Spring 2017/Fuller Online
DP504
Burton
DP504: REFORMED WORSHIP (4 Units). Bryan Burton.
DESCRIPTION: In this course we will explore the theology and practice of worship in the Reformed tradition. The course will develop an overview of current liturgical forms and models and provide students with pertinent examples in new expressions of Reformed worship. Attention will be given to worship planning from within the Reformed tradition in relationship to regular worship services, sacraments and sacramental administration, hymnody, weddings, and funerals.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: A student after successfully completing this course will be able to: (1) describe in general the rich tradition of worship in the Reformed traditions; (2) demonstrate readiness to address cases and questions on the Worship and Sacraments ordination examination; (3) demonstrate the capacity to plan for and lead Reformed congregations in worship; and (4) articulate the values of the rich liturgical traditions of the Reformed churches.
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. All assignments and examinations will be submitted through the Moodle platform. Students are expected to be critically and decisively engaged with online discussions, clearly demonstrating their exposure to the course reading and materials.
REQUIRED READING: 1200 total number of pages required. The readings of this course are divided into five categories:
DENOMINATIONAL RESOURCES (all resources available for free in PDF format)
[PCUSA] Book of Confessions. Presbyterian Church USA. OGA. [PDF]
[PCUSA] Book of Order 2015/2017. Presbyterian Church USA. OGA. [PDF]
[CRCNA] Church Order and its Supplements. CRCNA. CRC Press. [PDF]
[RCA] Directory for Worship. Reformed Church in America. Reformed Church Press. [PDF]
[CRC/RCA] Doctrinal Standards. [PDF]
LITURGICAL RESOURCES
LITURGICAL RUBRIC (choose ONE based on denominational affiliation)
[PCUSA] Book of Common Worship. 6th ed. Westminster John Knox, 1994. ISBN: 978-0664219918, Pub. Price $40.00.
[MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL]The Worship Sourcebook. 2nd ed. Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2013. ISBN: 978-1592557974, Pub. Price $45.00.
[RCA]Worship the Lord! Faith Alive, 2005. ISBN: 978-0916466091, Pub. Price $29.99.
HYMNAL (choose ONE based on denominational affiliation)
[PCUSA] Glory to God! Westminster John Knox, 2013. ISBN: 978-0664503130, Pub. Price $20.00.
[CRC/RCA] Lift Up Your Hearts. Faith Alive, 2013. ISBN: 978-1592555598, Pub. Price $17.99.
HISTORICAL AND GLOBAL RESOURCE
Vischer, Lukas. Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Past and Present. Eerdmans, 2002. ISBN: 978-0802805201, Pub. Price $46.50. [300 pp. assigned]
THEOLOGICAL RESOURCES (ALL)
A More Profound Alleluia: Theology and Worship in Harmony. Ed. Leanne Van Dyk. Eerdmans, 2004. ISBN: 978-0802828545, Pub. Price $20.00. [175 pp.]
Old, Hughes Oliphant. Worship: Reformed According to Scripture. Westminster John Knox, 2002. ISBN: 978-0664225797, Pub. Price $25.00. [208 pp.]
PASTORAL RESOURCES (ALL)
Cherry, Constance. The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services. Baker, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801038747, Pub. Price $25.00. [175 pp. assigned]
Labberton, Mark, The Dangerous Act of Worship. IVP, 2012. ISBN: 978-0830834143, Pub Price $16.00. [200 pp.]
Reinders, Philip. Seeking God’s Face: Praying with the Bible through the Year. Baker, 2010. ISBN: 978-0801072642. Pub. Price $29.95 [pp.329-483…150pp total selections corresponding to the weeks of the course only].
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
1,200 pages of required reading [72 hours].
Instructional Hours via video lectures, online chats, etc. [20 hours].
A 1000-word research essay paper presenting the student’s owns understanding of the Reformed tradition’s perspective on the theology and practice of worship. (35%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1] [15 hours].
A 750-word participant-observation report after attending either a cross-cultural or cross-ecclesial worship service (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3] [8 hours].
Weekly Reading and Posts (100 words) based upon Seeking God’s Face: Praying the Bible through the Year text/devotional as part of weekly in class participation expectation and spiritual formation component of course. [This assignment is related to outcomes #1, 4] [10 hours].
5 Forum posts (100-250 words) reflecting on assigned reading and response to one classmate’s post (50 words) (10%). [This is related to outcomes #1,2,3,4]. [1-2 hours reading and posting per week] [10 hours].
4 Worship Planning Exercises including regular, wedding, funeral and special services as assigned. (20%) [This assignment is related to outcome #3] [15 hours].
Final Examination that examines student aptitude for the Ordination Examination in the area of Worship and Sacraments. (20%) [This assignment is related to outcome #2] [10 hours].
PREREQUISITES: None.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in Pastoral Ministry & Theology (MIN6) in the 144-unit MDiv.
FINAL EXAMINATION: Yes.