On Thursday, October 24, 2019, Directors of Christian Education (DCEs) were recognized and thanked in a service at Concordia University Chicago.
This service followed in the spirit of a resolution made at the 67th Regular Convention of the LCMS this past July. NID President Allan Buss chaired Committee 4, Life Together, which worked on the resolution (4-01):
“That the Synod thank God for 60 years of DCE ministry in the LCMS;
That the Synod affirm the important work that has been done for our Synod and the Church by certified DCEs for the past 60 years;
That the LCMS in convention support and celebrate those individuals who are preparing to serve as DCEs, those who are currently serving, and those who have served as DCEs in our Synod.”
The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod established the office of DCE in its 1959 convention to “provide additional leadership for the educational program of the congregation.” The office augments the Office of the Holy Ministry, bringing the love of Christ deeply into the lives of believers. DCEs serve in a broad array of capacities. Depending on the needs of a congregation, they may teach Sunday school or confirmation, coordinate youth, family, or other targeted programs, aid in outreach or works of service and mercy in the community, and many more. In all their work, they show Christian laypeople the love of Christ and the promises of His Word.
LCMS President Matthew Harrison commended DCEs and Concordia University Chicago in a letter read at the conclusion of the service.
“I am thankful to God for each and every one of you. May God continue to bless you, along with your time and effort, as you prepare and communicate, uplifting with the Gospel, strengthening with the Word of God, and pursuing maturity of faith. Rich blessings also to all those who guide and instruct our future DCEs!”
Read President Harrison’s full letter here.
Those gathered enjoyed refreshments and fellowship in a reception after the service.
Praise God for His working of faith in our lives through DCEs!
“And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
Ephesians 4:11-16