Concordia College President Appoints Rev. Victor J. Belton Vice President for Leadership and Campus Pastor
By Holly Magnani, Web and Media Relations Manager, Concordia College
Apr. 26, 2017: Dr. John A. Nunes, president of Concordia College-New York, announced the appointment of the Rev. Victor J. Belton to serve as vice president for leadership and campus pastor.
The new position expands future opportunities for Concordia to rise purposefully in its historic mission of preparing people for lives of service to the church and society.
Pastor Belton's work will focus on nurturing the vocational and the spiritual flourishing of the students, staff, and faculty.
"Belton embodies a genuine passion for young people as well as for intergenerational ministry in diverse settings," said the chair of Concordia's theology department, the Rev. Dr. Joshua Hollmann. "He has served notably as a formal and informal mentor and spiritual guide to many individuals in many places for many years."
Victor Belton was born and raised in Washington, D.C., where he attended public schools. Concordia Seminary in St. Louis was the institution where he received his master of divinity degree in 1986, leading to his ordination. Prior to that, Victor graduated in 1982 from Concordia College-New York, which also awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2006.
"This Holy Week announcement of Victor's affirmation of the 'Spirit's Call to Concordia' is utterly thrilling to me and to this community," stated President Nunes. "What a big-impact blessing he will be with the love of Jesus Christ, touching the lives of students in our small school who will be prepared to then touch lives for decades to come on our complex, pluralistic planet," continued Nunes.
Pastor Belton's impact for the sake of the Gospel is both distinctly global and prominently local. A talented orator, highly sought-after conference speaker, and notable man of prayer, Belton has traveled on mission projects to Ethiopia and South Sudan. Belton served for 12 years (2004-2016) on the national board of directors for the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod ("LCMS").
For twenty-seven years, Pastor Belton served as the pastor of Peace Lutheran Church, near Atlanta, in Decatur, Georgia. Belton actively supports the community as a convener of the DeKalb Consortium of Churches and chair for both Partners in Action for Healthy Living and DeKalb County Community and Human Development Citizens Review Board.
For thirty-nine years, Pastor Belton has been married to his wife, the Honorable Wenona C. Belton, an associate judge in the Fulton County Juvenile Court. Together, they raised a child, Michael Bridgett, during his formative years. Michael resides in Saint Louis.
Concordia College-New York welcomes the Rev. Victor Belton as he looks forward to returning to his alma mater, once his home away from home, from which he was propelled into ministry in the first place.
His installation is set for Sunday, September 24, at 2:30 pm at Village Lutheran Church. The preacher will be Bishop Gregory Walton, the president of the Florida-Georgia District (LCMS). Please join us for the celebration.
For more information, please contact Holly Magnani, Concordia College media relations manager, at
Pictured here: Rev. Victor J. Belton.
Photo courtesy Holly Magnani, Web and Media Relations Manager, Concordia College
