wheeling brought in Lutheran Disaster Response to offer MESS (Mental Emotional and Spiritual Support) in Wheeling. As CLP has a long-standing relationship with LDR, we can bring it to another part of the Synod if so desired. Let me know!

Another persistent need across the region is long-term recovery case managers. If you want more information or wish to volunteer as one, please contact me. Another one of our partners, Catholic Charities is offering training and attempting to compile a list of those able to serve.

I continue to desire to meet with your congregations, groups and communities to prepare and plan for disasters, to learn, network and share resources, to better serve Appalachia. Please pray for us as we move forward with projects to hopefully make us more self-sustaining. Please continue to support us financially as we look to the future and its ministry.

Deacon Mary Sanders