DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar is open to a limited number of master's level students by special permission. The biblical adage "to be in the world and not of it" has had a wide-ranging history of interpretation. As Christendom appears more distant in the rear view mirror of the church, this concept's interpretation and application becomes more important. In particular, it raises questions about Christianity being a multinational and multicultural faith that has tended to be narrow in the range of in its expressions of worship. Only in the last quarter century have issues of faith and culture come front and center in liturgical scholarship the way it has in missiology. This class will explore the relationship of cultures, their values, symbols, and rituals to Christian worship. It will explore national and ethnic cultures, as well as generational, class, artistic, and technological cultures. We will focus on gaining an understanding--leading to an application--of theories of culture and worship.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The speed and magnitude of cultural change is staggering. This raises the question of how--or even if--the church ought to respond to such changes in its ministries, and particularly in its worship. Having a combination of cultural awareness and theological astuteness will greatly enhance the choices made among the liturgical and pastoral options.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four goals for learning that will drive this course. First, the student will develop an overview of the literature and attending theories of liturgy and culture. Second, acquire a basic knowledge of current growing edges in this field and the competing theories that are developing. Third, attain an in-depth knowledge of one theory or theoretician. Fourth, be able to articulate the main ideas in this field to assemble a syllabus that would address the issues in worship and culture.

COURSE FORMAT: The seminar will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. It will have some lectures by the professor and guest lecturers, but will be mostly seminar presentations and discussions.

REQUIRED READING:

Course Reader. 200 pp.

Black, Kathy. Culturally Conscious Worship. Chalice, 2000. 150 pp. ISBN: 9780827204812. $19.99.

_______. Worship Across Cultures. Abingdon, 1998. 220 pp. ISBN: 9780687056527. $25.00.

Bolger, Ryan, and Eddie Gibbs. Emerging Churches. Baker, 2005. 250 pp. ISBN: 9780801027154. $26.00.

Chupungco, Anscar. Liturgical Inculturation. Pueblo, 1992. 170 pp. ISBN: 9780814661208. $29.95.

_______. Liturgies of the Future. Wipf & Stock, 2006. 220 pp. ISBN: 9781597526890. $24.00.

Haldeman, Scott. Toward Liturgies that Reconcile. Ashgate, 2007. 180 pp. ISBN: 9780754657262. $89.95. NOTE: This is available as a free electronic book through Fuller Library.

Hatch, Nathan. The Democratization of American Christianity. Yale University Press, 1991. 310 pp. ISBN: 9780300050608. $23.00.

Hawn, C. Michael. One Bread, One Body. Alban, 2003. 225 pp. ISBN: 9781566992770. $16.00.

_______. Gather into One. Eerdmans, 2003. 300 pp. ISBN: 9780802809834. $30.00.

Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Worship. Rev. ed. Abingdon, 2007. 160 pp. ISBN: 9780687646227. $18.00.

Francis, Mark. Shape a Circle Ever Wider. Chicago: LTP, 2007. 144 pp. ISBN: 9781568542775. $12.00.

González, Justo, ed. ¡Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996. 135 pp. ISBN: 9780687010325. $18.00.

Maynard-Reid, Pedrito. Diverse Worship. InterVarsity Press, 2000. 250 pp. ISBN: 9780830815791. $20.

Power, David. Worship: Culture and Theology. Pastoral Press, 1991. 280 pp. ISBN: 9780912405773. $14.95.

Schmidt, H., and D. Power, eds. Liturgy and Cultural Religious Traditions. Seabury, 1977. 110 pp. OP. ISBN: 9780816421466.

Wainwright, Geoffery, and Karen Westerfield Tucker, eds. The Oxford Dictionary of Christian Worship. Oxford University Press, 2006. 900 pp. ISBN: 9780195138863. $59.95.

1. Assigned readings, attendance, and participation in class discussions (10%).

2. A short (1-2 page) paper reflecting on either an assigned reading or a participant observation experience (10%).

3. A presentation to the class on a particular scholar or concept of inculturation, presented in order to explore topics more deeply and to share research with colleagues to get their feedback on one's work (30%).

4. Drafting and presenting a syllabus of a course which is on or includes worship and culture (10%).

5. A paper that defines and evaluates a particular model of ritual study and evaluates it in terms of its relevance to liturgical studies. This assignment will be adjusted in both scope and length for master's level students (40%). All students are to submit this paper at the end of this quarter.