Summer 2020/Fuller Online

WS518

Eldridge

WS518: WORSHIP MINISTRY ON THE LORD’S DAY (4 Units: 160 Hours). Dr. Michael Eldridge.

DESCRIPTION: This practical theology course explores both the practical and theological dimensions of worship leadership and examines issues relating to the planning and implementing of worship on the Lord’s Day (Sunday or Sabbath) in various Christian traditions. A significant part of the course will be devoted to the careful theological planning of worship on the Lord’s Day. Students will be introduced to the histories and theologies of Christian worship through time and around the globe, along with some current trends in worship liturgies. Students will also be exposed to the worship life of an actual congregation, and plan worship for that church. Further, the course gives opportunity to develop skills in evaluating and crafting various elements for worship.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Having successfully completed this course, students will be able to (1) describe the importance and centrality of corporate worship to the mission and ministry of a congregation; (2) use historical patterns and elements of worship in Christian traditions, including different cultural expressions of Christian worship, for comparison in evaluating current practices in a particular tradition; (3) design a leadership method for successfully introducing a change in liturgy within a congregation; (4) apply a praxis-theory-praxis methodology for planning a liturgical ministry.

RELATIONSHIP TO PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES: APO will fill this part in.

COURSE FORMAT: This course will be conducted online on a ten-week schedule aligned with Fuller’s academic calendar for a total of 40 instructional hours, which is outlined below in the assignment and assessment section. Students are required to interact with the material, with each other, and with the instructor regularly through online discussions, reading, and other assignments that promote active learning.

REQUIRED READING: 1017 pp. required.

Online Resources [147 pp. assigned].

Caccamo, James F., Todd E. Johnson, and Lester Ruth. Living Worship [DVD]. Brazos Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-1587432958, Pub. Price $27.99. Note: the contents of the DVD’s will be available for free download to registered students.

Cherry, Constance. The Worship Architect. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801038747, Pub. Price $27.99 (Kindle edition $13.99) [205 pp. assigned]. This book is available as an eBook through the Fuller library.

Cooke, Bernard, and Gary Macy. Christian Symbol and Ritual: An Introduction. Oxford University Press, 2005. ISBN: 978-0195154122, Pub. Price $31.95 (Kindle edition $9.99) [169 pp. assigned]. This book is available as an eBook through the Fuller library.

Gonzalez, Justo L., ed. Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687010325, Pub. Price $19.99 [104 pp. assigned].

Johnson, Todd. The Conviction of Things Not Seen. Brazos, 2002. ISBN: 978-1587430329, Pub. Price $30.00 (Kindle edition $16.50) [117 pp. assigned]. This book is available as an eBook through the Fuller library.

Smith, James K.A. You Are What You Love: The Spiritual Power of Habit. Brazos Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-1587433801, Pub. Price $21.99 (Kindle Edition $9.99) [110 pp. assigned]. This book is available as an eBook through the Fuller library.

Van Opstal, Sandra Maria, The Next Worship: Glorifying God in a Diverse World. InterVarsity Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0830841295, Pub. Price $19.00. (Kindle edition $10.49) [165 pp. assigned]. This book is available as an eBook through the Fuller library.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Worship. 2nd ed. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687646227, Pub. Price $19.99. This book is available as an eBook through the Fuller library.

Hawn, Michael. Gather into One. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802809834, Pub. Price $31.50.

Spinks, Bryan D. The Worship Mall. Church Publishing, 2011. ISBN: 978-0898696752, Pub. Price $28.95.

ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENT:

  1. Video lectures (including lectures from Living Worship DVD). Students will self-report participation (5%) [20 hours].
  2. 250-word weekly forum posts (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2 and #3] [10 hours].
  3. 250-word weekly replies (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2 and #3] [10 hours].
  4. 1017 pp. of required reading. Reflection posts on the readings (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3, and #4] [63 hours].
  5. A 1500 word report of a participant observation of a Christian worship service outside one’s tradition (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [7 hours].
  6. Craft elements of corporate worship in response to assigned case studies from the Living Worship DVD (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4]. [20 hours].
  7. Final assignment: planning of an entire worship service for the church in the Living Worship DVD (annotated by reasons for choices) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #4]. [30 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet 144 MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1) or in Pastoral Ministry & Theology (MIN 6).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.

NOTE: This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. Textbook prices are set by publishers and are subject to change. Copyright 2019 Fuller Theological Seminary.