Sixteen students in the Director of Christian Education program at Concordia University, Nebraska were recently placed into year-long internships. Intern supervisors from churches all over the country came to Concordia for a matching conference in April. The DCE interns will begin their service this summer.
"The interns have worked hard to get to this point, and this is always an exciting time for the interns and for the supervisors," said Thad Warren, assistant professor of education.
During the conference, supervisors and interns have a chance to get to know each other, discuss working styles, review internship expectations and explore the unique characteristics of the particular congregation.
"We also spend time covering the common pitfalls that often happen in teams, and we try to outline those behaviors that enhance teams," said Mark Blanke, professor of education and director of the DCE program.
The interns have spent the previous four years focusing their coursework on education, theology and psychology to prepare them to plan and implement the education ministry of a church. They will work to educate not only children, but youth and adults as well, in their faith walk and role as disciples of Christ. Concordia University, Nebraska has the largest DCE program in the Concordia University System with nearly 120 students currently enrolled, and 40 percent of currently working DCEs come from the program.
"The interns will learn more in their first four months of internship than they did in their first four years of college coursework," said Blanke. "We have a strong academic component within our program, and the internship combines theory and practice with many 'teachable moments' in the parish."
Newly placed DCE interns, their hometowns and internship locations:
- Megan Barone, Senior, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Mark Cook, Senior, Eden, Wis.; Zion Lutheran Church, New Palestine, Ind.
- Jessica Coulson, Senior, Seward, Neb.; Zion Lutheran Church, Seymour, Ind.
- Michelle Davis, Senior, Ft. Worth, Texas; Our Savior Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa
- Dan Hampton, Senior, Newburgh, Ind.; Our Shepherd Lutheran, Indianapolis, Ind.
- Emily Hente, Senior, St. Louis, Mo.; Good Shepherd Lutheran, Tomah, Wis.
- Seth Kunze, Senior, Wausau, Wis.; Grace Lutheran Church, Bradford, Penn.
- Andrew Nelson, Senior, St. Paul, Minn.; Messiah Lutheran Church, Sterling, Ill.
- Christine Otte, Senior, Denver, Colo.; Our Savior Lutheran Church, Norfolk, Neb.
- Heather Sell, Senior, St. Louis, Mo.; Our Savior Lutheran Church, McKinney, Texas
- Katelyn Smith, Senior, Oxford, Miss.; Redeemer Lutheran Church, Wayzata, Minn.
- Lamar Stewart, Senior, Claremont, N.C.; Our Redeemer Lutheran, Sioux Falls, S.D.
- Jared Stiek, Senior, Marshall, Mo.; Christ Lutheran Church, Norfolk, Neb.
- Corrine Timmerman, Senior, Spring Valley, Calif.; Good Shepherd Lutheran, Owatonna, Minn.
- Kelli Wilson, Senior, Spring Hill, Kan.; Trinity Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls, Minn.
- Gary Zimmerman, Senior, Olathe, Kan.; Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Saginaw, Miss.