West Virginia Council of Churches Hosts Compassion Calls Us Day at State Capitol

Annual event asks legislators to move beyond partisan politics and advocate for the common good of all residents.

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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The West Virginia Council of Churches held its annual Compassion Calls Us Day at the State Capitol on Thursday, calling on legislators to set aside partisan politics and instead advocate for the wellbeing of all state residents, including immigrants, incarcerated individuals, families without clean drinking water, and communities that would be affected by data centers.

Why it matters

The Compassion Calls Us Day event is an annual effort by the West Virginia Council of Churches to bring together people of faith and conscience to speak up for vulnerable and marginalized populations in the state, highlighting issues that may not always get attention from lawmakers focused on partisan agendas.

The details

During the event, Rev. Cindy Briggs-Bondi of St. Marks United Methodist Church said the goal is to "call together people of faith and conscience to advocate for those who are cast aside, those who are vulnerable, or even those who are targeted with legislation." The West Virginia Council of Churches has hosted the Compassion Calls Us Day since 2018.

  • The West Virginia Council of Churches held its annual Compassion Calls Us Day at the State Capitol on Thursday, February 20, 2026.

The players

West Virginia Council of Churches

A statewide organization that brings together various Christian denominations to advocate for social and economic justice issues in West Virginia.

Rev. Cindy Briggs-Bondi

Pastor of St. Marks United Methodist Church and a speaker at the Compassion Calls Us Day event.

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What they’re saying

“Essentially, it's calling together people of faith and conscience to advocate for those who are cast aside, those who are vulnerable, or even those who are targeted with legislation. Really, we're just gathered here to speak up as people of faith and conscience to appeal to all to speak up.”

— Rev. Cindy Briggs-Bondi, Pastor, St. Marks United Methodist Church (wowktv.com)

The takeaway

The Compassion Calls Us Day event highlights the West Virginia Council of Churches' ongoing efforts to bring together diverse faith communities to advocate for marginalized populations and the common good, rather than allowing partisan politics to dominate the state's legislative agenda.