DESCRIPTION: This course will be an interactive experience for planning,
leading, administering, and evaluating corporate worship, particularly from the
standpoint of the musical leader. There will be personal and group experiences,
including journaling of worship experiences, creating materials for corporate
worship, principles for working with volunteers, all combined with an emphasis
on spiritual formation and pastoral and theological principles of worship
leading. Students will be encouraged in the use of a wide spectrum of worship
styles and resources, in addition to evaluating their use for specific purposes
within sacred settings. Maximum benefit for this course will be received by the
student who is an active music worship leader in a regular worship setting.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Students will (1) learn of the broad musical heritage of
the Christian church at worship, (2) acquire evaluation skills (musical and
theological) for determining appropriate use of music in worship, (3) grow in
their musical leadership skills in Christian worship, and (4) be spiritually
prepared for ministries relating to the use of music in worship.
RELEVANCE FOR MINISTRY: Corporate worship is a basic part of the spiritual
life for Christ followers. The world of worship ministry is in need of
God-focused, balanced, qualified, effective, skilled, and creative leaders. A
mentoring ministry can make a steady and needed impact on local churches and
other ministries of present and future generations. The goal of this course is
to engage the hearts and souls of men and women who are called to be worship
leaders, encourage the development of their personal character and professional
skills, and commission them to lives of effective ministry.
COURSE FORMAT: Each student is expected to be involved in musical worship
leadership in an established worship setting during the quarter. There will be
reading assignments, group planning and evaluation sessions, mentoring for
personal skill enhancement, resource discovery and assessment, consideration of
tools designed to encourage personal spiritual growth.