Winter 2014/Pasadena
ST878/578
Johnson
ST878/578: THE SHAPE OF LITURGICAL THEOLOGY. Todd E. Johnson.
DESCRIPTION: This is a doctoral level seminar, open at the 500-level to a limited number of advanced master’s level students by special permission. The phrase Lex Orandi/Lex Credendi, attributed to the fifth-century monk Prosper of Aquitaine, has both described and defined the task of liturgical theology. This task is to define the relationship between the Law of Prayer (Lex Orandi) and the Law of Belief (Lex Credendi). This seminar will survey the history of this relationship and the contemporary expressions within the Christian churches today.
SIGNIFICANCE FOR LIFE AND MINISTRY: Lex Orandi/Lex Credendi is the central pastoral issue for liturgy. How you worship will define what you believe. So too, what you believe should inform how you worship. The congruence between our belief and our worship is a central pastoral concern. This analysis leads to a corollary issue: the relationship between corporate prayer (liturgy) and private prayer (spirituality). It also defines the relationship between liturgy and life in areas such as justice, evangelism, ecclesiology, and eschatology.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: There are four learning outcomes for this course: (1) To attain an overview of the history of liturgical theology and the schools of thought that have developed; (2) To examine the relationship between ritual and the life of faith; (3) To develop a methodology of pastoral liturgy that reflects on current praxis, evaluates it using historical, theological and ritual models, and reappraises the praxis; and (4) To formulate operative definitions of worship and liturgical theology.
COURSE FORMAT: The seminar will meet weekly for three-hour sessions. It will have some lectures by the professor, but will be mostly seminar presentations and discussions.
REQUIRED READING:
Course Reader.
Ellis, Christopher. Gathering: A Theology and Spirituality of Worship in the Free Church Tradition. SCM Press, 2010. ISBN: 978-0334029670, Pub. Price $34.99 [160 pp. assigned].
Hughes, Graham, Worship as Meaning: A Liturgical Theology for Late Modernity. Cambridge, 2003. ISBN: 978-0521535571, Pub. Price $44.00 [300 pp.].
Luhrmann, T.H. When God Talks Back: Understanding the American Evangelical Relationship with God. Vintage, 2012. ISBN: 978-0307277275, Pub. Price $15.95 [165 pp. assigned]
Muir, Edward. Ritual in Early Modern Europe. Cambridge University Press, 1997. ISBN: 978-0521602408, Pub. Price $33.00 [290 pp.].
Vogel, D., ed. Primary Sources of Liturgical Theology: A Reader. Liturgical Press, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814661785, Pub. Price $49.95 [200 pp. assigned].
Zimmerman, Joyce A. Liturgy and Hermeneutics. Liturgical Press, 1999. ISBN: 978-0814624975, Pub. Price $9.95 [100 pp.].
RECOMMENDED READING:
Crainshaw, Jill. Wisdom’s Dwelling Place: Seeking a Wisdom-based Liturgical Spirituality. OSL Publications, 2010. ISBN: 978-1878009661, Pub. Price $19.95.
–––––––––––––. Wise and Discerning Hearts: An introduction to Wisdom Liturgical Theology. Pueblo, 2000. ISBN: 978-0814661823, Pub. Price $32.95.
Kavanagh, Aidan. On Liturgical Theology. New York: Pueblo Pub. Co., 1984. ISBN: 978-0814660676, Pub. Price $25.95.
Lathrop, Gordon. Holy Things. Minneapolis: Fortress, 1993. ISBN: 978-0800631314, Pub. Price $32.95.
Saliers, Donald. Worship as Theology: Foretaste of Glory Divine. Abingdon, 1994. ISBN: 978-0687146932, Pub. Price $27.00.
Schmemann, Alexander. Introduction to Liturgical Theology. SVS Press, 1986. ISBN: 978-0913836187, Pub. Price $20.00.
ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:
Completion of assigned readings, reflection papers on readings, participation in our class discussions and attendance (20%).
One oral presentation to the class on a specific theologian’s liturgical theology (40%).
Final paper (40%):
For Master’s students, a final paper in which the student defines his/her liturgical theology in relationship to his/her ecclesial tradition and two theologians. 3000 words in length.
For Doctoral students, a final paper in which the liturgical theology of a two liturgical theologians is described and assessed. 4500 words in length.
PREREQUISITES: For master’s level students: permission of the instructor.
RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: MDiv elective; required for certain doctoral programs.
FINAL EXAMINATION: None.