Winter 2015/Pasadena

WS514

Willmington

WS514: MUSIC AS THEOLOGICAL EXPRESSION (4 Units: 160 Hours). Edwin M. Willmington.

DESCRIPTION: This course is intended to be a survey of how music has been used in the church and as art as a means of declaring the message of God in the world and an expression of faith. Students will be guided through historical periods, trends, styles, controversies, and varieties of musical media from past to present. The course will aid the student to consider the theological issues relating to the use of music in worship and the world at large.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: The goals for this course are that students will (1) learn of the rich musical heritage of the Christian church at worship; (2) acquire evaluation skills (musical and theological) for determining appropriate use of music in art and in worship; (3) be spiritually prepared for ministries relating to the use of music as an artist and in worship; and (4) consider how music and the creative process can be effective in the wider culture.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets twice weekly for two hour sessions for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion. There will be reading assignments, lecture, group assignments, as well as tools designed to encourage personal spiritual growth. The grade for the course will be based on understanding of reading and lecture materials, active discussion participation, responsible participation in group assignments, as well as written and research assignments.

REQUIRED READING: 900 pp. required.

Best, Harold M. Music through the Eyes of Faith. HarperSanFrancisco, 1993. ISBN: 978-0060608620, Pub. Price $15.99 [250 pp.].

Hustad, Donald P. Jubilate II: Music in Worship and Renewal. Hope Publishing Company, 1993. ISBN: 978-0916642174, Pub. Price $15.99 [250 pp.].

Kauflin, Bob. Worship Matters: Leading Others to Encounter the Greatness of God. Crossway Books, 2008. ISBN: 978-1581348248, Pub. Price $16.99 [200 pp.].

Selected reading from (Moodle reader material):

Begbie, Jeremy S, and Guthrie, Steven R. Resonant Witness: Conversations Between Music and Theology. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 2011. ISBN: 978-0802862778, Pub. Price $34.00 [Chap. 10, 30 pp.].

Cherry, Constance. Worship Architect. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801038747, Pub. Price $22.99 [Chap. 9-12, 70 pp.].

Parry, Robin. Worshipping Trinity: Coming Back to the Heart of Worship. Wipf & Stock Publisher, 2012. ISBN: 978-1620321713, Pub. Price $25.00 [Chap. 7, 20 pp.].

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: Students will be responsible for:

1. ASSigned reading, 900 pages [60 hours].

2. Nine 400-500 word journal posts, related to lecture and reading materials [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, & 4] [10 hours].

3. A written profile of his or her music and worship journey [3-5 pages] (10%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3 & 4] [5 hours].

4. A paper on the student’s philosophy of church music [6-8 pages] (15%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4] [10 hours].

5. Listening to an assigned body of music and offer a written and oral evaluation through a specified grid [1-2 pages] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4] [10 hours].

6. A project that relating the attributes of God to musical selections for worship use [4-5 pages] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #2, 3, & 4] [10 hours].

7. Offering a written and oral report on an assigned person who has greatly impacted the influence of music in worship – through a specified lens of criteria [1-2 pages] [This assignment is related to learning outcomes#1-4] [10 hours].

8. Resource discovery assignments related to music and theology – using the liturgical calendar as a basis for discovery [This assignment is related to learning outcome 1-4] [5 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for the Worship and Music Ministry emphasis. Option in the Worship, Theology, and the Arts emphasis or Worship, Theology, and the Arts emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.