Christian Education
Arts and Humanities
Apply Online
Request More Information

Major Brochure | Courses | Sample Plan of Study

Christian Education is about faith formation across the life span. It informs and impacts every aspect of church life.

The Defiance College Christian Education major meets the needs of students with an interest in pursuing local church, denominational, or church-related agency ministries. It includes 12 hours of field placement as well as solid academic preparation in Bible, theology, church history, developmental psychology, educational and group work theory, curriculum design, and the administration of Christian Education programs.

The Christian Education major focuses on balancing theory and practice, scholarship and application. Students in the major engage in experiential learning and research that equips them to work with adults, families, youth, and children in a variety of educational and faith formation ministries.

Christian Education is a major for those who:

• Respond in concrete and specific ways to the needs of the world
  
  
• Need to do, not just talk about. . .
  
  
• Probably had an incredible youth group experience and want to continue that type of involvement
  
  
• Want to help young people find their motivation to improve the world
  
  
• Want the world to be a perfect place and see the church as an instrument for helping that happen
  
  
• Like to organize events, socialize, and offer service to others
  
  
• See learning as a way to share with others

Major Brochure | Courses | Sample Plan of Study

Internship and Unique Opportunities

Internships
Student internships take place in local churches or church-related agencies in Defiance, Cleveland, and Lima, Ohio. Students work with ministers and lay leaders to develop and nurture varied and challenging ministries.


Unique Opportunities Include:

• Preparing and leading of effective Christian Education workshops for Defiance area churches
  
  
• Children’s Ministries of America National Multidimensional Learning Conference
  
  
• Professional regional Christian Education conferences – students attend as participants and workshop leaders
  
  
• Dialogue with international interfaith leaders
  
  
• Maltz Museum of Jewish History, Cleveland, Ohio, special exhibits
  
  
• Urban Ministries Congress
  
  

Post-Grad Placements

The Christian Education major also furnishes an excellent preparation for further study and Post - Graduate placement.

Seminaries and graduate schools attended by our graduates include:
Eden, Lancaster, Andover-Newton, United of the Twin Cities, Chicago Theological Seminary, The University of Chicago, Yale Divinity School, The University of Dayton, United of Dayton, The University of Denver, Loyola University, and the Methodist School of Theology in Ohio.

In the past 5 years:
- Graduate school – 100% acceptance rate in: Theological School/Seminary

- Church Professional – 100% placement rate in: Youth Ministry
Director of Christian Education

Related Programs

Defiance College offers two majors in religion: Christian Education and Religious Studies.

Additionally, the Design for Leadership, which has a separate catalog, is a distance learning program in Christian Education. Complete information is available separately about the Christian Education major and the Design for Leadership distance learning program in Christian Education.

The Faculty

Professors in the Christian Education major encourage student growth within a biblically and historically grounded ecumenical Christian tradition. They encourage open inquiry, dialogue, and sharing and merge theory with practice. They engage students in learning about ministry experiences that involve children, youth, and adults. They get excited about both analytical and practical approaches to the development of spirituality. Students engage in hands-on learning experiences that help them build skills to work with children, youth and adults in many kinds of educational ministries.

Marian R. Plant, Ed.D., Associate Professor of Christian Education
Schauffler Chair of Christian Education
Coordinator of the Design for Leadership Distance Learning Program in Christian Ed
419-783-2338 | mplant@defiance.edu | Faculty Profile

Dean J. Johnson, M.A., Assistant Professor of Religious Studies
Peace Studies Advisor, International and Global Studies
419-783-2455 | djohnson@defiance.edu | Faculty Profile

Janice L. Bechtel, M.Div., Campus Chaplain
419-783-2444 | jbechtel@defiance.edu

Julie Fritz-Bergman, M.A., Lecturer in Religion and Christian Education
419-783-2418 | jfritzb@defiance.edu

Norman Moxley M.Div., D.Min., Lecturer in Religion and Christian Education
nmoxley@defiance.edu

Kenneth E. Christiansen, D.Mn., Emeritus Professor of Religion and Sociology
chrstnsn@defiance.edu