What is a Director of Christian Education?
A Director of Christian Education (DCE) is a synodically certified, called and commissioned lifespan educational leader prepared for team ministry in a congregational setting (definition adopted at the 1999 National DCE Summit).
At Concordia University Irvine (CUI) DCE students are trained to carry out four major roles: Ministry Leader, Christian Educator, Lifespan Minister and Care Minister. Students are prepared to create or strengthen ministry programs for all age groups within a congregational setting, to recruit and train lay-leaders, to teach Scripture and enable church members to live out their Christian faith through their vocations, and to care for all the people they work with.
Christian University Irvine’s DCE Program
There are 3 components of CUI’s DCE program:
1- Christian Education Leadership Major (CEL)
The CEL Major is the core of the DCE program and is also available to students of various Christian denominations. Students graduate in four years with a Bachelors of Arts in Christian Education Leadership.
2- Christ College School of Theology Church Work Vocations Requirements (CCI)
All LCMS students desiring to be called workers in the LCMS enroll in CCI classes. These courses provide students with information that all church workers need to be familiar with as well as provide an opportunity for the various church work students to interact with one another. Christ College also offers activities throughout the year to enable church work students to get to know each other and to begin “building team ministry” with one-another.
3- DCE Program Requirements (DCE)
Courses in the DCE Program provide students a solid understanding of and hands-on experience with DCE Ministry.
The courses within the CEL Major, Christ College Requirements and DCE Program work together to prepare students for the four major roles of a DCE.
To prepare students for Ministry Leadership
DCE Introduction to DCE Ministry
CEL Parish Program Leadership
CEL Group Dynamics
CCI Introduction to Ministry
CCI Church Polity and Organizational Structure
CCI The Role of the Christian Professional
DCE Fieldwork I & II
DCE Internship (5th Year)
To prepare students as Christian Educators
CEL History and Literature of the Old & New Testaments
CEL Doctrine I & II
CEL Christian Witness
CEL Corporate Worship
CEL History of the Christian Church
CEL Contemporary Religious Bodies in America
CEL Biblical Theology and Exegesis
CEL World Missions
CEL Old or New Testament Book of the Bible
CEL Psychology of Diverse Learning
CEL Teaching Strategies and Management
CCI Teaching the Faith
To prepare students as Lifespan Ministers
CEL Children’s Ministry
CEL Youth Ministry
CEL Adult Ministry
CEL Youth and Family Ministry
To prepare students as Care Ministers
CEL Principles of Counseling
DCE CCI Class in Care Ministry
Contact Information
Interested in knowing more about CUI & application procedures?
Contact Emily Beckman, Director of Undergraduate Admissions, at emily.beckman@cui.edu; 949/854-8002, ext. 1113 OR Carrie Fick, Christ College Program Coordinator, at carrie.fick@cui.edu or 949/854-8002, ext. 1407;
Interested in knowing more about the DCE Program or Christian Education Leadership Major?
Is your congregation considering a DCE Intern?
Contact Dr. Christine Ross, DCE Program Director, at Christine.ross@cui.edu or 949/854-8002, ext. 1752 OR Harry Hebel, Resident Faculty of Christian Education, at harry.hebel@cui.edu or 949/854-8002, ext. 1754.
Does your congregation want to call a first year DCE?
Contact Carrie Fick, Assistant Director of Placement, at carrie.fick@cui.edu or 949/854-8002, ext. 1407.