Colloquy

CSP provides a pathway to certification through its colloquy program for those seeking to serve as a Director of Christian Education (DCE), Director of Christian Outreach (DCO), Director of Parish Music (DPM), or Lutheran Classroom Teacher (LCT). This program is delivered through a competency-based model, which enables a flexible and practical framework for adult learners, many of whom already hold degrees aligned with their intended area of ministry. A competency-based model allows faculty to engage more intentionally in the formative aspects of ministerial preparation while still delivering essential content for vocational readiness. Most significantly, this structure re-centers learning in the student’s ministry context, making the internship site the primary environment for theological reflection, skill development, and ministerial growth.

Competencies included in the process are adapted from the “Roles of a DCE” developed at the 1999 DCE Summit, but are applicable to all programs. Competencies include:

• Administrator: Planning, organizing, coordinating/directing, promoting, managing, researching the parish ministry’s areas, etc.
• Age-Group Resource: Spending time with, leading, or speaking on behalf of a person/group of a particular age.
• Care-Action Minister: Ministering to a person, family, or group through nurturing and/or crisis visitation activities (home, hospital, etc.), community organization efforts, or one-to-one listening.
• Pastoral & Staff Support: Working with the pastor(s) and other staff in parish ministries.
• Church Professional: Developing and maintaining a sense of identity, personal devotional life, ethics, staff relationships, church-at-large commitments, peer support, and continuing education.
• Program Resource (i.e., Education, Music, Outreach): Providing resources, or being the resource, for boards, committees, members, etc. in a specific area of congregational ministry.
• Leader: Providing leadership to individuals, groups, committees, boards, and assemblies both inside and outside of one’s specialized areas of ministry.
• Teacher: Serving the site as a teacher of the faith and theological resource in classes and programs.