Winter 2014/Houston

WS518

Boyd

WS518: WORSHIP MINISTRY ON THE LORD’S DAY. Kevin Boyd.

DESCRIPTION: This 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 actual practice of worship leadership and the careful theological planning of worship on the Lord’s Day. Students will be given opportunity to participate in the planning process of worship services, will be exposed to the worship life of actual congregations, and plan worship for a particular church. Further, the course gives opportunity to develop skills in the public reading of Scripture; leading in prayer, extempore and prescribed; application of pastoral care to worship; musical selection and leadership.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The gathering of a Christian community for worship is the pivotal event in the ongoing life of the congregation. It is also the most public face a congregation has for its members and the world. Creative, informed, and purposeful worship leadership is the cornerstone of ministry, both discipleship and evangelism. This course will teach the integration of worship and pastoral ministry and qualities that determine its effectiveness and excellence.

LEARNING OUTCOMES: Four goals for learning will drive this course: First, the student will understand the importance and centrality of corporate worship to the mission and ministry of a congregation. Second, the student will understand the tasks required for liturgical leadership in a variety of liturgical styles. Third, the student will develop a greater understanding of his or her own gifts and skills for pastoral ministry and liturgical ministry specifically. Fourth, the student will be able to articulate and apply a praxis-theory-praxis methodology for liturgical ministry.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will weekly for 3.5 hour sessions. It will involve lecture and discussion of reading material, observing and reporting on various congregational worship situations, and various forms of applying the concepts in this class to liturgical praxis. The course grade will be based on projects involving case studies and other exercises of applications of the course material.

REQUIRED READING:

Course Reader.

Bradshaw, Paul. Two Ways of Praying. OSL Publications, 2008. ISBN: 9781878009593, Pub Price: $19.95 [55pp.]

Caccamo, James, Todd Johnson, and Lester Ruth. Living Worship. Brazos Press, 2010. ISBN: 9781587432958, Pub. Price: $27.99. DVD-rom.

Cherry, Constance. The Worship Architect. Baker Academic, 2010. ISBN: 9780801038747, Pub. Price: $22.99 [200pp.]

Foley, Edward. From Age to Age, revised and expanded. Liturgical Press, 2008. ISBN: 978-0814630785, Pub. Price: $29.95 (Recommended for WTA students) [220pp.]

Johnson, Todd. The Conviction of Things Not Seen. Brazos, 2002. ISBN: 9781587430329, Pub. Price: $28.00 [150pp.]

White, James. Introduction to Christian Worship. 3rd ed. Abingdon, 2000. ISBN: 9780687091096, Pub. Price: $33.00 [250pp.]

A book of worship and hymnal/songbook used in the student’s tradition (student’s choice).

RECOMMENDED READING:

Black, Kathy. Worship Across Cultures. Abingdon, 1998. ISBN: 9780687056521, Pub. Price: $25.00.

Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Worship. 2nd ed. Abingdon, 2007. ISBN: 9780687646227, Pub. Price: $18.00.

Gonzalez, Justo L., ed. Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996. ISBN: 9780687010325. Pub. Price: $18.00.

Hawn, Michael. Gather into One. Eerdmans, 2003. ISBN: 9780802809834, Pub. Price: $31.50.

Kimball, Dan. Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations. Zondervan, 2004. ISBN: 978-0310256441, Pub. Price: $14.99.

Lathrop, Gordon W. Holy Things: A Liturgical Theology. Fortress Press, 1998. ISBN: 978-0800631314, Pub. Price: $29.00.

Long, Thomas G. Beyond the Worship Wars: Building Vital and Faithful Worship. Alban Institute, 2001. ISBN: 978-1566992404, Pub. Price: $16.00.

Malefyt, Norma deWaal and Howard Vanderwell. Designing Worship Together: Models and Strategies for Worship Planning. Alban, 2005. ISBN: 978-1566992961, Pub. Price: $16.00.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

  1. Assigned readings, attendance and participation in class discussions. 10%

  2. A report of participant observation of two Christian worship services, at least one of which are outside one’s tradition. 20%

  3. Participation in the planning and leading of a prayer or worship service. 10%

  4. Craft elements of corporate worship in response to assigned case studies from the Living Worship DVD. 30%

  5. Final assignment: planning of an entire worship service for the church in the Living Worship DVD (annotated with reasons for choices). 30%

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Meets MDiv core requirement in General Ministry & Spirituality (MIN 1) and in Pastoral Ministry and Theology (MIN 6); required course for MDiv Worship, Theology and the Arts concentration and the MA in WTA.


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.