Welcome to the official site for The Right Reverend Matthew Davis Cowden, Bishop of West Virginia. Here you’ll find out a little more about me. Some personal, biographical, some of my favorite links, hobbies, and my trivial pursuits. I’ve had this page since the 1990’s and it’s gone through various iterations. In the early days of nascent website culture, it seemed like everyone was going to have a personal site in the future, as in the way we each have our own pocket cell phones with a personal number as well as a Facebook page or direct way of sharing our lives with some version of the public. A personal site like this one of my own name is as much a hub for contact, further information about me, reading some my materials that usually end up further down a news feed on social media, and pictures. Welcome to my little bit of real estate on the internet. +mdc
Lord God Almighty, you have made all the peoples of the earth for your glory, to serve you in freedom and in peace: Give to the people of our country a zeal for justice and the strength of forbearance, that we may use our liberty in accordance with your gracious will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. The Book of Common Prayer, pg. 258 … See MoreSee Less
Today we offer prayers for our Roman-Catholic siblings in the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston as they welcome Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala.Bishop Matthew and Melissa Cowden attended yesterday's vespers service and will represent The Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia at today's installation service. … See MoreSee Less
Summer camps at Peterkin are in full swing and it's not too late to join us for one of our later sessions! 🎨The registration deadline for MAD (Music, Art, Drama) Camp (open to those enter grades 4-12) is July 5.☀️The registration deadline for Family Camp (open to individuals and families) is July 12.Not able to attend camp but want to help? Consider donating to our scholarship fund to ensure anyone can come to camp, regardless of their ability to pay. Peterkin is committed to ensuring that anyone who wants to attend camp is able to do so and scholarship money is available to make that possible.For more information, visit the Peterkin website at www.peterkin.org… See MoreSee Less
Our Diocesan 'Learning from London' 2026 team: Canon Chad Slater, Katie Beth Miksa, Brian Switzer, and Linda Crocker are studying with Bexley-Seabury's program in London this week. As we heard from last year's 2025 team at Convention, diocesan teams are learning church growth models and strategies as part of our own learning for WV evangelism. We are answering the call to double the number of Baptized Episcopalians in the Mountain State by 2033. The Diocese of London was intentional about church growth and did it. And we are growing, too. Though Being Relational, Creative, Community Organizing, Storytelling, Convening, and Meeting the Neighbors Needs around Us. As Prof Jason Fout taught us, "Churches that intend to grow, tend to grow." … See MoreSee Less
