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Director of Christian Education Certification

About Director of Christian Education Certification more

Directors of Christian Education (DCE) serve as lifespan educational leaders within Lutheran congregations and other ministry settings.  The DCE nourishes children, youth, adults, and family groups in Christian instruction and fosters growth in personal faith.

DCEs often:

  • Teach adult and youth Bible studies
  • Mentor youth and children
  • Initiate family educational activities
  • Recruit and equip volunteers
  • Initiate educational programs
  • Build and support team ministry
  • Develop opportunities to link the church with their community


The Concordia Advantage
The DCE program at Concordia University – St. Paul offers the following advantages:

  • A course of study that offers a state-of-the-art understanding of Christian education and faith formation
  • Opportunities to learn from DCEs serving in local congregations
  • An education experienced enriched by our vibrant urban setting
  • A fourth year internship program that allows for the student to return to campus for a fifth year of reflection and learning
  • Close, one-on-one relationships with our top-caliber faculty
  • National and global perspectives
  • A wired campus that integrates the latest technology into the classroom and beyond
  • Curriculum flexibility that allows you to design a program that fits your needs


DCE Certification Course Work
Students earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with the DCE Certification.  The course of study includes:

  • Christian Ministry Major
  • Confessional Lutheranism Minor
  • Director of Christian Education Internship

Directors of Christian Education (DCE) serve as lifespan educational leaders within Lutheran congregations and other ministry settings.  The DCE nourishes children, youth, adults, and family groups in Christian instruction and fosters growth in personal faith.

DCEs often:

  • Teach adult and youth Bible studies
  • Mentor youth and children
  • Initiate family educational activities
  • Recruit and equip volunteers
  • Initiate educational programs
  • Build and support team ministry
  • Develop opportunities to link the church with their community


The Concordia Advantage
The DCE program at Concordia University – St. Paul offers the following advantages:

  • A course of study that offers a state-of-the-art understanding of Christian education and faith formation
  • Opportunities to learn from DCEs serving in local congregations
  • An education experienced enriched by our vibrant urban setting
  • A fourth year internship program that allows for the student to return to campus for a fifth year of reflection and learning
  • Close, one-on-one relationships with our top-caliber faculty
  • National and global perspectives
  • A wired campus that integrates the latest technology into the classroom and beyond
  • Curriculum flexibility that allows you to design a program that fits your needs


DCE Certification Course Work
Students earn a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree with the DCE Certification.  The course of study includes:

  • Christian Ministry Major
  • Confessional Lutheranism Minor
  • Director of Christian Education Internship

Faculty & Leadership

Success in Director of Christian Education Certification more

Thank you for taking a few moments to learn more about the Director of Christian Education (DCE) program here at Concordia University, St. Paul.

The Concordia DCE experience offers you the opportunity to:

  • Gain new ministry knowledge and skills
  • Explore God's call for you in your life
  • Experience ministry through local congregations
  • Grow in your understanding of God's Word
  • Develop close, one-on-on relationships with our top-caliber faculty

Situated within a vibrant urban community, Concordia University, St. Paul offers you opportunities to connect with and contribute to a variety of Christian and community groups.  There is always something to do in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area.

Questions?

Contact Director Kevin Hall at khall@csp.edu

Thank you for taking a few moments to learn more about the Director of Christian Education (DCE) program here at Concordia University, St. Paul.

The Concordia DCE experience offers you the opportunity to:

  • Gain new ministry knowledge and skills
  • Explore God's call for you in your life
  • Experience ministry through local congregations
  • Grow in your understanding of God's Word
  • Develop close, one-on-on relationships with our top-caliber faculty

Situated within a vibrant urban community, Concordia University, St. Paul offers you opportunities to connect with and contribute to a variety of Christian and community groups.  There is always something to do in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area.

Questions?

Contact Director Kevin Hall at khall@csp.edu

Course for Director of Christian Education Certification

CHM-120 Exploratory Lab in Christ. Min

Students explore Christian ministry through various roles and are introduced to the portfolio process leading toward consideration of and entry into the Christian Ministry professional programs.
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CHM-266 Formational Models for Chr Min

Through an exploration of the scriptural, theological, historical, and social foundations of Christian ministry, students develop a personal philosophy of ministry and mission statement. Flowing out of this philosophy, students explore essential leadership skills for effective Christian ministry practice and service. As a major project throughout the course, students develop a professional Christian ministry portfolio.
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CHM-310 Equipping God's People

Students study the theological framework of volunteer ministry, understand the connection of vocation and gifts-based volunteer ministry, explore the best practices in volunteer management, and apply learning to the design of a volunteer ministry program for a specific ministry site.
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CHM-312 Youth Ministry

Students develop the insights and skills necessary to facilitate a relational and integrated approach to youth ministry with and for youth in a congregation, which emphasizes peer, family, and congregational support networks.
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CHM-314 Family & Children Ministry

Students explore the societal and cultural contexts of family and children�s ministry, apply foundational Christian educational theory, and work with current and emerging approaches to Christian education across the lifespan.
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CHM-320 A Nurturing Christian Ministry

Students explore the scriptural, theological, and historical role of Christian education within the church. This exploration will equip students to nurture Christians in the faith across the lifespan through an intentional implementation of Christian educational programs and experiences.
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CHM-322 Ldrshp in Christian Ministry

Students study and apply leadership models for guiding Christian ministry organizations into the future. Servant and team leadership, founded upon scriptural and contemporary study, serve as foundational leadership models for student exploration. The course equips students with key managerial and administrative skills essential for organizational leadership.
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CHM-324 Strat. Approaches Christ. Min.

Students explore and apply current strategic planning theories, methods, and tools to help Christian ministry organizations fulfill their missions within ever-changing communities and cultural contexts.
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CHM-326 Healthy Congregational Change

Students study how to guide and assist congregations through the necessary process of productive change. Through case study analysis and projects, students apply organizational change and systems theory to congregations and ministry organizations.
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CHM-370 Christian Ministry Fld Work I

Participants will have opportunity to work in a local congregation under the supervision of a parish professional. A minimum of five hours of service per week, in addition to one seminar hour, is required.
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CHM-371 Mission of God in Chrstn Min.

This course traces the mission of God through the Old and New Testaments. It explores God�s intent for his mission people in the past, present, and future; and it discloses that intent in biblical narratives and texts as well as in Lutheran theology and the Lutheran Confessions.
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CHM-372 Christian Min. Fld Work II

Participants will have opportunity to work in a local congregation under the supervision of a parish professional. A minimum of five hours of service in addition to one (seminar) per week is required.
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CHM-401 Faith Development Across Life

Students study the practice of teaching the faith across the lifespan, paying particular attention to principles of biblical interpretation from a Lutheran perspective. The participant will develop a philosophy of teaching that incorporates an understanding of educational theory and practice, and uses tools and skills needed for appropriate biblical study and teaching within a Lutheran framework.
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CHM-416 Issues in Christian Education

Students collaborate with faculty to explore selected topics and issues within the contemporary Christian education context. Participants develop practical responses and explore organizational and personal change strategies.
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CHM-418 Adult Ministry

Students explore theories of adult learning, spiritual formation, and effective teaching and adult spiritual direction strategies. Participants utilize a planning process for initiating adult education programs in the congregational setting for faith formation.
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CHM-420 Capstone in Christian Ministry

Students reflect on and formalize their understanding of Christian ministry in the context of their personal identity in Christ, the broader ministry of the Gospel, and their vision of future ministry and personal growth, in the process incorporating their understanding of faith and learning with vocation.
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CHM-498 DCE Internship I

The internship provides DCE students a full-time supervised involvement in the educational ministries of an approved congregation-based site for a 12-month period, emphasizing active leadership in a variety of professional tasks.
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CHM-499 DCE Internship II

The internship provides DCE students a full-time supervised involvement in the educational ministries of an approved congregation-based site for a 12-month period, emphasizing active leadership in a variety of professional tasks.
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COM-103 Communication Fundamentals

Students examine their methods of interpersonal communication in various contexts including dyadic, small group, and mediated communication. Individual activities and group work include both oral and written components. Class discussions and small group activities provide opportunities to practice and refine interpersonal communication skills. Objective exams and quizzes focus on cognitive learning of the principles and concepts in the various communication contexts. (COM103 is one of the two
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ED-454 Teaching the Faith

Theories of spiritual growth and development of children and adolescents, organization and distinctive characteristics of various religion curricula, theories and methods of effective teaching of the faith and materials for instruction at both elementary and secondary levels are studied. Classroom management and discipline from the Lutheran perspective is also considered. (Prerequisite: ED 336 Educational Psychology, upper level standing.)
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PSY-101 Introduction to Psychology

This course introduces the scientific study of behavior and mental processes. Psychological, behavioral, cognitive, humanistic, psychodynamic and social-cultural perspectives are explored. Topics such as scientific method, statistical reasoning, neuroscience, learning, cognitive processes, development, psychological adjustment, therapy, social psychology, diversity and community are studied.
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PSY-215 Child & Ad Dev Psy for K-12 Ed

This course will provide K through 12 educators an understanding of human growth and development from the prenatal stages through adolescence. Developmental processes are studied from both a biological and social-cultural perspective to understand physical and perceptual development, cognition and language, personality and social development. Child studies, examining various aspects of child and adolescent development, are required. (Prerequisite: PSY101)
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THL-206 New Testament

An introduction to the historical context and literature of the New Testament. Students master the stories and teachings of early Christianity, practice the use of the tools of biblical interpretation, and grow in their ability to read texts of the Bible in their historical and literary contexts. This course fulfills the introductory general education requirement for Theology, counts toward the minor in Religion, and is required for the minor in Confessional Lutheranism.
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THL-330 Our Living Faith

A study of the content and effective application of the Christian understanding of creation, redemption, and sanctification; with an exploration of the biblical basis, the conceptual framework and the contemporary significance of the historic doctrines of the church. This course is required for the minor in Confessional Lutheranism. (Prerequisite THL203 Old Testament, THL206 New Testament)
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THL-350 Religions of the World

Major religions are surveyed in terms of artifacts, behaviors, emotions, beliefs, values, world views, and histories. Surveys will be done of the religions in the Far East, Animism, Islam, Judaism, Christianity, and the cults. This course fulfills the general education Global Studies requirement. It does not fulfill the general education requirement for Theology. It is required for the minor in Religion.
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