Revised May 23, 2009
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Case Study
LCMS Mission Work in West Virginia
Rev. Kevin Wilson
Ohio District MMF
Rev. 5.23.09
Introduction
An early morning drive in West Virginia creates a sense of mystery. It doesn’t matter whether you travel through the western river breaks, eastern panhandle or southern ridgelines. Navigating winding roads through foggy hollows can feel like being lost in a forested labyrinth. Driving along the mountain ridges provides expansive views of forest green mountain tops with the below valleys obscured by swirling mists.
For the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod the religious climate of Mountain State has proven even more mysterious than the landscape at daybreak. Of the 1.8 million West Virginians more than 70 percent have no church home while 60 percent do not even claim a religious affiliation. The responsibility for this mission field rests on the Ohio District. Yet in the past 40 years only four new churches were planted in West Virginia, none of which exists today. This leaves the Ohio District with three congregations in West Virginia. These congregations have a combined baptized membership of about 500 and average worship attendance of about 200 people each weekend. This is close to 40 fewer people than a decade ago.
This case study will explore why the Ohio District has struggled to make disciples in the Mountain State. The first section analyzes the religious, cultural, social and denominational challenges facing the LCMS in West Virginia. The second section suggests new assumptions as well as theological, practical and cultural insights for mission work. The study concludes with a strategic plan for mission work in the Mountain State.
LCMS challenges in West Virginia
One of the early discoveries in research was that the image of Appalachia (hence West Virginia) is a myth that has its roots in reality. For example, the supposed stark isolation of people living in hollows under rugged mountain ridges is overplayed. Foot trails, cart paths, horse paths, railways and roads have made travel possible for centuries. However, it is true that the relative isolation has affected the culture, economy and relationships. Other assumptions about Appalachia are simply inaccurate. West Virginia is viewed by some as not valuing traditional education since it has the lowest college attendance rate in the nation for adults between the ages of 18 and 25. However, West Virginia consistently is in the top five in the United States in high school graduation rates. Education is valued. While such insights temper the challenges to the LCMS in West Virginia it by no means minimizes the mission struggle.
Religious Challenges:
The region that makes up West Virginia has experienced relatively brief immigrations of Germans and Scandinavians the past three hundred years. Thus the state has experienced limited Roman Catholic and Lutheran influence. Today more than 60 percent of the residents are descended from immigrants from the British Isles. The state is one of the least diverse in the America, with 97 percent of the population Caucasian. This has greatly affected the religious beliefs of natives of the Mountain State.
Protestant Dominance: The two most influential traditions of Christianity in West Virginia are fundamentalism and holiness, both based in Reformed theology. Each of these presents a peculiar challenge to the LCMS. Fundamentalism, with its literalism and exclusive use of the King James Bible, strongly emphasizes conversion through personal decision. There also is an expectation of instant sanctification at conversion. The holiness churches are descended from the pietists that were rejected by the Neo Confessional Lutheran ancestors of the LCMS. These churches rely heavily on an internal subjective confirmation of salvation as well full sanctification. These traditions run counter to the Lutheran emphasis on objective salvation, sacraments and that all Christians are “at the same time saint and sinner”.
The Religious Independents: While more than 60 percent of all West Virginians claim no particular religious affiliation it does not mean they are atheists. It means that they claim no membership in any particular congregation or denomination. A high percentage of these people practice what is known as “Mountain Religion.” In their belief system there is a God who has created all things. If people are generally good and try to do right by people, this God will accept them here and in eternity. There also is a strong sense that “worshipping” this God by being in nature is as good or superior to worshipping in a church. Mountain Religion is conflicted with Lutheran beliefs because confessing Lutherans acknowledge only faith in Jesus, not personal moral character, makes one right before God. The insistence that true Christian community and worship is found only where the Word is preached and the sacraments are received is foreign to this belief system.
Religious Distrust: Many native West Virginians are distrustful of denominations since it means “outsiders” are dictating what happens in local churches. By in large indigenous pastors are more trusted than pastors from outside West Virginia. Professional clergy are often distrusted for a couple of reasons. One, some West Virginians question the motives of the pastor who insists on getting paid for preaching. Second, there is very little hierarchy in their society, so hierarchy in churches is foreign. West Virginians often see college degrees and denominational ordination as forms of creating a hierarchy. In most states in America our denomination being named after “Missouri” is not an issue. In West Virginia the name means that our denomination is for Missourians, not West Virginians. To make matters worse, the abbreviation “LCMS” is at times confused with “LDS” (Latter Day Saints) in West Virginia.
Church Practices: There are six church practices that are found in a cross section of hundreds of churches from a dozen religious traditions in West Virginia. Each one of these, to varying degrees, runs counter to the beliefs or practice of the LCMS.
+ Exclusive use of the King James Version Bible
+ Churches of 40 or fewer worshippers with non ordained pastors built around family and fellowship
+ Congregational autonomy from any denomination or association
+ Informal democratic governance
+ Free form worship
+ The number of women pastors is among the highest per-capita in the United States.
Cultural Challenges:
The Appalachian Mountains stretch through 14 states, running from southern New York through Georgia. Only West Virginia is made up in its entirety of the Appalachians. For that reason the culture of West Virginia is significantly different than any other place in the United States where the LCMS ministers. Here is some of the cultural distinctiveness of West Virginia that is a stumbling block for LCMS missions.
Traditionalism is holding in high regard traditional values, principles or standards that are followed and revered by a people continuously from generation to generation. This is a deeply held cultural value in West Virginian. Since Lutheran beliefs or practices are not found in any Mountain State traditions, it makes anyone with an LCMS background an outsider. Outsiders are distrusted. For example, LCMS has a strong tradition of ordaining pastors only after they are approved by a seminary. This is the opposite of the traditions of West Virginia, where the local congregation chooses who will be pastor and whether to ordain.
Familism is strong belief in and respect for the family and kin group relationships. It is one of the indentifying characteristics of Appalachian culture. There is an unusually high sense of obligation and loyalty to family. Extended family is more valued in the Mountain State than most of the rest of the nation. When part of a family moves from a rural to an urban area, it is common for more family to move with them to provide support and care. This affects LCMS churches because West Virginian families will seek agreement concerning where the entire family will worship. Since Lutheranism is largely foreign it is very rare to find native West Virginia families worshipping in Lutheran churches. It should be noted that it is not uncommon in the Mountain State for a churches to be made up of one large extended family. Literally everyone in the church is related through birth or marriage.
Personism: In West Virginia, like the rest of Appalachia, personal relationships highly valued. They respect the individual for being a person more than for that person’s status or occupation. They will go to great lengths to keep from offending others, even sometimes seeming to agree with others when in fact they do not. It is more important to get along with another person than to push one’s own views. Tolerance was practiced in Appalachia long before it became part of the broad American culture. Personism has caused a great deal of grief in LCMS mission attempts. At times Lutherans have mistaken West Virginians listening intently and nodding while LCMS teaching is presented with people agreeing with that teaching. A greater issue is that Lutherans are not tolerant of other religious views. Native West Virginians at times see insistence that salvation can only come through Faith in Christ as disrespectful of another person because that person believes there are several ways to heaven.
Self-reliance is defined as people who believe they do not need anything from other people. It extends to suffering through hardship without requesting assistance. This trait runs strong in the Mountain State. Mountain Religion maintains that “God helps those who help themselves.” For this reason Lutheran teaching about being powerless to influence God in salvation or sanctification is quite foreign.
Practical Challenges:
Lack of “Lutheran” communities: It is ironic that a “rural” denomination such as the LCMS struggles in a state that is primarily “rural.” The difference is that there are very few small German and Scandinavian farming communities to form Lutheran Churches. The other LCMS strategy for church planting is gathering Lutherans who have migrated to the large cities. In West Virginia the largest city is Charleston, with close to 50,000 residents. So there are not enough Lutherans even in large cities to support a traditional LCMS church in most cases.
Terrain and Geography: While the isolation of the Mountain State is not as extreme as often thought, the ridges and hollows are still very real obstacles to mission and ministry. “Neighborhoods” even in cities will often run miles down a hollow without houses only along the main road and without any access over ridges. So it literally can take 45 minutes to drive to stores or gas stations or churches that are only five miles away as the crow flies. This has created issues for many mission churches regardless of denomination.
Average Income: West Virginia was the poorest state in the nation between 2002 and 2004, with an average yearly income of $32,589. In the 2000 census West Virginia led only Mississippi in per capita income of around $17,000. This has directly affect mission work in West Virginia because it is challenging to pay a salary for a full time Master’s level pastor.
Poverty Issues: Appalachia is historically known for poverty yet poverty remains persistent in the area. Poverty contributes to health conditions. Malnutrition is a serious issue. Tooth and gum illness are pervasive. Health issues increasingly are moving into prescription drug addictions.
The “Mother-in-Law” Rule: While not all pastors end up living within two hours of their mother-in-law, it is surprising how many pastors do so by their fifth year of parish ministry. It is possible there is not a single mother-in-law of a LCMS pastor in West Virginia today and precious few in adjoining states. This is more pronounced but similar to the “two for one” rule, where churches seek for couples who are both on the LCMS roster. The “two for one” rule goes both ways. Since there are no LCMS schools or DCE/DCO positions in West Virginia churches it limits the number of candidates for ministry in the Mountain State.
Denominational Challenges:
Denominational and District Agreements: At one time there was an agreement between the American Lutheran Church and the LCMS that neither denomination would plant churches near the other denomination’s existing churches. This was an issue because the ALC (now ELCA) had churches in the urban centers with densities of German immigrants before the LCMS was formed. At the same time, the Ohio District had at least a hand shake agreement with the Southeastern District that the Eastern portion of West Virginia would be served by the Southeastern District. According to Southeastern District staff that district has no intention for ministry in West Virginia and thus Ohio District at least tacitly again has responsibility ownership of West Virginia ministry in the Eastern panhandle.
Planting experiences: LCMS entities have tried two church planting strategies in West Virginia. A church in Maryland tried a daughter church plant in Martinsburg. The plant never took root. The primary explanation was that there were too many churches in town. Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Huntington, WV formed a partnership with the Ohio District for a daughter church plant in Hurricane. This church got off the ground. However, it closed due to relocation of key families and a “bad fit” between pastor and parishioners. The second strategy was the formation of the West Virginia Mission Association, which brought together a number of churches to provide support for church planting in the Mountain State. The association planted a church in Clarksburg which closed after a couple of years. The primary reason given for closing was again a “bad fit” between church planter and people.
Inadequate support: There is evidence of inadequate support for the church plants in West Virginia. This was in large part due to the lack of nearby LCMS churches to provide encouragement and support. There also were financial strains on the mission which were developing slowly, when compared to suburban plants elsewhere. Widespread prayer support throughout the district for the plants was infrequent. Work to sow the Gospel before churches were planted was done for brief periods of time (less than a year) before the launch of public worship.
Lessons Learned in the Mountain State
Acts chapter 17 is best known for Paul’s “Macedonian” call. While the vision of a man from Macedonia calling to the disciples is arresting note what happened when Paul and his companions arrive in Philippi. They immediately found the entire mission field had shifted under their feet. Previously they could initially reach out to Jewish people who shared their world view and many religious beliefs. In Philippi this was gone. The proven strategy of starting mission work at the local synagogue was gone. There was no synagogue. So the missionaries ended up going down to the river, a place of prayer, to at least find people who believed in gods. For the LCMS, the Mountain State is our Philippi. In order to make disciples of Jesus in ways that are faithful to the Scripture and Confessions Ohio District must change assumptions about ministry West Virginia, identify doctrines that will provide the greatest impact on West Virginians and learn parish practices that take down barriers between people of the Mountain State and our LCMS congregations.
Change Assumptions:
People have basic assumptions about life that form their perception of reality, inform decisions and affect attitudes. Because they are so fundamental to existence people often only recognize them when the assumptions are challenged. The struggle to establish the LCMS in West Virginia has created the impetus to examine past assumptions. The experience suggests several assumptions must change.
+ Formerly it was thought that West Virginian’s culture was similar to the rest of the United States where the LCMS has churches. The new assumption is that the culture and beliefs of West Virginia are so different from the LCMS that West Virginia is the largest Caucasian cross cultural mission field in the United States.
+ Previously it was assumed that the primary task in West Virginia was “reaping the harvest” through planting churches. The new assumption is that the fields are not yet “white to harvest” and a great deal of sowing the seeds of the Gospel is needed before new churches are planted.
+ Formerly it was assumed that existing strategies or models for mission work would be successful in West Virginia. The new assumption is that no known model or strategy for missions will work in the Mountain State.
+ Previously it was thought that internal partnerships were sufficient for support new churches in West Virginia. Mission work in the Mountain State will require partnerships both inside and outside the Ohio District.
+ Before it was thought that leaders in West Virginia missions and churches could all come from outside West Virginia. The new assumption is that leaders, including pastors, must be both from West Virginia and from outside West Virginia.
+ Previously it was thought that there was sufficient prayer support at the district level already existed for mission in the Mountain State. The new assumption is that broad-based, constant and specific prayer support is vital for mission and ministry in West Virginia.
Doctrinal Emphasis:
One of the challenges the LCMS faces in West Virginia is that religious views are significantly different than the LCMS. Lutheran beliefs are not easily accepted. However, there is evidence that God has created spiritual breakthroughs through specific biblical doctrines that are strong within the LCMS. These occur when God meets spiritual needs that are caused by either the Appalachian beliefs or cultural values. Such breakthroughs can be strong enough to bring entire extended families into discipleship at Lutheran congregations. Here are the primary doctrines.
Law and Gospel: Both the Mountain and Protestant religions in West Virginia mix law and Gospel. Works that God intends to flow from salvation become works that supposedly lead to salvation. Gospel that gave peace is withheld to force “holy” living. Confusion about how to interpret the Bible leads to Bibles not being read. There is evidence that people from Appalachia who learn to read the Bible in terms of law and Gospel are transformed by God’s grace.
Objective Faith: The general Appalachian religion and holiness Christians focus on an internal affirmation of faith or forgiveness. Replying on emotions for verification of faith can create great depths of doubt and concern about salvation. God can create a longing for salvation based on something other than one’s personal beliefs.
God Focused: One similarity between Mountain Religion as well as Fundamentalism and Holiness forms of Christianity is a strong emphasis on the believer. Religion is focused on the person who is the Christian. This can weigh down the Christian since everything in religion seems to be relying on the individual. The Lutheran focus on God is not only different; it can prove both freeing and inspiring.
Saint and Sinner: Both the fundamentalist and holiness traditions hold high expectations for immediately, full sanctification. The fundamentalist branch is focused on conversions. Once converted to the faith new Christians are expected to immediately live highly sanctified lives. The holiness branches either use law to push people toward perfection or teach that perfection in this life is possible. The Lutheran teaching of the Christian being “saint and sinner” at the same time is foreign. However, it has proven a profound blessing for a surprising reason. If Christians are saints and sinners then it stands to reason that it would take time to learn to follow Christ. One does not have to be perfect immediately to be a Christian. Discipleship can be a process. This is a connecting point for Christ in Appalachia.
Grace: The confusion of law and Gospel immediately signals a misunderstanding of God’s grace. Reformed theology has little need to emphasize grace. Grace is not part of the folk religion. Decision theology emphasizes personal commitment over grace. Holiness beliefs rely more on personal certainty than of salvation than grace. Once works through His Word to teach pure grace it has transformed lives of people with these varied backgrounds.
Vocation: Teaching concerning the Universal Priesthood will resonate with West Virginians, especially the understanding of vocation. This is a society that understands the concept of “honor.” Honoring God through the work of your hands is respected. The key shift will be from honoring God to appease God to honoring God because Christ has already fulfilled the law for all people.
“Bible Believing”: Just as the author of Hebrews stated that the Word of God is a two-edge sword, so it the term “Bible believing” in the Mountain State. By in large Christians are expected to respect the Bible. This is good for the LCMS because of its strong stand on divine inspiration. However, it must be understood that fundamentalist Christians hear the phrase “Bible Believing” and assume it means a literalistic interpretation of the Bible.
Seven Practices for Parish Ministry
The following practices were drawn from interviews and discussions with pastors who serve or served LCMS churches in West Virginia. In each case the congregations increased in key areas of ministry, including adult confirmation, worship and financial stewardship. It should be noted that members and former members of the churches also contributed to the discussion.
Long Pastorate: It takes a great deal of time to build trust with the people of West Virginia. At the same time, the basic assumptions native West Virginians have about God and the world are very different than in Lutheranism. It takes time to lead people through the Bible and Confessions. A long pastorate does not guarantee adult baptisms and confirmations but does contribute toward these blessings.
Relational Ministry: Relationships are everything in West Virginia. A pastor must invest heavily in developing relationships at church, in the community around the church and in his neighborhood. It is very difficult to earn the respect of people or learn their culture without doing so.
Native West Virginian Leadership: It is very common in West Virginia for Lutheran congregations to have membership almost exclusively from outside the state. For this reason people from outside West Virginia are serving as pastors and the elected leaders. Unfortunately plant closings and transfers often hurts congregations. Thus it is beneficial to have leadership shared between native West Virginians and long time Lutherans from outside the Mountain State. The West Virginians seems to help the Lutherans respect the local culture while the life long Lutherans help their fellow leaders gain a deeper appreciation for Lutheran Christianity.
Patient Discipleship: The LCMS would be hard pressed to find a culture that has a slower pace of life than Appalachia. Many factors contribute toward this, ranging from the high value on relationships to challenges in travel to a general disdain for consumerism. The bottom line is that native West Virginians will take years to review and reflect on beliefs other than their own before committing to a new church. So it is vital that pastors take the long term view of discipleship in the Mountain State.
“Flat” Ministry: The lack of bishops and congregational autonomy lead LCMS members to think the denomination as “flat.” From the West Virginia perspective the LCMS has a strong hierarchy. The issues with hierarchy largely stem from personism and individualism. Just being ordained into a denomination can make a LCMS pastor seem like he looks down at those who do not have his level of education. In the Mountain State a pastor gains spiritual authority more through relationships and knowledge of Scripture than from the formal call or ordination. It is wise to explain the value of formal ordination and seminary training once relationships are built.
Modest Architecture: There is a wide range for Lutheran architecture and furnishing. Church buildings can be made of brick, wood or steel. Altars can be simple and small or large and ornate. Baptismal fonts can be made of granite with flowing water or ceramic bowls on wooden stands. In West Virginia it is best to emphasize modest and functional buildings and furnishing. It demonstrates an understanding and respect of Appalachian culture while allowing for distinctive Lutheran furnishings such as the altar and baptismal font.
“Worker Priests”: The Apostle Paul accepted support from other while planting in Corinth and worked a secular vocation while doing mission work in Thessalonica. This time held tradition could bear fruit in West Virginia. On one hand it solves some of the hierarchy issues. On the other hand it solves some of the financial issues for church planting, since even established churches find it difficult to support master’s level clergy.
Conclusion
Just as the rocky soil of West Virginia has made farming a difficult task so the mission work of the LCMS in the Mountain State has proven challenging. In order to survive and thrive native West Virginians have become persistent and resourceful. It will take this same attitude for the Ohio District to make followers of Jesus in the Mountain State. It is time for a new strategy for mission in West Virginia. This strategy must, with honesty humility, demonstrate full reliance on God to accomplish what have proven powerless to do. It must doggedly apply the new assumptions for ministry in the Mountain State. It must navigate both the cultural and religious realities of West Virginia. By God’s grace, the following strategy will result in the multiplication of new believers and new churches in West Virginia.
Partial List of Sources for Case Study:
Rev. David Brighton
Deaconess Deanna Cheadle
Ed Richards
Pastor and Linda Duchow
Pastor David Simmons
Pastor George Fyler III
Rev. Terry Yahr
Redeemer Lutheran Church, Charleston, WV Bible study
Southeast Winkle, Ohio District
Trinity Lutheran Church, Zanesville, OH Bible study
A Study of West Virginia Culture and Values by Bill Barker
Appalachian Culture and Economic Development by Ronald Lewis and Dwight Billings
Appalachian Mountain Religion: A History by Deborah McCauley
Creative Interventions to Facilitate Appalachian Career Choices
Mission in the Mountain State by B.B. Maurer and Keith A. Muhleman
Ohio District West Virginia and Eastern Kentucky files and folders
Manhattan Institute for Policy
Southern West Virginia Visitors Bureau