Virginia Synod
Virginia Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America | |
|---|---|
 Office of the Bishop, Bittle Hall | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States of America |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 42,774 sq mi (110,780 km2) |
| Congregations | 153 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Evangelical Lutheran Church in America |
| Established | 1988 (lineage to 1820) |
| Cathedral | Salem, VA |
| Current leadership | |
| Bishop of the Virginia Synod | Rev. James F. Mauney |
| Bishops emeritus | Rev. Richard F. Bansemer, Rev. Virgil (Buck) Moyer, Rev. J. Luther Mauney |
| Website | |
| http://www.vasynod.org | |
The Virginia Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America is the geographical synod (similar to a diocese) consisting of the entire state of Virginia, except for several counties and cities in the Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod.[1] The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) was formed in 1988 and currently has over 9300 congregations and 3.5 million members in all 50 states.[2] Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer, Martin Luther.[3]
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The offices of the Bishop are located in the historic Bittle Hall on the campus of Roanoke College in Salem, Virginia. The synod consists of 257 pastors serving 153 organized Congregations within 11 conferences. The oldest congregation in Virginia is Hebron Lutheran Church in Madison, Virginia which was founded in 1717. The newest congregation in Virginia is Grace and Glory Lutheran Church in Palmyra, Virginia which was founded in 2001. The synod partners with the Islands District of Papua New Guinea through the ELCA Companion Synod Program, and coordinates sustainable support for people in need of relief from malarial disease, hunger, and disaster.[4]
Bishops
The Bishop oversees the conferences of the synod and serves as the overall leader, mentor, and shepherd of ecclesiastical life throughout the synod.
- + The Reverend James F. Mauney 1999–Present
- + The Reverend Richard F. Bansemer 1987-1999
- + The Reverend Virgil (Buck) Moyer 1981-1987
- + The Reverend Virgil (Buck) Moyer 1976-1981 (President)
- + The Reverend J. Luther Mauney 1948-1976 (President)
Note: Prior to 1981, Bishops were known as "Presidents" of the synod, though their functions were similar to those of the Bishop today.
Organization
Conferences (lower judicatories) within the Virginia Synod include: [1]
- Northern valley (NV)
- Central valley(CV)
- Page (PG)
- Southern valley (SV)
- Germanna (GR) - 12 congregations all east of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Warrenton to Palmyra and east to Fredericksburg and Stafford.
- Highlands (HI)
- New river (NR)
- Southern (SO)
- Richmond (RI)
- Tidewater (TD)
- Peninsula (PN)
Each conference is headed by a Dean. Each Dean is a member of the Office of the Bishop and serves as the representative of the Bishop to the conference.[5]
History of the Virginia Synod
![[icon]](/wiki/File:Wiki_letter_w_cropped.svg){kind=small} | This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (May 2015) |
Camps and retreat centers
The Virginia Synod runs two retreat centers:
- Caroline Furnace Lutheran Camp & Retreat Center—in Fort Valley, Virginia [2]
- Hungry Mother Retreat Center—in Marion, Virginia