Spring 2013/Pasadena

WS515

Willmington

WS515: MUSICAL WORSHIP LEADERSHIP PRACTICUM (Two Units). Edwin M. Willmington.

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.

SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND 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.

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.

COURSE FORMAT: The course will meet for a two-hour session each week. In addition, 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. The grade for the course will be based on understanding of reading materials, participation in discussion and group assignments, written assignments, along with worship leadership and attendance.

REQUIRED READING:

Sanders, J. Oswald; Spiritual Discipleship; Moody Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0802482518, Pub.price $14.99 [208 pp.].

Course reader.

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT: In addition to the above reading, the following will be required:

1. weekly written assignments (2-3 pages) tracking personal and corporate worship experiences (15%)

2. worship music planning assignments (15%)

3. worship-related Scripture memory (15%)

4. in-class practice in musical leadership skills (15%)

5. blogging/web writing projects (20%)

6. and a final short (3-5 pages) paper will also be required on a subject relating to each student’s particular need or creative music writing project (20%).

PREREQUISITES: Permission of the instructor, based on the student’s musical experience.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Required for the MA and MDiv Music and Worship Ministry concentration. Meets a concentration option in the MDiv (Worship, Theology, and the Arts concentration) and in the MA in Worship, Theology, and the Arts. May be takenin successive quarters for credit.

EXAMINATION: No.