Heres the formal invitation that was received by e-mail: Our West Virginia-Western Maryland ELCA Synod is facing some serious challenges. Our synod’s financial situation has a tremendous impact on these challenges, but this is more than just a financial concern. Many people in our synod are not aware of all the synod does to support and encourage not only all our congregations, but also all the ministries and programs that are being done within our synod. Mission Support from our congregations to the synod has decreased from $700,000 in 2008 to $480,000 in 2012. In 2015 Bishop Dunkin and Bishop’s Assistant Helen Harms will see their terms come to an end. Both will retire at that time. We have to seriously consider whether we can afford a full time bishop or whether we will need to move forward with a part-time bishop who would share that role with the work Helen Harms currently fulfills. We need to consider what we would lose if we were forced into that direction. We need to consider what impact this would have on our congregations and the ministries and programs that are currently being done within our synod. It is for this reason that our WV-WMD Synod Council is scheduling informative visits and discussions throughout the synod over the months of September, 2013 through March, 2014. Bishop Dunkin, Bishop’s Assistant Helen Harms and Synod Vice President Paul Wangerin will conduct these meetings, sharing information on all the synod does. It is important that our members understand all the work Bishop Dunkin and Bishop’s Assistant Helen Harms do and what might be impacted if this role were served by one person. It is important for our members to be aware of all the ministries and programs being carried out within our synod. And it is important that we, your synod leadership hear the thoughts and concerns of our members. On Friday, January 17, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m., we have scheduled a visit to Grace Lutheran, Fairmont, WV. We encourage you and ask you to invite key representatives from your congregation(s) and all church council members to join us for this session. Attached you will find several informative bulletin inserts to be included in your Sunday bulletins the few weeks prior to our meeting to help prepare and inform your congregation of this meeting. Additionally, attached is a basic discussion guide for our meeting that you can consider with your church council in anticipation of this session.
Posted on: Thu, 16 Jan 2014 17:33:00 +0000
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