Issue 224 | October 13, 2022

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Our new address

Moving forward, please use the following address for Presbytery mail. 

Presbytery of West Virginia

P.O. Box 11720

Charleston, WV 25339

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A Word from our General Presbyter

We did it. Well, Amy Robinson, Maureen Wright, and Rocky Poole did most of it, with substantial help from Medina Poole, Rocky’s wife, who came down the final few days to help us sort through the old financial records to make sure the papers that we no longer needed to keep that contained personal information got shredded and those that didn’t got recycled. Let’s just say the Presbytery of West Virginia accumulated a lot of paper over the years. We sent more than 1,600 pounds of paper to be shredded. At least that much went to recycling. We will also be sending at least 16 boxes of records to the Presbyterian Historical Society. I would suspect that all adds up to almost 2 tons of paper. Let that sink in: almost 2 tons of paper.

November 12 Presbytery Meeting

Consideration of Amendments to the Constitution

The Presbytery will consider many of the proposed amendments to the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s Constitution Part II The Book of Order at its upcoming Presbytery meeting. All minister members of the Presbytery, pastoral leaders, and ruling elders are invited to review the amendment booklet now. A summary of the amendments and details regarding the consideration will be included in the presbytery packet on Nov. 2. Questions may be directed to Stated Clerk Maureen Wright, Leadership Team chair Randy Fife, Moderator Dave Lee, or General Presbyter Ed Thompson.

Interfaith Relationships & Dialogues: How to Effectively Develop Them and Transform Church, Community, and Self is final 2022 Expanding Your Ministry Toolbox course

9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at Village Chapel Presbyterian, Charleston

Registration deadline is Monday.

Interfaith dialogues and gatherings can play a crucial role in both strengthening relationships within civil society and expanding the good work on fellowship among our parishioners. This program will offer ideas on why interfaith activities are so valuable, how to create successful partnerships with other faith communities, and what to both look for and avoid when developing interfaith programming. Led by Ibtesam Sue Barazi, Vice President, Islamic Association of West Virginia; Victor Urecki, Rabbi, B'Nai Jacob Synagogue; and Todd Wright, Pastor, Village Chapel Presbyterian, this day of study will provide guidance, knowledge, and support in discovering how to overcome the barriers of religious difference and build bridges of religious understanding and growth. Cost is $50, due with registration. Register online here or by mail with this form and a check to Presbytery of West Virginia, PO Box 11720, Charleston, WV 25339. Contact Susan Sharp Campbell, susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-667-9428, for more information.

Connect with God's Creation at the Bluestone Fall Getaway

Oct. 21-23; register by Wednesday

This intergenerational retreat is designed for all ages to explore and discover connections with God’s creation and each other. Time will be spent engaging in activities and conversations that present the importance of all of our connections – with God, one another, and the world we live in. The hope is that all will leave with closer connections and an understanding of how we are caretakers of God’s creation. Register here.

"A More Loving World" youth retreat and concert in November will feature David LaMotte

Retreat is Nov. 18-20 at Bluestone. Concert is 8 p.m. Nov. 19.

LaMotte will be the keynote presenter for the Youth Retreat, which is for those in grades 6-12 and their adult advisors. (Please note, while youth from the same church will be housed together, there will be different small groups for older and younger youth.) Complete information, including all relevant forms, is available here. Cost is $85 per person, with registration due Nov 7.


Additionally, as part of this retreat, LaMotte will be presenting a concert on Saturday evening, which will be open to all interested persons. There will also be the opportunity for concertgoers to come for dinner on Saturday and stay through breakfast Sunday morning. Click here for more information, including online registration.

News from the Presbytery's Treasurer

  • 2023 PWV Budget
  • Sending Benevolence to the Presbytery
  • Board of Pensions news
  • New 2022 IRS Standard Mileage
  • Adjusting Minister Housing Allowance

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  • Finding a Church Insurance Broker
  • 2022 Per Capita
  • 2022 Special Offerings

November officer training to feature a new design

2-5 p.m. Nov. 13 and 20 on Zoom 

Susan Sharp Campbell, Associate for Educational Ministry, will lead this program, which is specifically designed for newly-elected ruling elders and deacons, although those who are currently serving are also welcome to attend. It will be based on the questions asked at the time of ordination and/or installation. What do these questions mean, and how do they guide our work as those in ordered ministry? The two sessions will build on each other, so participants are expected to attend both. Registration deadline is Nov. 3, so that advance assignments can be shared. All participants will need a copy of the 2019-2021 or 2019-2023 Book of Order. The Zoom link will be sent on Nov. 9, to those registered. Contact Susan Sharp Campbell, susan_sharp_campbell@hotmail.com or 304-667-9428, with questions or for more information.

Getting to know our newer pastors: Rev. Elizabeth Lewis

“That is where you are going to go.” That is what Elizabeth’s 92- year- old Aunt Sissy said early in the process. Elizabeth had called her aunt to tell her about the Glenville Church’s Ministry Information Form and how attracted to it she was. Her aunt could hear the excitement in Elizabeth’s voice and knew that she had already fallen in love with the Glenville Church. Her aunt also sensed the work of the Holy Spirit in this pairing. Time would prove that her aunt was right. You gotta love those elderly saints of the Lord and their spiritual wisdom!

Enslow Park celebrates re-dedication after May flood

On Sept. 11, Enslow Park Presbyterian in Huntington held a Re-dedication and Homecoming Service to celebrate its recovery from the May 6 flooding that severely impacted the Enslow Park and Ritter Park areas of the city. At the church, the office manager and 8 pre-school teachers were forced to shelter-in-place for almost 6 hours with 20 young students while the water gushed. In addition to their 7 vehicles that were destroyed, the church suffered water damage in the crawl spaces beneath the sanctuary and education building for the first time since the church was built more than 70 years ago and faced water flowing into the basement throughout the following week on sides where it had never leaked before. For two months following, services had to be conducted in the Fellowship Hall while church leaders and volunteers dealt with recovery efforts. About half of the damage costs were covered by funds received through the Presbytery of West Virginia, the Synod of the Trinity, and private donations, not including untold hours of volunteer labor.

West Virginia Council of Churches 141st Annual Assembly

Oct. 23 (online) and 24 (in person in Charleston)

The 141st Annual Assembly, with a theme of "Repentance and Reconciliation in the Beloved Community", will include a keynote presentation by Rev. Sekinah Hamlin, Minister for Economic Justice, United Church of Christ; an Interfaith panel discussion on Reparation, Reconciliation, and Restoration; a discussion on faith and COVID; a panel discussion on the dangers of Christian Nationalism; and time for prayer and worship. The in-person activities on Oct. 24 will take place at St. John XXIII Pastoral Center. Click here to register; the registration deadline is Monday. 

PDA responds to devastation from Hurricanes Fiona & Ian

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance is seeking your support this hurricane season. In the wake of catastrophic impacts from Hurricanes Fiona and Ian, recovery is ongoing. Storms are becoming more frequent and more severe, and this early in the hurricane season we must prepare for these broad and anticipated catastrophes that have not yet formed. Give today to enable PDA's response, from emergency needs through the long-term recovery phase. You can help by giving directly, sharing bulletin/newsletter inserts, or putting together Gift of the Heart kits

2022 PC(USA) Advent Resource Guide

There are books and digital assets for study, devotion, preaching, worship planning, and more. Sample downloads of resource material are available for some books. 

Items free to a good home!

Elizabeth Campbell-Maleke, Pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Williamstown & Waverly-Bethel Presbyterian Church, has an extra copy of the 10-volume Theological Dictionary of the New Testament to share with anyone who can use it. If you are interested, please contact her at damaigrace@hotmail.com. She can deliver to anywhere between the Parkersburg-Charleston area or meet somewhere there to pass it on as well. 

The presbytery office has a white C.M. Almy alb and a black Bentley & Simons pulpit robe for any pastor in need. Both are gently used but newly dry cleaned. Call 304-744-7634 or email office@wvpresbytery.org

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Editor's Note: In order to keep PWV News fresh, articles will generally run for two consecutive issues. If you would like a piece to run longer, please update (with refreshed content, new wording and/or a different photo) and resubmit.
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