Career Spotlight: Educating God's people in the parish setting as a Director of Christian Education

Education doesn’t just take place in day schools – for Directors of Christian Education (DCEs), it takes place in the parish setting, both on Sundays and beyond. DCEs are called and rostered church workers in The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod (LCMS) whose primary task is to lead the educational ministries of a church body.  

If you are passionate about matters of education and theology and believe that the church should be a place of high-quality Christian education, then being a DCE may be the career for which you’re searching! At Concordia University, Nebraska, the next generation of DCEs is currently being trained at the highest level of excellence.  

According to the LCMS, DCEs focus on the lifespan – they don’t just educate children, or future church workers, or any other single population. Instead, they are coordinators of educational activities for all members of a church body, including children, adults, teens and the elderly. They play an integral role in assisting pastors and other church leadership in ensuring that all members of a congregation are well-taken care of and fully know their Savior Jesus Christ.  

At churches blessed with the presence of a DCE, these unique church workers may be called to serve in a more specific position – this depends especially on the size of the congregation to which they’re called. For example, a DCE may focus on youth ministry, adult ministry, or ministry to the elderly, although many DCEs split their duties among these age groups.  

So what does a DCE actually do on a day-to-day basis? The answer is: it varies, which is one of the reasons that being a DCE can be so exciting and rewarding. They may assist in coordinating church events like VBS or adult Bible studies, make themselves accessible to parishioners who have everyday questions or struggles, and generally serve as a church leader, making the jobs of pastors and other church staff easier. While much of their visible work may take place during scheduled programming, much of it involves deep thinking, planning, and coordinating with other church members to create these experiences.  

In addition, DCEs are relational – they hold important relationships with pastors, deacons and deaconesses and, most importantly, their parishioners. They may even form relationships with the staff of church-associated Lutheran schools. These relationships are vital for the role of a DCE within a church, especially as he or she works to coordinate educational and outreach opportunities for the various groups that form a Lutheran church body.  

At Concordia Nebraska, future DCEs are trained in Christian Education Leadership, along with a major in education, theology, psychology or behavioral science. They also take DCE-certification-specific courses such as “Introduction to DCE ministries,” and finally complete a year-long internship after the completion of their undergraduate educational requirements. Successful graduates who meet these requirements can earn a DCE specialist diploma, rendering them eligible to receive a call as a Lutheran DCE!  

Over 30 percent of all Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod DCEs are alumni of Concordia University, Nebraska. With a DCE specialist diploma from Concordia Nebraska, you will be able to serve Christ’s church by bringing Christian values and leadership to God’s people in a church or school.