Because the Church needs faithful Aarons, too

The beauty of “the Body of Christ” is that each of its members has a unique and vital role to play. The same goes for church workers. While the Church needs well-trained ministers for the pastoral office, it also needs “Faithful Aarons” who can support the work of their pastors. Perhaps the Lord is calling you to “hold up the prophet’s hands.” Concordia’s Director of Church Ministries (DCM) program will provide you with the theological training and skills to make an impact wherever you are asked to serve.

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Program Overview

In order to meet the diverse needs of congregations, you will gain a wide range of skills through completion of a theology major and two minors. Your first minor, Church Ministries, includes a specialization chosen from six areas of church ministry. These include: Evangelism, Missions, Parish Teaching, Youth Ministry, Christian Service Learning & Leadership, and Social Ministry (for men) or Pre-Deaconess (for women intending to enroll in the deaconess programs at either of the LCMS seminaries). Your second minor is Nonprofit Management. For those of you who really want to specialize in more than one area of church ministry, it’s possible to do so by carefully choosing electives that apply.

While all courses and doctrine are taught in accord with the Lutheran confessions, men and women of any denomination are welcome to join this program. Only members of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod will be certified and may be eligible to be rostered with the LCMS as a “Minister of Religion Commissioned—Director of Church Ministries (DCM).”

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What to Expect

As a Director of Church Ministries (DCM) graduate, you will be prepared to be a professional church worker, assisting the pastor in developing and leading congregation ministries. This may include supporting Bible studies, community outreach, mercy work, and administrative duties. And because no two graduates will have the exact same roles, you’ll benefit from management and leadership courses that will help you adapt to any situation.

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Licensure / Certifications
Students who have completed full program requirements and are a current member of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod will receive certification. Students may be eligible to receive a called position in a congregation or recognized service organization of the church and may be eligible to be placed on the roster of the synod as a "Commissioned Minister of Religion - Director of Church Ministries (DCM)."

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