Spring 2012/Pasadena
TC865/565
Johnson
TC865/565: WORSHIP AND CULTURE. Todd E. Johnson.
DESCRIPTION: This doctoral seminar is open to a limited number of master's
level students by special permission. The biblical adage "to be in the world
and not of it" has had a wide-ranging history of interpretation. As Christendom
appears more distant in the rear view mirror of the church, this concept's
interpretation and application becomes more important. In particular, it raises
questions about Christianity being a multinational and multicultural faith that
has tended to be narrow in the range of in its expressions of worship. Only in
the last quarter century have issues of faith and culture come front and center
in liturgical scholarship the way it has in missiology. This class will explore
the relationship of cultures, their values, symbols, and rituals to Christian
worship. It will explore national and ethnic cultures, as well as generational,
class, artistic, and technological cultures. We will focus on gaining an
understanding--leading to an application--of theories of culture and
worship.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: The speed and magnitude of cultural change
is staggering. This raises the question of how--or even if--the church ought to
respond to such changes in its ministries, and particularly in its worship.
Having a combination of cultural awareness and theological astuteness will
greatly enhance the choices made among the liturgical and pastoral options.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four goals for learning that will drive this
course. First, the student will develop an overview of the literature and
attending theories of liturgy and culture. Second, acquire a basic knowledge of
current growing edges in this field and the competing theories that are
developing. Third, attain an in-depth knowledge of one theory or theoretician.
Fourth, be able to articulate the main ideas in this field to assemble a
syllabus that would address the issues in worship and culture.
COURSE FORMAT: The seminar will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. It will
have some lectures by the professor and guest lecturers, but will be mostly
seminar presentations and discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
- Course Reader. 200 pp.
- Black, Kathy. Culturally Conscious Worship. Chalice, 2000. 150 pp.
ISBN: 9780827204812. $19.99.
- _______. Worship Across Cultures. Abingdon, 1998. 220 pp. ISBN:
9780687056527. $25.00.
- Bolger, Ryan, and Eddie Gibbs. Emerging Churches. Baker, 2005. 250
pp. ISBN: 9780801027154. $26.00.
- Chupungco, Anscar. Liturgical Inculturation. Pueblo, 1992. 170 pp.
ISBN: 9780814661208. $29.95.
- _______. Liturgies of the Future. Wipf & Stock, 2006. 220
pp. ISBN: 9781597526890. $24.00.
- Haldeman, Scott. Toward Liturgies that Reconcile. Ashgate, 2007. 180
pp. ISBN: 9780754657262. $89.95. NOTE: This is available as a free electronic
book through Fuller Library.
- Hatch, Nathan. The Democratization of American Christianity. Yale
University Press, 1991. 310 pp. ISBN: 9780300050608. $23.00.
- Hawn, C. Michael. One Bread, One Body. Alban, 2003. 225 pp. ISBN:
9781566992770. $16.00.
- _______. Gather into One. Eerdmans, 2003. 300 pp. ISBN:
9780802809834. $30.00.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Worship. Rev. ed.
Abingdon, 2007. 160 pp. ISBN: 9780687646227. $18.00.
- Francis, Mark. Shape a Circle Ever Wider. Chicago: LTP, 2007. 144
pp. ISBN: 9781568542775. $12.00.
- González, Justo, ed. ¡Alabadle! Hispanic
Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996. 135 pp. ISBN: 9780687010325. $18.00.
- Maynard-Reid, Pedrito. Diverse Worship. InterVarsity Press, 2000.
250 pp. ISBN: 9780830815791. $20.
- Power, David. Worship: Culture and Theology. Pastoral Press, 1991.
280 pp. ISBN: 9780912405773. $14.95.
- Schmidt, H., and D. Power, eds. Liturgy and Cultural Religious
Traditions. Seabury, 1977. 110 pp. OP. ISBN: 9780816421466.
- Wainwright, Geoffery, and Karen Westerfield Tucker, eds. The Oxford
Dictionary of Christian Worship. Oxford University Press, 2006. 900 pp.
ISBN: 9780195138863. $59.95.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
- Assigned readings, attendance, and participation in class discussions
(10%).
- A short (1-2 page) paper reflecting on either an assigned reading or a
participant observation experience (10%).
- A presentation to the class on a particular scholar or concept of
inculturation, presented in order to explore topics more deeply and to share
research with colleagues to get their feedback on one's work (30%).
- Drafting and presenting a syllabus of a course which is on or includes
worship and culture (10%).
- A paper that defines and evaluates a particular model of ritual study and
evaluates it in terms of its relevance to liturgical studies. This assignment
will be adjusted in both scope and length for master's level students (40%).
All students are to submit this paper at the end of this quarter.
PREREQUISITES: For master's level students: written permission of the
professor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective.
This ECD is a reliable guide to the course design but is subject to modification. (revised February 20, 2012)