Fall 2014/Fuller Online

WS518

Eldridge

WS518: WORSHIP MINISTRY ON THE LORD’S DAY (4 Units: 160 Hours). 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: Four goals for learning will drive this course: the student will (1) be able to describe the importance and centrality of corporate worship to the mission and ministry of a congregation; (2) be familiar enough with historical patterns and elements of worship in Christian traditions and some contemporary trends to use them for comparison in evaluating current practices in a particular tradition; (3) be able to articulate a leadership method for successfully introducing change in liturgy within a congregation; (4) be able to articulate and apply a praxis-theory-praxis methodology for liturgical ministry.

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: 1,020 pp. required.

Online Resources (in Moodle and ATLA database).

Caccamo, James F., Todd E. Johnson, and Lester Ruth. Living Worship [DVD]. Brazos Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-1587432958, Pub. Price $27.99.

Cherry, Constance. The Worship Architect. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801038747, Pub. Price $22.99 [205 pp. assigned].

Johnson, Todd. The Conviction of Things Not Seen. Brazos, 2002. ISBN: 978-1587430329, Pub. Price $28.00 [117 pp. assigned].

Kavanagh, Aidan. On Liturgical Theology. The Liturgical Press, 1992. ISBN: 978-0814660676, Pub. Price $29.95 [179 pp.].

Spinks, Bryan D. The Worship Mall. Church Publishing, 2010. ISBN: 978-0898696752, Pub. Price $28.00 [211 pp. required].

White, James. Introduction to Christian Worship. 3rd ed. Abingdon, 2000. ISBN: 978-0687091096, Pub. Price $33.00 [203 pp. assigned].

RECOMMENDED READING:

Black, Kathy. Worship Across Cultures. Abingdon, 1998. ISBN: 978-0687056521, Pub. Price $25.00.

Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Worship. 2nd ed. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 978-0687646227, Pub. Price $18.00.

Gonzalez, Justo L., ed. Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 978-0687010325, Pub. Price $18.00.

Hawn, Michael. Gather into One. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 978-0802809834, Pub. Price $30.00.

ASSIGNMENTS & ASSESSMENT: 

1. Video lectures (including lectures from Living Worship DVD [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. 1020 pp. of required reading [63 hours]. Responses to short questions on the readings (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3, and #4] [63 hours].

5. A 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: Meets 144 MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1) and in Pastoral Ministry & Theology (MIN 6). Required in Worship and Music Ministry Emphasis. Required in Worship, Theology and the Arts emphasis. Option to count in Theology and Arts emphasis.

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.