Issue 204 | December 2, 2021
Click on an underlined title to go to the full article or link
Let’s talk about the presbytery budget. I can sense the eyes of some glazing over, and I suspect others will stop reading when they see these words, but bear with me; I will try to make this as painless and as enlightening as possible...
As I have shared before, the Presbytery recently learned that the incorporation of churches is legal in West Virginia. Per the Book of Order (G-4.0101), where permitted by state law, each congregation shall incorporate. Therefore, all churches in the Presbytery should begin the process of incorporation as soon as possible to comply with the Book of Order. To assist with this process, all pastoral leaders and Clerks of Session received a packet of information in late May. The packet included a template for Articles of Incorporation, a template for Bylaws, and a template for Board of Trustees Consent, and instructions for completing these documents. If your church’s session is beginning the conversation about incorporation, please read the articles from the June through October newsletters (listed within the article) before you move forward.
Need a Presbyterian planning calendar for next year?
If so, you are in luck as the Presbytery office has several extras. If you or your church would like any, please contact Amy Robinson at office@wvpresbytery.org or 304-744-7634. Cost per calendar is $11 for pick up at the office, and there is an additional fee for mailing ($3 for one calendar, $3.50 for two or three, or $4.25 for four or five).

  • 2021 Year-End Benevolence Processing
  • 2022 Per Capita
  • 2022 Shared Mission Pledge Request
  • It's that time of year (to look at 2022 budget and review church's insurance coverage)
  • Minister & Staff appreciation/Christmas gifts
  • Church financial leadership grants available
  • Board of Pensions news
  • 2021 Special Offerings
We invite you to print and include this newsletter in your bulletin or church newsletter, share it with members, and/or distribute it in your community. Click for the December newsletter in color or grayscale.
Patricia West Snider
Patty Snider, longtime Clerk of Session and church secretary at Fleming Memorial Presbyterian Church in Fairmont, passed away at home on Tuesday, Nov. 30. Click for her obituary.

Visitation will be tomorrow (Friday, Dec. 3) at Ford Funeral Home, R.C. Jones Chapel, 1410 Country Club Rd., Fairmont, WV 26554, from 2 to 8 p.m. The casket will lie in state at Fleming Memorial, 1493 Locust Ave., on Saturday at 10 a.m. before the funeral begins at 11 a.m.
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Memorial donations can be made to the church; the Marion County Humane Society, PO Box 905, Fairmont, WV 26554; or the Fairmont State Men’s Basketball Team, FSU Foundation, 1300 Locust Ave., Fairmont, WV 26554.
Upcoming West Virginia Council of Churches webinars
This webinar will feature Rev. Kathy Fogg Berry, who wrote When Words Fail: Practical Ministry to People with Dementia and Their Caregivers and co-authored Dementia Friendly Worship: A Multifaith Handbook for Chaplains, Clergy, and Faith Communities. The first 100 registrants will receive a free copy of Dementia Friendly Worship.

Topics to be covered are child/teen vaccinations, booster shots, and the Omicron variant.
Hope Village, a fair trade shopping boutique, is at Charleston First Presbyterian Church from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today through Saturday, plus from the end of worship to 3 p.m. Sunday. Featuring 18 artisans from around the world, it includes unique jewelry, carved olive wood from Bethlehem, African market baskets, handwoven items from Guatemala, Indian shawls, and more. All proceeds go to the artisan vendors.
Click image for more on this free webinar at noon Tuesday.
Free to a good home
As the Presbytery partners with churches who have chosen to dissolve, small treasures are discovered. The treasures here - including paraments, two silver plate offering plates, and a variety of church certificates - are looking for a good home; if your church can offer that home, please contact the Stated Clerk (statedclerk@wvpresbytery.org). These items are offered on a first come, first served basis.
May 30, 2019 was a day of flooding in Harman, WV, in Randolph County. Governor Justice declared a state of emergency for Randolph, Preston, Tucker, Pendleton and Grant counties to recover from the flooding damage. Two of the larger bridges destroyed in the flood were the Molly Street Bridge and the Blizzard Gate Bridge. The rebuilding of the Molly Street and Blizzard Gate bridges, which was completed with Presbytery of WV and Presbyterian Disaster Assistance funds, will transform and reconnect the lives of 30 families affected by the flooding on May 30, 2019.
Nellie misses you at the Resource Center. If you miss her, check out her Resource Center News.
Rev. William “Evan” Walker began his ministry with the First Presbyterian Church of Fairmont in August 2020. His call to the Fairmont church was a bit different in that his wife, Jennifer, had already accepted the position of Associate Professor of Musicology with the West Virginia University School of Music, which started in August 2020, so Rev. Walker was looking for a church in the area. God moves in mysterious ways in that Rev. Walker was quickly drawn to information about First Fairmont. Rev. Walker says that he was attracted to the church because of their open and affirming stance. He was also very impressed by their outreach to and involvement in the community.
While Bluestone was open this year, it has been a challenging year. You can help! Friends of Bluestone is offering SaveAround Coupon Books again - a win-win fundraiser where you pay $25 for a coupon book (good now through the end of 2022) and half goes to Bluestone. After you use 3-5 coupons, you've paid back your $25 investment, and from there on, it's pure savings. Plus, you have the pleasure of knowing you also provided needed funds for Bluestone. If you are interested in buying books or you want to help sell them, please email Scott Hamilton (Charleston) at wshamilton@yahoo.com or Sarah Specht (Huntington) at sarahb43215@yahoo.com. There are also books for many other areas of the US that are useful for family and friends not in West Virginia.
By Michael Givler, Synod of the Trinity
Imagine being a pastor in 2021, with the coronavirus pandemic changing many aspects of how church is now done and creating more stress on congregational leaders. Imagine being a politician in this day when you are either loved or hated based simply on your political affiliation. For the Rev. Stephen Baldwin Jr., he doesn’t have to image either of these situations because he is living out both scenarios right now. Stephen is the pastor at Ronceverte Presbyterian Church (pronounced Ron-se-vert) in West Virginia as well as a Democratic state senator from Greenbrier County. Being able to meet both challenges is something Stephen has always aspired to do.
The Rev. Forrest Claassen, co-executive and stated clerk of the Presbytery of Los Ranchos, has been elected the next executive of the Synod of the Trinity, effective Jan. 1, 2022. Claassen was unanimously elected during the Synod’s recent Assembly, held virtually. He succeeds the Rev. Susan Faye Wonderland, whose contract is expiring after 13 years with the Synod, including the last seven-plus years as transitional executive.
By Richard Hong, Presbyterians Today
As I’ve watched various church livestreams, there are two recurring issues that I’ve noticed in the videos. These issues involve framing — the visual that fills the digital screen of the device a person is viewing from — and lighting. Let's talk about them.
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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.