[DCE Youth] DCE Letter - 08.31.07 Posting your LEIF; New DCE Interns; GLORYbo und

Fri Aug 31 15:26:19 CDT 2007

DCE and Youth Ministry Occasional Letter - August 31, 2007    

LEIF Updating now done on Lutheran School Portal - Instructions to access
and post your LEIF

There is a new system to update your LEIF (Lutheran Educator Information
Form).  This is the instrument used to share your name with calling
congregations in Texas and throughout other districts in the LCMS.  It is
used only for folks on the Commissioned Minister Roster, so if you are a 

non-rostered contracted person this does not apply to you.  The new method
gets rid of paper and is entirely electronic.  In addition, there are no
longer evaluations being done by senior pastors.  If you have not done so, I
would encourage you to post your LEIF.  If you have done a previous paper
version, please note that we can no longer use it.  Your data can't be
shared without doing this new version.

How do I post my form? 

You complete it through Lutheran School Portal   https://www.lsportal.net/
<https://www.lsportal.net/>   First, call Helen Hagood @ the Texas District
office to get a login ID and password.  Ask Helen for "LEIF only access."  

How do I complete the form?

A detailed instruction sheet is available on the portal.

How will the information be used?

I will share it with appropriate calling congregations in Texas or with
districts who request your LEIF.  It helps congregations develop call lists
of DCE's, Youth Ministers, etc. who are a good match.

Once I complete the LEIF, do I have to complete it every year?

You can update it at anytime and are encouraged to update it at least
annually.

Two Attachments  -- Congregations in DCE etc. Call Process and Positions
Filled -- Also - current DCE list in Texas

DCE Interns begin serving in Texas

The following are DCE interns from Concordia, Austin who are now serving in
Texas.  Please invite them to clusters meeting in your area.  Get to know
them and seek to involve them in any ways you can:

*      Amanda Bell, Prince of Peace, Amarillo , TX

*      Krista Elliott, Austin City Church , Austin , TX

*      Joshua Jackson, St. Paul , Thorndale , TX

*      Eric Naumann, Christ the King, Kingwood, TX

*      Jessica Ranostaj, First, Texarkana , TX

*      Karl Winkler, Trinity, Tyler , TX

GLORYbound 2008 - Pulse - November 28-30, 2008

Ft. Worth Convention Center

WHAT?  

The GLORYbound 2008 team has been hard at work.  The theme for the 2008
GLORYbound in Ft. Worth is PULSE. Our theme verse is Ezekiel 36:26 "I will
give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you
your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."  Look for details and
updated information on the website soon.  www.gloryboundtexas.org
<http://www.gloryboundtexas.org/> 

WHY?

In this youth subculture, our students find themselves in a daily struggle
for self definition, particularly pertaining to who they are in Christ and
who He is to them.  At GLORYbound 2008 we will help students have a living,
breathing, bleeding understanding of their identity in Christ.  We will pray
and watch as God transforms hearts and minds from stone to flesh, from
flat-lines to pulse, so that teenagers are revived and equipped to live for
Christ. We'll worship a Christ so real and so close to these students that
they can hear and feel His PULSE!

Christian Education Leadership
Developing Lifespan Servant Leaders in Ministry 
Published Quarterly by Concordia DCE Directors, LEA DCEnet & KINDLE

Summer 2007

Opening Thoughts 

Greetings in the name of the One who calls us CHOSEN in Christ (1 Peter
1:18-19).  By grace, we are CHOSEN to be children that declare the praises
of God who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
The National Youth Gathering last week proclaimed a refreshing reminder that
we are also CHOSEN to the world.  We are Christ's ambassadors to proclaim
the faith that we have as CHOSEN children of God.  By the Spirit, we know
that we can live lives of compassion, ready at all times to share the hope
we have in Christ in word and deed (1 Peter 3:15).

This issue of Christian Education Leadership offers missional perspectives
on Servant Leadership.  While we are CHOSEN to the world, many believe
reaching the cities of the world is among the greatest missionary challenges
facing the church today.  The term, "urban ministry" is used frequently to
describe ministry to the cities, and it is very broad, because most of us
live in the city.  A quick search for "urban ministry" at google.com turned
up more than 3,000,000 sites.

I turned to Lutheran Hour Ministries-Urban Ministry at
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.yyyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lhm.org%2Furban%2Fdefault.htm>
http://www.lhm.org/urban/default.htm for an understanding of the term,
"urban."  The word, "urban" was first used by marketers in the 1970s to
describe African Americans and Latinos between the ages of 18 and 34 who
live in the inner city and who tend to have developed current styles in
attitude, fashion, and music.  Today, the urban audience is multicultural;
90% of U.S. minorities live in large metropolitan areas.  There are urban
ministries that focus on the homeless, others that speak to the hip-hop
generation and seminary courses on the theology of the city.  Then there are
ministries whose heart is for intercultural ministry and racial
reconciliation.  

Whether we serve in urban, suburban or rural areas of our world, we have
been CHOSEN to the world.  God gives His people the strength and vision to
minister in ways that speak the same language and see the world through the
same cultural lenses.

DCE Vanessa Seifert serves as Director of Youth and Family Ministries,
Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, School & Childcare, San Antonio, TX,
and is a member of the LEA DCEnet Leadership Team. 

Hearts on Fire 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> 

Shanna Hageman, Director of Christian Education, Director of Children, Youth
and Family Ministries.  Valley Lutheran Church, Chagrin Falls, OH

It's been three years now since my husband accepted his first Pastoral Call
to a place where no one else wanted to go.  Before we arrived, there had
been a vacancy for ten years and very little ministry had taken place.
Imagine us if you can, two twenty-something, fresh faced church workers
arriving on the stoop of a grand, historic old church which saw well over
1200 Sunday worshippers in it's glory days.  That beautiful house of worship
was now nearly obsolete due to suburban flight, the encroachment of inner
city project housing and everything that goes along with it.  Fear,
ignorance and prejudice had turned the remaining members inward to the point
where the congregation's membership did not represent the neighborhood in
which it existed.

Do you know what it feels like to walk the streets of a neighborhood where
you are the only person of your ethnicity around?  Where suspicious eyes
peer out from behind doors and windows, where people stare and glare and
wonder what your intentions are?  I know that feeling well.  And I also
remember asking God, "Why, Lord? Why have you sent two white kids from
Kansas to the black ghetto of Cleveland?  Wasn't there someone more
qualified?" Sometimes I still ask that question.   My questioning prayer is
at least as old as Moses, as is God's promise to manifest His strength
despite our human weaknesses.  

Ministering to people in a place where not many are willing to go is often
laden with challenges.  Most often, we lack human resources, volunteers.
Our aging membership can't physically support the ministry we want to do.
We lack financial resources.  We lack the first hand knowledge of the
cultures we want to infiltrate for God's Kingdom.  But there is still no
place I'd rather be.  Want to know why?  Because in an area where poverty
reigns and there are no neat suburban homes and fences to hide our human
messes, there are always people around.  They are in the streets walking
around all day and all night.  No matter what program or event we want to
try, people will always show up.  They have nothing better to do and nowhere
else to go.  There are fewer barriers to God's work.  The needs are raw and
basic.  People are hungry, weary, addicted and struggling.  They have
nothing to fall back on for comfort.  They need the saving work of Jesus.
It's not all that different from a modern day mission field.

In May of this year my husband and I had a chance to go to Haiti for a week
long mission.  Haiti, the poorest nation in the western hemisphere, is also
a place where few people wish to go.  The US Government doesn't recommend
it.  The average male life expectancy is only 52 years.  The needs there are
raw and basic.  People are starving; they have no welfare and no outside
support.  For the majority of people, there is no medical care, no dental
care, no economic outlet, and no way to create opportunities for a brighter
future. Voodoo has a powerful presence, even among the community of
Christians.  During our time in Haiti we had the chance to teach English to
students at a Lutheran school and an orphanage.  Our team bought materials
for a church's new roof and oversaw its construction.  We hosted a dental
clinic where the patients had their rotted teeth pulled and heard about
their Savior.  Pastors on our team trained the lay Pastors who had walked
hours on foot to have the chance to learn.  I got to walk door- to- door in
the slums and talk to people about Jesus through an interpreter.  In less
than two hours two people who had never heard of Jesus agreed to trust Him
and begin living a life of faith and hope.  We also met a lot of vibrant
Christian people who understand that this life is short, hard, and painful,
but that we have a Living Hope.  This life isn't all there is.  This life
isn't even close.  Most have very few expectations for life, very few
expectations of their Savior.  I fell in love with these people and the
simplicity with which they live.  I felt shame at the entitlement that I
feel to live a blessed life.  Though this wasn't my first overseas mission
trip, it was the first time I became truly aware of God's amazing ability to
work through weakness.  And even more, the gift of joy He can give to those
who are willing to serve in a place where no one else wants to go.  I kept
thinking of all the time and energy Jesus spent with the dregs of society in
his day.  The tax collectors, the prostitutes, the children, the fishermen,
the liars, the cheaters, and even the unrepentant sinners.  What would His
ministry have been like had he remained in the temple preaching?  

I have some questions and a challenge for you.  It's no accident that you
are reading this, not if you have gotten this far.  I'm talking to YOU.  How
much does your congregation reach out to those who are lost and hurting?
How much do you personally allow yourself to be stretched beyond what you
find comfortable?  What opportunity have you given God to use you to save a
soul?  What difference will your life make in God's eternal Kingdom?  Will
there be anyone standing in heaven because you answered God's call in
Matthew 28:19, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and
teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  

Many of you are already doing wonderful things for the Lord.  Many of your
congregations have strong and healthy outreach ministries.  But let's be
honest.  Many more of our churches are not heeding God's call.  Something
closer to the truth for me is that I'm not doing anything to help others
catch onto the passion I have been given for the lost, for evangelism.
After our trip to Haiti, my husband was a little confused as to why people
sometimes get so excited about going on a mission trip outside the US, but
have no desire to serve right here on our own soil.  Short-term and
long-term missions are important and necessary, but often that excitement
fizzles at the US border.   I believe that most people don't know about the
opportunities that exist for service.  I encourage you to seek out the
ministries that need you.  Ministries in locations where no one wants to go,
where people are lost and hurting, longing for a Savior, waiting for someone
to tell them about the Word made flesh.  "Then I heard the voice of the Lord
saying, "Whom shall I send?  And who will go for us?"  And I said, "Here am
I.  Send me!"  Isaiah 6:8

Research

Dr. Bill Cullen, DCE Program Director, Concordia University Chicago, IL

Our Mission Exercised
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> 

through Servant Leadership

I have just read Shanna's article and was moved by it. I was asked to write
a research piece on servant leadership in relationship to mission. 

Robert K. Greenleaf has been accredited with first coining the term "servant
leadership" in an essay he wrote in 1970 entitled, "The Servant as Leader."
In this essay Greenleaf writes:

The servant-leader is servant first. It begins with the natural feeling that
one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to
aspire to lead -- 

The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant-first to
make sure that other people's highest priority needs are being served. The
best test, and difficult to administer, is: do those served grow as persons;
do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more
autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants? And, what is the
effect on the least privileged in society; will they benefit, or at least,
will they not be further deprived?

Jesus, however, talked about servant leadership nearly 2000 years earlier
... 

Click Here to Read the Entire Article
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.4yyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.ni.lcms.org%2Fministries%2Fcongregation%2FCEL%2FCEL-Summer07-Res
earch-BillCullen.pdf> 

CEL Archive 

Want to see past issues of 

Christian Education Leadership?  
Click below! 

http://cel.ni.lcms.org
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.azyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fcel.ni.lcms.org%2F>   

Resource Review

DCE Chris Holder, Missionary to Youth, New Hope Community Lutheran Church,
LINC Dallas (Lutheran Inter-city Network Coalition) 

Title of Resource: A Theology as Big as the City
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> 

Weblink: http://www.ivpress.com/cgi-ivpress/book.pl/code=1890
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.bzyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.ivpress.com%2Fcgi-ivpress%2Fbook.pl%2Fcode%3D1890>  
Author: Raymond J. Bakke 
Publisher: InterVarsity Press  
Date Published: 1997

Number of Pages:  221
Cost: $12.00 

Purpose 
Ray Bakke grew up in the rural logging community of Pious Scandinavian
Lutherans in Washington State.  Despite this background he has become one of
the most respected urban ministry leaders in the country.  Bakke's primary
purpose in writing this book is to share his own journey from, "looking at
the 1,250 uses of the word city in Scriptures and developing case studies on
cities and persons who lived in cities" (15).  In doing so he is challenging
believers to not just read the Bible from a rural and agricultural
perspective but to also read Scripture with "urban eyes."       

The twenty-six short chapters of Bakke's book support his purpose by
interweaving his personal journey as an Urban Minister for over thirty years
with the key Bible stories and passages that have shaped his ministry.   

Issues Addressed 
As Bakke explores the Bible with "urban eyes," several key issues come
forward.  For one, Bakke expresses his concern with the trend of both
individual Christians and churches fleeing the inner-city for the suburbs
and other outlying areas.  As these Christian influences leave, the
communities they once inhabited suffer.  In reflecting on the demise of
Sodom, Bakke asserts, "While prayer is right and critical for a city's
survival, it can never be a substitute for the conscious relocation of
Christians to set up residency and witness in the midst of the evil" (45).

This book also addresses the urbanizing of the world and how through media,
finance, and transportation advances, everyone is becoming more and more
connected to its major cities.  One surprising statistic Bakke shares is
that, "in 1900, 8 percent of the world's population lived in cities; by the
year 2000 that number reached nearly 50 percent" (12).  With that trend
continuing, all who minister in today's world will be affected by the
spiritual plight of the cities.     

The role of the individual and the community in ministry is another key
focus.  The question addressed here is, "Does God care only about people, or
does he also care about places, including cities" (61)?  Bakke argues that
American Protestantism has historically focused too much on the faith and
well being of the individual and too little on that of the parish, community
and city.  However, the Bible passages of this book show that God is very
concerned about both people and places.    

Major Assertions 
Although raised Lutheran, Bakke is now a Baptist Minister.  While this book
does not address major theological differences like infant baptism or
Christ's real presence in Communion, it is not a Lutheran book per se.
Therefore, it should be read through Lutheran theological lenses.  With that
in mind, the following assertions of author, Ray Bakke are worth noting -- 

"We acknowledge that inner-city neighborhoods are often ugly and the systems
are broken.  Yet there's a sense in which if Christ is with me in the midst
of the slum, the neighborhood is a slum no longer, for Christ lives in me,
and his kingdom agendas confront the neighborhood" (37).

"Ruth is one of two books in the Bible named for a woman, the other is
Esther; surprisingly, perhaps, both tell the story of an interracial second
marriage" (55).  

"A city, named Jerusalem became a symbol of God's presence and power in the
world (63)."  "I noticed in the imagery of the Psalms that God chose to live
in the city of Jerusalem and could be found occupying and even animating its
institutions" (69). 

"For two thousand years the church has had the Great Commission to, 'go and
make disciples of all nations' (Mt 28:19).  Today we know where 'all the
nations' are - in the urban neighborhoods" (73). 

Usefulness
If you are just becoming familiar with the concept of "Urban Ministry'' or
want to explore it further, A Theology as Big as the City addresses key
issues that will help you better understand this growing ministry trend. 

This book is also a very useful tool in reading the Bible from an urban
perspective in addition to the rural one more commonly taught. A great
example of this is -- 

"The very architecture of Luke-Acts, which moves from Galilee to Jerusalem
and then from Jerusalem to Rome, displays an urban focus; Luke's emphasis on
ethnicity as well as the social themes of riches, poverty, justice and women
makes up the urban agenda. The book climaxes with a command to remain in the
city till Pentecost" (133).

Bakke's 5 specializations of urban ministry are also helpful in
understanding urban ministry's key developments and trends in the last 40
years ... 

1. Rescue ministry to the world's most vulnerable peoples.

2. Church based community organizing and development.

3. Ethnic ministries, both multilingual and multicultural.

4. Lay empowerment for vocational ministry in the city's public squares.

5. Congregational adaptations of traditional ministry functions into the
urban context. 

Reading /Viewing Difficulty

This book is generally an easy read, particularly for one with a theological
focus. However, it does assume same basic understanding of Scripture and
theological concepts.  

Recommendations

A Theology as Big as the City is a great read for anyone wanting to know
more about the fundamental sociological and theological issues facing urban
ministry.  It would be particularly helpful for someone considering or
feeling a calling to ministry in an urban context.   

For more information on Urban Ministry, particularly in LCMS contexts, check
out LINC (Lutheran Inter-City Network Coalition) websites:

     Dallas / Ft Worth

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.czyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lincdfw.org%2F> www.lincdfw.org 

     Houston

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.dzyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.linchouston.org%2F> www.linchouston.org 

The CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) is a nationwide
network of churches and ministries that share the love of Christ and and
work towards the restoration of America's poorest and most "at-risk"
neighborhoods. 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.ezyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fccda.org%2F> http://ccda.org/ 

A great book on holistic and biblical approaches to restoring urban
communities is Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development
by John M. Perkins, another well respected urban ministry leader.

DCEnet News

DCE Audrey Duensing-Werner, DCEnet Leadership Team Chair 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> 

We welcome DCE Audrey Duensing-Werner as our new DCEnet chair!  Audrey
serves at Faith Lutheran Church in Topeka, KS, and has previously served
congregations in Minnesota and Michigan.  She is a KINDLE gradate and has
served KINDLE as a Facilitating DCE.  Please pray for Audrey and the entire
DCEnet leadership as they serve DCEs in this very important area. 

Greetings in the name of our CHOSEN Christ!

My heart is awfully full this week, how about yours?  It's full of songs
from the National Youth Gathering that keep playing over and over in my
head; full of the Holy Spirit as I still basque in the glow of the worship
service as 25,000+ participants sang loud hosanna's and celebrated the
Lord's Supper together; and full of God's grace as I was reminded one more
time that God chose me ... and God chose you ... through the waters of
baptism ... wow that's rich.  

I was so glad that I was able to reconnect with so many of you at the
gathering and I look forward to meeting more of you as I serve as
chairperson for LEADCEnet for the next few years. 

Now that many of you are back and getting ready for fall events I want to
share with you what the DCEnet leadership team's fall will look like.  

DCEnet represents DCE's on a national level and our main purpose is to
advocate, link and equip Directors of Christian Education to serve more
effectively in God's Kingdom.  In May of last year we sent a survey to all
DCE's. There were 315 of you that took time to complete the survey and we
thank you for that. 

As a result of that survey and many conversations with field DCE's, the
DCEnet leadership team put together a task force and are in the early stages
of taking what you gave us and shaping an organization that supports and
uplifts teachers of the faith in all areas of ministry that God has called
them to serve.  

We will be sending out periodic communications and we, on the leadership
team and task force, would like the opportunity to visit with as many of you
as possible. 

Throughout this next year our hope is that we will be able to spend time
with you, the field DCE, over a cup of coffee or coke.  If that's not
possible, we would like to do it virtually using the discussion forum as
part of the facebook DCE group (
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.gzyckdcab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fgroup.php%3Fgid%3D2315254749>
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2315254749).

There are going to be some exciting times ahead of us in DCE ministry.  We
look forward to getting on our knees in prayer on your behalf.  Please keep
us in your prayers as we listen to the heart of God for direction. 

In Christ,

DCEnet Leadership Team:

Audrey Duensing-Werner, Chair

Vanessa Seifert, Communication and Publications

DCE Dr Steve Christopher (CNH District)

DCE Dr Deb Arfsten (Concordia University Chicago

Task Force:

DCE Audrey Duensing-Werner, Chair (Kansas District)

DCE Dr Deb Arfsten (Concorida University Chicago)

DCE Dr Mark Blanke (Concordia University Nebraska)

DCE Jim Bradshaw (Kansas District Executive)

DCE Dr Steve Christopher (CNH District)

DCE Dynaa Gallegos (Kansas District)

DCE Cindy Twillman (Kansas District)

DCE Scotte Hansen (Nebraska District)

DCE Paul Johnson (Kansas District)

DCE Dave Rahberg (Texas District)

DCE Vanessa Seifert (Texas District)

DCE Dr Jack Giles; Advisor (NID District)

Dr Jonathon Laabs, Advisor (Executive Director of LEA)

Edie Snethen; business consultant 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.xdixwxbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lea.org%2Fdeprtmnt%2Fteamhome.htm> 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.xdixwxbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lea.org%2Fdeprtmnt%2Fteamhome.htm>  

Learn More About DCEnet
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.xdixwxbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lea.org%2Fdeprtmnt%2Fteamhome.htm> 

KINDLE News

DCE Jack Giles, KINDLE Board of Directors

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> 

2008 KINDLE Class Set!!

Welcome KINDLE 2008 Associate Class!!! 

Jim Anderson (Bloomington, MN) 
Gary Bach (New York Mills, MN) 
Kelly Bailey McCray (Bend, OR) 
Rick Barklage (N. Highlands, CA) 
Kendis Bender (Amherst, OH) 
Rebecca Calvin (Lisle, IL) 
David Forke (Eau Claire, WI) 
Michael Harvey (Rochester, MN) 
Leland Jackson (Garden City, KS) 
Leon Jameson (St. Charles, MO) 
Timothy Kaufman (Palatine, IL) 
Brett Lindemood (Phoenix, AZ) 
Christy Malinowski (Normal, IL) 
David Meier (East Dundee, IL) 
Charles Merriman (Ellinwood, KS) 
Eric Oswald (Sandy, UT) 
Jolene Siebarth (Glendale, MO)

Please keep these Associates in your prayers!  Begin planning now to be part
of the 2009 KINDLE Class!!  Watch for more details! 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> Learn More About KINDLE

Concordia DCE Program Update

Mark Blanke, EdD, DCE Program Director, Concordia University - Nebraska 

<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F> Update from Concordia University - Nebraska

Seward, "Nebraska's 4th of July City", recently celebrated its annual
festival of food, festivities, and fireworks - and while everyone (including
the 40,000 or so visitors to this city of 6700) is recovering from eating
too many hot dogs and funnel cakes, the DCE Program at Concordia has much
left on its plate.

We are entering our third academic year with a complete DCE faculty.  I'll
be starting my 13th year at CUNE.  Tim Rippstein, the Intern Site
Coordinator, will be starting his fifth year and Thad Warren will be
starting his third year with us - both are incredible blessings to the
students and the university, even while both are busy in the midst of their
doctoral studies,  A real benefit of having a stable faculty is the ability
to carry out some needed changes.  We are in the process of a significant
program revision, hoping to have changes in place by the Fall of '08.  The
last revision took place in 2000.  Thad has just completed some significant
research for his dissertation that will definitely benefit our process.

Fall 2008 is also the launch date for a revised Master's program.  The
Master's of Parish Education has not undergone a significant revision in at
least 15 years.  If approved, the new Master's will be delivered in multiple
formats and will allow students to chose from several cognates in specific
areas of interest.  Look for more information and publicity to be mailed to
field DCEs around February of 2008.

In October of 2006 the Board of Regents approved the launch of the Institute
for Religious Education (IRE) - established to "enhance the effectiveness
and intentionality of Christian education in churches and schools."  The IRE
is presently in the process of building an endowment which, when fully
funded, will allow the initiation of a cycle of research - a conference to
process the research findings - and the development of a practical resource,
based on the research data and conference, for use by professionals and lay
leaders.  The IRE is housed in the DCE Program with the Program Director
serving as the Chair.  

We are blessed with exceptional students and an administration that is
committed to churchwork programs.  About 50% of our student body are
pursuing church careers.  That fact and the wonderful faculty who truly feel
Called to service, help to make CUNE a great place to minister!

District & Synodical News

DCE Jim Bradshaw, Kansas District LCMS

In the Spring of 2003, several "seasoned" DCEs gathered for dinner at the
Hyatt Regency Crowne Center during the National DCE Conference in Kansas
City.  These wise sages dreamed about a research project that, by God's
grace, might strengthen those involved in equipping DCEs for lifelong
ministry for God's Kingdom work.  Four years later, an expanded project team
formed to create a purpose statement and advance the research.  The research
team gathered in mid-June in Mundelein, Illinois, and summarized the
outcomes for this project in the following report: 

DCE Career Path Research Project:  Purpose Statement 

The purpose of the Project is to determine the predominant career paths for
certified DCEs in the LCMS.  (Adopted - April 3, 2007)

DCE Career Path Research Team 

*	Dr. Debbie Arfsten, Concordia University Chicago, River Forest, IL
*	Dr. Steve Christopher, Our Savior, Livermore, CA
*	Ben Freudenburg, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI
*	Dr. Jack Giles, Northern Illinois District LCMS, Lisle, IL
*	Dr. Bill Karpenko, Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
*	Bob McKinney, Concordia University, Ann Arbor, MI

Advisors 

*	Jim Bradshaw, Kansas District LCMS, Topeka, KS
*	Dr. Jonathan Laabs, Lutheran Education Association, River Forest, IL

*	Cindy Twillman, Past President, DCENet, Lutheran Education
Association  

Project Outcomes (tentative) 

1.	To inform the profession that it has come of age ... it is a
possible lifelong career. 
2.	To celebrate the history and journey of the DCE profession!
3.	To further describe and outline the various career paths of DCEs. 
4.	To identify and celebrate the varied expressions of DCE ministry.
5.	To work in partnership with the DCE program directors and the
training of future DCEs.
6.	To engage the Gen X generation in understanding and leading of the
DCE career. 
7.	To inform the church (key leaders, districts, congregations, Council
of Presidents, seminaries, PLI, Commission on Ministerial Health, etc.) of
the various DCE career paths so they can better utilize the gifts of DCEs in
the church.
8.	To instruct the church on how career path affects the matching of
DCEs and parishes. 
9.	To provide the church selected resources to further understand and
enhance DCE ministry. 
10.	To discover the impact of family situations on career path
development. 
11.	To identify key reflection and renewal mechanism for growth along
the career path. 
12.	To determine if being a DCE is a mindset or a position. 

Project Supporters (as of July 1):

*	Concordia, Irvine                 $100 
*	KINDLE                               $500 
*	Missouri District             $1,000 
*	Northern Illinois District      $2,500 
*	Valparaiso University        $1,000 

We certainly want to thank each of these entities for their generous support
of this project!  Individuals will have an opportunity to provide financial
support later this year.  In the meantime, we covet the prayers of all DCEs,
their families and friends, as this project continues to unfold.  

Stay tuned to an announcement later this this fall on how you can
participate in this research project through an online survey.

Christian Education Leadership

Published quarterly by:

*         DCE District Executives 

*         DCE Program Schools 

*         KINDLE 

*         LEA DCENet 

For Information contact:

DCE Vanessa Seifert 
DCEnet Resource Coordinator
 <mailto:VSeifert at shlutheran.org> VSeifert at shlutheran.org 
210.614.3742

Permission is granted to copy this newsletter for local ministry use. 

Quick Links 

DCE Program - Concordia Chicago
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.gj995xbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.cuchicago.edu%2Fcatalogs%2Fundergraduate%2Fprograms%2Fcollege_of
_education%2Fdce.asp>  

DCE Program - Concordia Irvine
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.exefv5bab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.cui.edu%2Facademicprograms%2Fundergraduate%2Fchurchwork%2Findex_
ektid308.aspx>  

DCE Program - Concordia Nebraska
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.fxefv5bab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.cune.edu%2F985%2F> 
DCE Program - Concordia Portland
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.fj995xbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.cu-portland.edu%2Fcoe%2Fundergraduate%2Fchristian_education.cfm>

DCE Program - Concordia St. Paul
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.gxefv5bab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.csp.edu%2FCVM%2FChurchMinistries%2FDCE%2Findex.html>  

DCE Program - Concordia Texas
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.dj995xbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.concordia.edu%2Fpage.cfm%3Fpage_ID%3D143>  

DPS Program - Concordia University College of Alberta
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.dddmo8bab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.concordia.ab.ca%2Fprograms%2Fchurchworkprograms.php> 

DCEnet
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.xdixwxbab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lea.org%2Fdeprtmnt%2Fteamhome.htm> 

KINDLE
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.vlztyybab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.kindledce.org%2F>  

Lutheran Education Association
<http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=sfrev5bab.0.hxefv5bab.avpgsxbab.96&ts=S0268&p=http%
3A%2F%2Fwww.lea.org%2F> 

 <http://visitor.constantcontact.com/email.jsp?m=1101376208544>   

Paul Krentz  <*}}}>< DCE

Mission and Ministry Facilitator

Texas District, LC-MS
800.951.3478

Mobile: 512.769.6734

KrentzTx at txdistlcms.org <mailto:KrentzTx at txdistlcms.org> 

www.txdistlcms.org/krentz/ <http://www.txdistlcms.org/krentz/> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0001.html 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: DCEs August 2007.xls
Type: application/vnd.ms-excel
Size: 41472 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0001.xls 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: Congregations in DCE Call Process.doc
Type: application/msword
Size: 29184 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0001.doc 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image001.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 5036 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0009.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image002.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 892 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0010.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image003.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 3506 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0003.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image004.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 9719 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0011.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image005.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 7588 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0012.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image006.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 3531 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0013.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image007.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 5604 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0014.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image008.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 1393 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0004.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image009.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 6433 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0015.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image010.gif
Type: image/gif
Size: 5011 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0005.gif 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image011.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 2595 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0016.jpg 
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: image012.jpg
Type: image/jpeg
Size: 7184 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://lists.txdistlcms.org/pipermail/dceyouth/attachments/20070831/c05ab62c/attachment-0017.jpg 