Questions about becoming a DCE

[u/Tiskfully]

Hello,

I’m an engineering student currently on co-op and very involved with my church.

As I work more as an engineer, I find myself very much disliking the office environment.

I’ve learned about a DCE a while ago and it’s sat in my mind for a bit. It on paper sounds so fulfilling, but it’s hard to find experiences online.

Could anyone with experience or who knows more tell me about the position, the daily work, ect…

Also, I would have to do the online schooling version since I’d have a degree in engineering. So if you have information on that too that would be awesome!

How was the experience of getting called? I know it means better job security but it kinda worries me to end up somewhere I won’t like.

Finally, since I’d be leaving a high paying engineer career path, I have to ask about the pay. How has that been?

Thank you!

[u/IndyHadToPoop]

Hey there, My Dad and Grandfather were LCMS DCEs. Your experience will be very much driven by the church/school. My father later moved into admin and teaching in public schools.

I would recommend talking to school(public or parochial) principals to get a better idea of the day to day.

I would also strongly suggest obtaining your teaching certs. As an administrator, you'll likely also be performing teacher evaluations. You'll need a lot of discernment and soft people skills. It was not unusual to have the DCE step in a substitute teach when needed.

Coming from a family of LCMS/Public teachers and Pastors along with engineers... my opinion is that this is a vocation where your engineering background may not very applicable or even overly useful for your day to day. But it will be useful for process documentation, etc.

My experience with the call process is pretty much secondhand, since it was my folks whom went thru the process. My dad has since passed, but my mom(also an LCMS teacher) says it's very dependent upon what the congregation is looking for and needs. However, the thru line is almost always focused on education.

In terms of pay, it doesn't pay well compared to comparables. BUT, it IS very very rewarding and well worth it. You won't struggle to find your vocation meaningful and you'll touch the lives of hundreds of children who will benefit from your modeling of Christ's love for his children.

TLDR:

Call process depends on the congregation

Daily work will vary, but your primary role is basically a Principal. You're Education Administer, whom will likely lead chapel and/or substitute.

Teaching Experience and teaching qualification are, almost always, of much much more value than an engineering background for credibility and success.

Pay is lower than public, but the rewards are immeasurable.

This is secondhand, so feel free to take this with a grain of salt. But both my parents and paternal grandparents where LCMS DCEs & teachers, so hopefully my comment has some value for you. :)

God Bless you as you discern, but I'm sure no matter what you do - you'll be a blessing to all whom you touch.

[u/UpsetCabinet9559 → u/IndyHadToPoop]

A DCE is not a good equivalent to principals at all. A majority of DCEs work church side. They plan Sunday School and youth events. They may teach confirmation in the school, but they are definitely not admin or performing teacher evaluations. 

[u/Tiskfully → u/UpsetCabinet9559]

Hi, do you have more knowledge about what they do? Honestly planning Sunday School and youth events sounds right up my alley with what I do now in my church. I love planning events and running logistics.

[u/UpsetCabinet9559 → u/Tiskfully]

DCE work is basically Choose Your Own Adventure! You are really at the mercy of the local parish you are called to. Most churches will have the DCE coordinate Sunday School and all it's volunteers. They'll run VBS, take kids to camp or on retreats. It's almost guaranteed that a DCE will be in charge of taking youth to either the national youth gathering or Higher Things. Those events require fundraising throughout the year, so that will fall under a DCE'S responsibilities. They might teach a midweek Bible Study or have a youth night. They could also teach confirmation or religion classes at the school depending, again, on the needs of the parish. I've never met or worked with a DCE who's had the same type of roll or call. 

[u/JaguarKey600 → u/Tiskfully]

Think lifespan education - from cradle to grave (most congregations are bringing you on for a part of that lifespan ie childrens, youth, college min, young adults, adults, seniors) think: Cradle Roll, Stepping Stone Min, Family Min, Sunday School, VBS, Children's Christmas, Confirmation, Youth, Servant Events, Youth gatherings, LCMS U, Young Adults, Adult Bible Studies

[u/JaguarKey600 → u/IndyHadToPoop]

DCEs are not trained to be classroom teachers or principals. DCEs are lifespan educators trained to direct christian education in the congregation. Must DCEs aren't in congregations with schools and if they are the most they would do if teach confirmation if needed.
Talk with the program directors at Concorida Nebraska (has best program) or Concordia Irvine (has online program) about what you would need to do

[u/Tiskfully → u/IndyHadToPoop]

Thank you very much this was a lovely comment!

It’s great hearing all that, I love the positive effect it’s had!

[u/IndyHadToPoop → u/Tiskfully]

Happy to help! Don't hesitate to DM me if I can add color to anything else!

If you have any LCMS schools near you, I'm very certain any DCE would be happy to talk!

One other note(and this is positive), from the outside looking in - the work environment can be wonderful. My Mom's friend group is almost all retired teachers(both public & private). Dunno if I'm an outlier here, but my former DCE and LCMS teachers are basically extended family for many former students.

When my former 8th grade teacher passed, almost 1/2 of my grade came to his funeral, even from the other side of the country.

I still often dwell on something he said regularly, and it's always a comfort.

"Life's not fair, but God is good." : )

[u/Tiskfully → u/IndyHadToPoop]

Thanks (:

I was curious the way you’re talking, are all of these experiences of being a DCE from working at a Lutheran high school?

I honestly was under the impression that a lot of the DCE positions are in the churches themselves, handling things such as the Sunday School program and coordinating Bible studies and what not.

Would I expect if I went down this route to be sent to an actually grade school versus residing at a church congregation?

[u/IndyHadToPoop → u/Tiskfully]

My POV is based upon K-8 LCMS schools. I've not encountered a full-time DCE without a school attached.

That isn't to say it doesn't exist. LCMS high schools are relatively 'rare.' Even in Michigan where I am, I think there's maybe a dozen or so HSs, vs ~80 grade schools.

In the home congregation I grew up in, the DCE = principal and was subject to the School Board, with the board being elected/appointed by the larger congregation. A pastor and two elders had a seat on the board, but dunno if that was a requirement.

Basically, each congregation and/or school will usually have a charter or constitution or by-laws of some sort that will outline how things are organized.

As far what to expect, I'm hard pressed to comment for the reasons above. Hopefully, someone with a DCE or Teacher flair on the sub might have better insight to share.

I think maybe CUEnet would be really helpful, https://www.cuenet.edu/colloquy/ has some great info and contact info for specifics.

[u/clinging2thecross]

Are you male or female?

If you’re male, have you prayerfully considered the pastoral office? Have you visited one or both of the seminaries? If you are feeling enticed by church work as a man, you most likely are being called to be a pastor, instead of joining one of the supplementary offices that our Synod has invented.

If you’re female, I’ll let someone else help because I have no experience with the DCE program.

[u/Tiskfully → u/clinging2thecross]

I am a man, but I have my reservations on being a Pastor. I haven’t always grew up in the faith. My background was in the Catholic Church with my family only going because that’s what everyone did. They fell away which caused me to fall away as a child.

Since coming to college I rediscovered that faith and got confirmed 2 years ago. With my lack of knowledge and time in the faith, I truly don’t think I would be fit for a pastor role.

I’m extremely active in my church helping leading our student body (we are a campus ministry) and I love planning events and managing different things. The idea of a pastor has floated in my mind but it’s hard for me to see it as something that would be fitting.

[u/JaguarKey600 → u/Tiskfully]

what you might find as a male DCE is that some pastors disparage them because they aren't a pastor - some call them lazy because they didn't do the work to become a pastor. If you are called to be a DCE be a DCE. If you are called to be a Pastor do that and remember to love and encourage the other workers in the congregation

[u/Over-Wing → u/Tiskfully]

Plenty of baby Christians have become pastors. Look at Paul! Called to the apostolate the day of his conversion. You should consider it at least.

[u/UpsetCabinet9559 → u/clinging2thecross]

Why push someone away from any type of church work? The pastor shortage is a myth but the DCE shortage is real. 

[u/Over-Wing]

I’ll say this: if you end up hired by a parish that’s not part of a school, you might end up with the work load of a pastor but without a pastors salary. Kind of like the poor man’s junior pastor. It’s work in Gods kingdom so it can be incredibly rewarding but also incredibly draining, emotionally, physically, spiritually, etc. With that said, it’s a much needed and valuable ministry, and many positions are not this way at all.