Founding Declaration & Mission

“As members of Christ’s Holy Church, in order to address the challenges in public ministry for Jesus Christ, we create the Beyond the River Academy.”

This declaration was written by the Interim Board:

Chair: Pastor Lee R. Harder of St. Paul Lutheran Church,
Belverde, TX

Secretary: Pastor Warren Baker of Redeemer Lutheran Church,
Estherville, Iowa.

Treasurer: Pastor Rusty Bailey of Immanuel Lutheran Church,
Swea City, Iowa.

Board Member: Pastor Keith Menter of Elk Horn Lutheran Church,
Elk Horn, Iowa.

Board Member: Pastor Kent Wallace of Stanfold Lutheran Church,
Rice Lake, Wisconsin

Purpose

Beyond the River Academy seeks to assist individuals recognized by a congregation in developing their gifts for ministry. This Academy provides a curriculum of Biblical studies, basic Lutheran theological education, and practical ministry skills that incorporate individual experience, education, and ability for those who have a sense of call to the office of public ministry.

Mission Statement

Beyond the River Academy seeks to raise up leaders of the church who have a sense of call to the office public ministry through service as a pastor. The academy provides a curriculum of study that accents individual experience, education, and ability so that those participants who have gone through the colloquy process of a district within Lutheran Congregations in Mission for Christ can be ordained in congregations to serve God’s people with all the authority of the tradition for certified clergy of the Lutheran Church.