Summer 2016/Pasadena

IS501

Bolger

IS501: PRACTICES OF WORSHIP (4 Units: 160 hours). Ryan Bolger.

DESCRIPTION: Christian practices constitute the Christian life. The combined Christian practices of vocational formation, worship, community, and mission facilitate the integration of personal, spiritual, academic, and global formation into the vocational coherence of a Christian leader through reflection, relationships, and practices. IS501 is an integrative course that explores the identity and practices of Christian worship as a people called, gathered, and sent by God. Together, professor and students study and enact historic Christian disciplines necessitated by this distinctive identity (Sabbath-Keeping, Confession, Praise, Gathering & Sending, Reading & Proclaiming the Word, Prayer, Communion, Enacting the Prophetic).

LEARNING OUTCOMES: (1) Students will reflect on their current and past experiences of Christian practices of worship; (2) Students will participate in local contexts and demonstrate the capacity to engage in activities and exercises related to Christian spiritual disciplines and practices of worship; (3) Students will demonstrate the capacity to engage scripture, tradition, and contemporary resources to reflect theologically on historic practices of worship; (4) Students will articulate how worship practices impact their response to the Central Integration Question (CIQ) and will identify exercises, habits, and disciplines to embody these practices within their sociocultural context.

COURSE FORMAT: This class meets daily for four-hour sessions as a two-week intensive for a total of 40 instructional hours in the classroom for lecture and discussion (which includes 8 hours of participation in vocation and formation groups).

REQUIRED READING/VIEWING: 1220 pp. of required reading and/or the equivalent in viewing.

A. Anonymous, Cloud of Unknowing, Trans. Carmen Acevedo Butcher, 2009. ISBN: 978-1590306228, Pub. Price $19.95 [240 pp.]

B. Caccamo, James F., and Todd Johnson, and Lester Ruth. Living Worship: A Multimedia Resource for
Students and Leaders. Brazos Press, 2006. ASIN: 1587432951, Pub. Price $27.99 [10 hours of viewing
assigned]. (Available to purchase online at the Archives bookstore).

C. Duck, Ruth C. Worship for the Whole People of God. Westminster John Knox Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0664234270, Pub. Price $35.00 [218 pp. assigned]

D. Teresa of Avila. Interior Castle. Dover Press, 2007. ISBN: 978-0486461458, Pub. Price $4.00 [176 pp.]

E. Philokalia: The Eastern Christian Spiritual Texts, Palmer, G.E.H., Philip Shephard, and Kallistos Ware (Translators). SkyLight Paths, 2006. ISBN: 978-1594731037, Pub. Price $18.99 [240 pp.]

F. Williams, Rowan. Being Christian: Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer. Eerdmans, 2014. ISBN: 978-0802871978, Pub. Price $10.00 [96pp.]

G. The Holy Bible. CEB, NRSV, and TNIV translations are acceptable [50 pp. from both Old and New Testaments or the equivalent in time].

H. CORE PRACTICES:
a. Sabbath-Keeping
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck
b. Confession
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck
c. Gathering & Sending
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck
d. Reading & Proclaiming the Word
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck
See Williams
e. Prayer
See Cloud of Unknowing
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck
See Teresa of Avila
See Williams
f. Communion
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck
See Williams
g. Enacting the Prophetic
See Caccamo et al.
See Duck

ASSIGNMENTS AND ASSESSMENT:

1. 1220 pages reading and videos, including at least 50 pages of biblical text [This assignment is related to learning outcome #3]. [61 hours].

2. Classroom: for each practice, students will engage, reflect, and create (utilizing instruction, participation, presentation, discussion, engaging practice-based theology cycle for theological reflection, case studies) (20%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, #3]. [32 hours].

3. Vocation Formation Group (VFG)-In a Vocation Formation Group, students will engage spiritual disciplines, practices, and discussion. Students will study the Bible, and share and listen to stories related to the practices (4%). (Vocation Formation Group Leader (VFGL) will let professor know if students have been present and engaged) [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #2, and #4]. [8 hours].

4. Students will participate in directed practices and disciplines over the course of the quarter (15%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [16 hours + reading hours from above].

5. Four fieldwork activities and reflections (16%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #2]. [8 hours + 8 hours = 16 hours].

6. Autobiography related to core course concept (5%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1]. [2 hours].

7. Signature Assignment: 100 word CIQ response, Integration paper related to course practices, and Rule of Life (2,500 words total) (40%). [This assignment is related to learning outcome #1, #3, and #4]. [25 hours].

PREREQUISITES:  None. Recommended in first year of study.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM:  Meets a core integrative requirement in the 120 MDiv Program and the 80 MAT, 80 MATM, 80 MAICS Programs (Fall 2015).

FINAL EXAMINATION: None.