Fall 2020/Fuller Online

WS519

Johnson

WS5519: WORSHIP MINISTRY AND THE SEASONS OF LIFE (4 Units: 160 hours). Todd E. Johnson.

DESCRIPTION: This course will explore the theory and practice of pastoral ministry, but will focus in particular on how this is done through corporate worship and pastoral rites. To do so, 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 holy days, and other commemorations of a church’s 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 both to ecclesial tradition and the particular context of a congregation.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: After successful completion of this course, students will be able to: (1) identify and describe pastoral care in the context of church life and ministry in particular liturgical ministry through the life cycle; (2) demonstrate an understanding of the pastoral dimensions of liturgical ministry in pastoral rites; (3) reflect upon the practice of self-care and develop a plan for self-development; (4) articulate and apply a praxis-theory-praxis methodology for pastoral and liturgical ministry; and (5) will have completed an approved online course in mandated reporting.

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. 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. The class will include lectures, and small group discussions, as well as various forms of applications of the concepts in this class to pastoral and liturgical praxis. The course grade will be based on projects involving case studies and other exercises of the pastoral application of the course material.

REQUIRED READING: 1,100 pages required.

Course Reader. Found on eReserves through our course Canvas site. [300 pp. assigned].

Anderson, Herbert, and Edward Foley. Mighty Stories, Dangerous Rituals. Jossey-Bass, 2001. ISBN: 978-0787956486. Pub. Price: $18.95. [180 pages assigned]. Fuller Library has eBook.

Lartey, Emmanuel Y. In Living Color: An Intercultural Approach to Pastoral Care and Counseling. Jessica Kinsley Publishers, 2nd ed., 2003. ISBN: 978-1843107507 Pub Price $26.95. [170 pp.].

Smith, Susan Marie. Caring Liturgies: The Pastoral Power of Christian Ritual. Fortress Press, 2012. ISBN: 978-0800697365. Pub. Price $18.00. [150 pp. assigned]

Stookey, Lawrence. Calendar: Christ’s Time in the Church. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687011360. Pub. Price: $22.99. [150 pages assigned]. Fuller Library has eBook.

Weborg, John C. Made Healthy in Ministry for Ministry. Pickwick, 2011. ISBN: 978-1608998630. Pub. Price: $19.00. [100 pp. assigned] Fuller Library has eBook.

A book of worship and/or a minister’s manual that could be used in the student’s tradition. [Approx. 50 pp.]

RECOMMENDED READING:

Bradshaw, Paul. Two Ways of Praying. OSL Publications, 2008. ISBN: 978-1878009593. Pub. Price: $19.95.

Capps, Donald. Life Cycle Theory and Pastoral Care. Wipf and Sock, 2002. ISBN: 978-1592440832. Pub. Price: $19.00.

Chilton, Bruce. Redeeming Time. Baker Academic, 2002. ISBN: 978-0801045899. Pub. Price: $23.00.

Evans, Abigail. Healing Liturgies for the Seasons of Life. Westminster/John Knox, 2004. ISBN: 978-0664224820. Pub. Price: $50.00.

Hynes, Mary Ellen. Companion to the Calendar. LTP, 1993.ISBN: 978-1568540115. Pub. Price: $16.00.

Macy, Gary and Bernard Cooke. Christian Symbol and Ritual: An Introduction. Oxford, 2005. ISBN: 978-0195154115. Pub. Price: $28.95.

Peterson, Eugene. Five Smooth Stones for Pastoral Work. Eerdmanns, 1992. ISBN: 978-0802806600. Pub. Price: $21.00.

Westerhoff, J. H., and W. H. Willimon. Liturgy and Learning Through the Life Cycle. OSL Publications, 1997. ISBN: 978-1878009210. Pub. Price: $14.95.

Willimon, William. Worship as Pastoral Care. Abingdon Press, 1982. ISBN: 9780687463886, Pub. Price $25.99.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Completion of assigned readings, participation in our on-line class discussions and class activities including making a weekly post of a question or comment about the material being presented that week (10%). [This assignment is related to learning outcomes #1-4]. [5 hours lecture + 65 hours (1,100 pages) reading + 20 hours viewing (both provided video sources and those chosen by student) = 90 hours].
  2. Complete a group exercise in active listening. This will demonstrate the capacity to be an active listener in a pastoral conversation. A two page reflection paper will be submitted to complete the requirement for this assignment. [5%]. [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [10 hours].
  3. Plan worship services and pastoral rites in response to case studies given in class. The students will submit three of these: 1. Palm Sunday, 2. the first Sunday in Christmas, 3. an initiation rite for mother and child, 4. a wedding, or 5. a funeral. At least one worship service (1 or 2) and one pastoral rite (3, 4, or 5) must be submitted and one other of the student’s choice. (30%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2 and 4]. [20 hours].
  4. Write a 500-word reflection paper on how pastoral care and culture are related in light of course readings. (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1-4]. [2 hours].
  5. Write a 500-word reflection paper on the theories and practices of Christian Initiation in their tradition evaluating them in terms of pastoral efficacy. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4.] [5 hours].
  6. Write a 500-word assessment the “culture” of Ravenswood Church and the appropriate pastoral and liturgical approaches to caring for that community. Offer a 250-word response to a classmate’s post. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4.] [3 hours].
  7. After visiting a funeral home, interviewing a funeral director about how their ministry interfaces with the pastoral care of a minister, as well reviewing the “show room” of the funeral home, write a 750 word reflection on how ministry at the time of death interfaces with the funeral industry and the theological, liturgical and pastoral implications of that relationship. (5%) [This assignment is related to learning outcome # 1, 2, 4.] [5 hours].
  8. Develop a plan for, and engage in spiritual practices and self care throughout the quarter (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [10 hours].
  9. Complete the online trainings for mandated reporting (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #5]. [5 hours].
  10. Signature Assignment: Plan a pastoral worship service or rite for a specific person/family/community. In a 2,500 word essay, the student will give reasons for her or his choices and will be graded on both the pastoral and theoretical dimension of their work. (25%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, 2, 4]. [10 hours].

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Option to meet the PC or PM requirement in the 120 MDiv Program. Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1).

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.