Building Bridges – Making Connections!


By Deborah Coble

A new art installation has made its home in the West Virginia Conference. Building Bridges – Making Connections is a celebration of the people of the West Virginia Conference of The United Methodist Church! 

Spring Heights Camp and Retreat Center, West Virginia Wesleyan, our seven mission projects, Disaster Response and Volunteers in Mission are among the ministries featured along with the people who live into our mission to ‘make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world!’

Ian Bode in his studio, September 2023

West Virginia artist, Ian Bode was commissioned for this project. The canvas brings together the rich history of our conference to the present time with a joyous splash of color and a celebration of the many ways our churches are building bridges in our communities. 

Plans are underway to make prints available in the coming month. If you’d like to see the painting in person, stop by the West Virginia Conference center in Charleston!