Director of Christian Education

The DCE Colloquy program of Concordia University, St. Paul is designed to accomplish the objectives of the Director of Christian Education Certification Program through an alternative delivery system. The alternative delivery system is offered in order to enhance the work of lay specialists serving in congregations of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod in roles similar to that of certified Directors of Christian Education. Recognizing the gifts of those selected by the local congregation for service in their midst, the DCE Colloquy program will seek to strengthen the service through specialized training while credentialing mastery through life experience. Certification is the responsibility of the University or College that houses the DCE program. Certification is the attestation of the University that the candidate has met the entry-level standards in three areas:

1. Demonstrates solid doctrine through competency in and commitment to the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessions.
2. Lives a life above reproach.
3. Demonstrates competency as a lifespan Christian Educator.

DCE Definition
These criterion are met within the agreed upon definition accepted within The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod for those who are to be certified as Directors of Christian Education:

Definition: A Director of Christian Education is a Synodically certified, Called and Commissioned lifespan educational leader prepared for team ministry in a congregational setting. Mission: Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Director of Christian Education plans, administers, and assesses ministry that nurtures and equips people as the Body of Christ for spiritual maturity, service, and witness in home, job, congregation, community and the world.

Important Values for DCEs:

• Exhibits Christian character.
• Displays a spiritually maturing faith.
• Relates well with people of all ages.
• Expresses a passion for teaching and learning.
• Possesses a servant heart.
• Manages personal and professional life effectively.
• Seeks to work in team relationships.
• Strives for excellence.
• Operates in a self-directed manner.

Eligibility for Admission to DCE Colloquy
The DCE Colloquy exists to support the work of those who function as lay-practitioners in DCE-type positions in congregations of the Lutheran Church. The DCE Colloquy program will provide opportunity for a lay-practitioner to become rostered by The Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod as a Minister of Religion, Commissioned.

To be eligible for admission to DCE Colloquy program the applicant must:

1. Be 25 years of age or older.
2. Possess an earned Baccalaureate degree.
3. Demonstrate a minimum 2.5cumulative grade point average.
4. Be a member of a congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
5. Serve on the professional ministry staff in a congregation of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
6. Apply for Colloquy as a Minister of Religion, Commissioned-Director of Christian Education in The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.
7. Receive the approval of the College of Vocation

Eligibility to be Certified by The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod
Certification by the faculty of Concordia University, St. Paul, MN will follow satisfactory completion of required coursework and the completion of the CERTIFICATION REVIEW PROCESS. Admission to the DCE Program does not constitute assurance of later Certification or approval for Synodical Placement. Certification is the attestation by the university that an individual is judged to be competent to function in a professional role in the Church.

Certification and admission to the public ministry of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod gives testimony that the candidate is:

1. Sound in the understanding of the Scriptures and the Lutheran Confessional writings.
2. Living a life above reproach.
3. Competent to entry-level service in the Church as a Director of Christian Education.

1. Successfully complete all course work and field and clinical experiences.
2. Maintain a 2.50 CGPA.
3. Through the final Professional Portfolio, provide evidence of having developed the necessary qualities and competencies identified for admission to public ministry.
4. Receive recommendation from the (Certification) Interview Team and the Director of the DCE Certification Program.
5. Receive approval from the College of Vocation and Ministry.
6. Receive approval from the faculty of Concordia University.
7. Be approved through the colloquy process of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Curricular Requirements
The Handbook of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod prescribes in By-Law H. 6.123 that an individual seeking certification as Director of Christian Education through colloquy must meet the standards established through the Concordia University site at which application is made. The Director of Christian Education Certification Programs of the six Concordia's offering certification as a Director of Christian Education work together to maintain a partnership that strives for curricular focus and partnership.

Each Concordia provides a variety of delivery systems. Concordia University, St. Paul accepts transfer from other institutions and grants credit for documented life experience.

Each transcript is assessed on an individual basis and every attempt is given to provide exemption for life experience.

The curricular requirements of Concordia University, St. Paul include: Colloquy Core:
21 credits

RLG203	Old Testament Narrative	3
RLG206	New Testament	3
RLG241	Church History	3
RLG303	Old Testament II	2
THY330	Our Living Faith	4
THY341	Lutheran Confessional Writings	3
THY422	Christian Ministry and Practice	3

OR
Scripture and Theology courses may also be taken through the Concordia Online Colloquy Program (CUENET). For information on this technology based instruction contact the Concordia University Education Network (CUENET), 345 Cyber Drive, Bend, Oregon, 1-800-238-3037, colloquy@cuenet.edu.

Education requirements will be met through the DCE Colloquy Cohort program which includes the following programs:

Field work and Clinical Experiences
Fieldwork and clinical experiences may be taken at the site of parish service. These experiences will be designed on the basis of need as identified through consultation between the Director of the DCE Program, the applicant and the pastor of the congregation served by the applicant.

Transferring Courses
Any courses successfully taken from and transcripted at a Concordia University System institution or other accredited institutions of higher education may be transferred into the program, if such courses directly correlate with Specialist/Colloquy course. The applicant is responsible for ensuring that appropriate transcripts are sent to Concordia University. The Director of the DCE Program and the Registrar make final decision regarding transfer and acceptance of coursework.

Credit/Exemption for Life Experience
Credit or exemption for life experience may be granted by documenting accomplishment of outcomes through a portfolio process. The applicant and academic advisor will identify courses that may have been accomplished through life experience. The applicant may then compile a portfolio consisting of essays and/or statements of verification that will document accomplishment. The course instructor will then review the portfolio for verification.

Tuition
Courses taken through Concordia University, St. Paul will be charged the established rate. Those fulfilling the Scripture and Theology courses through the CUENET Online Colloquy Program will register and pay fees established through this program.

Registration Procedures

1. For application materials contact Mary Lewis at 651-641-8892 or Steve Stohlmann, Director of Colloquy at 651-641-8824 or Kristen Vogel at 651-641-8230.
2. Complete all application materials and return to Mary Lewis at Concordia University, 275 Syndicate St. North, St. Paul, MN 55104
3. Submit official sealed transcripts of all work in higher education to Mary Lewis.
4. Once all materials have been received the Director of Colloquy will schedule a Colloquy entrance interview with the candidate. The interview team will be composed of the Director of Colloquy, the Director of the DCE Program, and another rostered commissioned minister.
5. Upon recommendation by the colloquy interview team the director of Colloquy will forward the applicants file to the applicant's district president for approval. Upon the district President's approval, the applicants file will be forwarded to the office of the First Vice President of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod for approval and publication in the Lutheran Witness. After a 60 day waiting period the applicant is normally approved for entry into the colloquy program
6. The Director of the DCE Program will make recommendation for the applicant's acceptance into the DCE Certification process to the College of Vocation and Ministry.
7. The College of Vocation and Ministry will approve the applicant for entry into the DCE program.

Final Certification Review Process
The Certification Review Process serves as the outcomes examination for the Parish Education Major and the DCE Certification Program, providing a final review before application for Certification and providing closure and synthesis for the DCE candidate. The Certification Review Process will serve as the colloquy examination for those seeking to be placed on the roster of The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod as Ministers of Religion, Commissioned as Directors of Christian Education.

The Certification Interview is to be scheduled after DCE Internship and in conjunction with application for Synodical placement. The interview team membership shall include the Director of Colloquy as chair, the Director of Christian Education program and another rostered Commissioned Minister.