Beyond the River Academy

Our reason for being is contained in Article 14 of the Augsburg Confession.

Article 14 says:

"Of Ecclesiastical Order they teach that no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the Sacraments unless he be regularly called."

Usually this question comes about because people make the mistaken connection that "regularly called" means "Master of Divinity." That is because an MDiv has become the traditional means for a person to become a minister.

But let's take a closer look at this article:

"Of Ecclesiastical Order..." - The Word "ecclesiastical" comes from the Late Greek term ekklēsiastikos which means, "an assembly of citizens." In this case the assembly is that of citizens in the Kingdom of God.

In most Christian denominations the "assembly of citizens" have developed a leadership structure that is tiered or "hierarchical." What that means is that there is a type of pyramid structure of leadership with the many laity at the bottom, the pastors just a level above them, assistants to bishops of districts (or synods as they are sometimes called) above them, then bishops, and then head bishop of the denomination. Some denominations have more tiers than that!

The LCMC does not have this type of structure. In the LCMC the laity are the leaders of the church and the pastors are called to serve them. The LCMC has a national Board of Trustees, but their service is organizational, not ecclesiastical in the traditional sense of the term.

"...they teach..." Who are "they?" "They" are the evangelical reformers who had to set about the task of defending their faith to the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor. "They" did not necessarily object to the "hierarchical" model but they did object to their leaders acting like elitist tyrants who claimed that the faithful should be waiting on every word that comes from their mouths.

"They" objected to these leaders asserting divine revelation. "They" felt that the scriptures were the only reliable source for divine revelation. So do we. We also believe that the Augsburg Confession is an accurate and faithful witness to the scriptures.

"...no one should publicly teach in the Church or administer the sacraments unless he be regularly called." Notice that this statement does NOT say, "...no one should publicly teach... unless he has an MDiv." As we have stated before it is the congregation's responsibility to call their minister. That minister does NOT need an MDiv.

Having said that, we do believe that each pastor should desire to have the best education possible. It is the congregation’s responsibility to make sure their (servant) leader is well educated.

The situation in small rural parishes has changed in the last 20 years. Often times these congregations can no longer support an MDiv. student straight out of seminary. Many of these congregations are raising up faithful leaders from within their own ranks. These leaders already have careers. They have their own jobs and their own lives and do not have the time, energy or money to be able to afford an eight year degree. What is the congregation supposed to do in the meantime? By the same token MDiv students are not able to meet their burdensome financial needs by serving these small congregations.

 We are endorsed by the Epiphany District of
The Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ