August 2025
What is a DCE? What do they do?
A compilation from various sources informs that a Director of Christian Education (DCE) in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod serves as a lifespan (“cradle to grave”) Christian educator, usually within a congregational setting. They assist and support pastors and other church staff in order to nurture and equip, as they teach the faith to children, youth, and adults.
DCEs focus on areas like children, youth, and family ministry, and develop and lead educational
programs and activities, such as Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, confirmation classes, youth groups, and adult Bible studies. They also recruit, train, and equip volunteers in assisting in these educational ministries.
The LCMS Northern Illinois District (NID) acknowledges and celebrates the importance of our Directors of Christian Education (DCEs). Did you know that the NID currently has 24 DCEs serving in congregations throughout our District?
NIDnews.org was able to speak with Deb Arfsten, the Director of the DCE Program and Professor of Christian Education at Concordia University Chicago. Having served in this role for 21 years, her responsibilities include: teaching DCE courses, arranging for and supervising fieldwork experiences with Chicago-area LCMS congregations, arranging for and supervising year-long internships with LCMS congregations across the country, visiting with prospective DCE students, serving as the faculty advisor for all DCE students, and meeting and strategizing with other Concordia DCE Directors in the Synod.
Deb is certified as a DCE herself, and she derives joy from training others. “I get them when they come in as freshmen and am with them all the way through their internships. I stay connected with them even after they’ve graduated and are serving in the field. It’s fun to see their growth through the years and finding joy in serving in the church. It’s also great to work with congregations all over the country and assist them in their ministry needs. It’s a wonderful network of people who really want to grow in their Christian Education and other ministries in the congregations.”
Although her position and responsibilities bring her the joys listed above, Deb does face some challenges in her role – specifically, a shortage of DCE students to fill all the needs for congregations, financial support from the university, and trying to understand and work with the challenges that young people face now, such as anxiety, depression, overabundance of technology, and overcommitment.
Despite needing to work through those challenges, the real reason and purpose for DCEs and this kind of training program remains in focus, “Training people for ministry is a huge privilege and honor. While I’m impacting them in their learning for the moment, they will then go and impact others for the future. I’m always reminding myself and my students that everything we do is for Jesus and to never take for granted the privilege we have in sharing the Gospel and walking with others in their faith journey.”
We were also able to speak with two Directors of Christian Education currently work “in the field” in our LCMS Northern Illinois District: Harry Grimes, who serves as the Director of Youth and Family Discipleship at Immanuel Lutheran Church and Preschool in Downers Grove, Illinois and Alex Brice, who serves as the Director of Christian Education at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in St. Charles, Illinois.
They were both able to share a bit about their stories, what brought them to this calling in the first place, and the greatest joy they receive from serving in their roles.
Alex has served at St. Mark’s for six years. He was placed there for his DCE internship in 2019 and continued in the position post-graduation. When asked about why he became a DCE, he shared, “In Jr. High and Sr. High, I did not have a strong connection with my faith. Despite not have a strong connection with my faith, I was a regular in my youth group, because I had close friends in that group. In high school, my home church (Chapel of the Cross in St. Peter’s, Missouri) called Andrew Nelson, who was a DCE at the time. Andrew was a great mentor for me… God worked through him to help me learn about and grow in my faith. Eventually, I decided I wanted to do for others what Andrew did for me. After high school, I attended Concordia University Chicago to become a DCE.”
His greatest joy is working with youth and their families, “especially seeing them grow as people and grow in their faith.”
Alex commented on those who have served as mentors to him (Rev. Andrew Nelson, the DCE
mentioned above, who now serves as pastor at St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Janesville, Wisconsin; and Rev. Jamie Holt, pastor as St. Mark’s, where Alex serves). But also, by default, in serving as a Director of Christian Education, these servants of Christ end up in roles as mentors to the youth they teach and equip.
He also shared, “I mentor children, Jr./Sr. high students, and college students, guiding them in their walk with Christ. I try my best to help them understand who Jesus is to us, and what we can do with the gifts he gives us (loving and serving others, being the hands and feet of Jesus, etc.).”
Harry has been a DCE for five years as well. He graduated from Concordia University Chicago in 2020 and has been at his current call at Immanuel since April of 2023.
When asked how he chose this line of work, he replied, “I believe God used my childhood pastor and DCE to lead me into this vocation. As a high school student, they provided leadership opportunities, both in my youth council and with multiple internships at church. It was because of the hands-on experience I had as a 16-18 year old that I fell in love with the calling of being a DCE! I encourage all churches to give youth more and more opportunities to experience leadership roles as teens. It’s transformative in the discernment process for full-time ministry.”
He additionally shared that he is mentored by his current Senior Pastor at St. Mark’s, the Rev. Dr. Chris James. “He is someone who is always open to sharing his experiences and never shies away from the many questions I have. I’m grateful that I am continuing to learn about the ministry of Immanuel from him and how to be a better disciple of Jesus!”
In regard to mentoring others, Harry commented, “This summer at Immanuel we kicked off a new mentorship program for youth. We hired two youth interns who have been partnering in ministry at Immanuel. I am honored to help lead these two youth as they focus on building relationships within the families of our church and their fellow peers in youth group.”
Harry’s greatest joy in serving in his role is “that I get to share the Good News of Jesus in so many different ways! No week looks the same. Sometimes, that is sharing the Gospel through songs at preschool chapel. At times, it is worshiping our Savior alongside our youth attending the LCMS Youth Gathering. It includes retreats, lock-ins, dinners, and so much more that creates space to talk about the discipling ways of Jesus. It is a true joy that all aspects of this calling give space to talk and live like Jesus!”
We are thankful for these faithful workers and their enthusiasm for teaching, leading, and equipping youth and families in our congregations throughout the District. May the Lord continue to bless the fruits of their labor!
Harry added, “If you see teens who display the traits of a future church worker, tell them that! At the age of 16, I was never considering being a DCE. it was because of the adults and youth leaders around me that God was able to plant that seed in my heart. Those students may have never considered leading as a full-time teacher, DCE, or pastor, but God might need you to be the one to spark that idea in their life!
Set Apart to Serve (SAS) is an initiative in The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod to recruit future church workers, focusing on mentorship from pastors, teachers, DCEs and others at their home congregations, and through continued faithful involvement at their churches. There are resources available at: https://www.lcms.org/set-apart-to-serve
Specifically, undergraduate programs for DCE certification are available from several of the Concordia universities. For more information on DCE programs through the Concordia University system, please visit: https://www.lcms.org/serve/set-apart-to-serve/dce
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