DESCRIPTION: This course will explore both the practical and theoretical
dimensions of worship leadership. It will examine issues relating to the
planning and implementing of worship on the feasts, fasts, and other holy days
of the Christian calendar across various Christian traditions. It will also
explore the creation and use of pastoral rites throughout the life cycle. This
course will focus on ways Christian worship can be adjusted and adapted to
specific times in the life of a church and the life of its people. Special
attention will be paid to the rites of marriage and burial across Christian
traditions. Students will be given the opportunity to participate in the
planning process of our all-seminary chapels.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four goals for learning that will drive this
course. First, the student will understand the importance and centrality of
corporate worship to the mission and ministry of a congregation. Second, the
student will learn the seasons of the Christian year and those days and seasons
that are relevant to their own tradition. Third, the student will develop a
greater understanding of the pastoral dimensions of liturgical ministry in
pastoral rites. Fourth, the student will be able to articulate and apply a
praxis-theory-praxis methodology for liturgical ministry.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: One of the open doors the church has to the wider
world are special moments in a person's life and Christian holidays throughout
the year. This course will enable the student to consider the role ritual plays
as a pastoral tool in crucial junctures in the life of faith of individuals and
communities. It will help the student to negotiate the public-pastoral tension
in Christian services such as Christmas, Easter, weddings and funerals. This
course will provide students with an invaluable opportunity to develop skills
in pastoral liturgy.
COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet twice weekly for two-hour meetings. It
will involve lecture and discussion of reading material, as well as various
forms of applying the concepts in this class to liturgical praxis. The course
grade will be based on projects involving case studies and other exercises of
applications of the course material.
REQUIRED READING: