The Education Department offers resources and services for education ministry to the congregations employing Directors of Christian Education (DCEs). DCEs are trained by the synod’s universities to lead educational ministry of many kinds in the parish. Often, they specialize in certain areas allowing congregations to call them into specific areas of ministry. DCEs can lead in youth ministry, children’s ministries (including Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Midweek programs), adult discipleship (adult Bible study, small group ministry, and others), age wave ministry for older adults, and family ministry. Directors of Christian Outreach, or DCOs, can help congregations reach out to their mission fields. 

The Nebraska District – LCMS DCE Committee, the Youth Committee, and the Parish Education Committee assist the office staff to meet the resource needs of congregations and schools blessed with the services of a DCE and to encourage the various education ministry efforts throughout the district. The district committee helps facilitate the DCE Monthly Meetings, DCE interns, and DCE participation in professional growth events presented nationally by NADCE (the new national DCE organization), regionally by cooperation with neighboring districts, and district wide.

When a congregation considers calling a commissioned minister DCE the leaders are asked to contact the education office for information and consultation. The goal is for the District Office to work closely with the calling congregation or school to discover the candidate the Lord has chosen for His ministry in that place.