DESCRIPTION:

This course will explore the theological and practical dimensions of Christian Worship. It will provide an overview of liturgical history, consideration of theological issues relating to worship and the practice of sacraments and ordinances, presiding at weddings and funerals, a look at the range of worship/liturgical styles presently at use in the Church (including traditional and "contemporary" styles), consideration of worship music issues, and criteria for evaluation of technological resources for worship use. In addition, the course will give students practical experience in the roles of worship leadership. These include prayer leadership, public reading of scripture, presiding, use of voice and body, and issues of liturgical presence.

The gathering of God's people for worship has been central to the activity of the Christian Church from its inception. Within the context of worship, the Church has heard the Word of God read and proclaimed, taught its catechumens of the faith, administered baptism and holy communion, and shaped itself as God's people. This course will teach ministry students to understand the various roles that pastors and lay people play in worship leadership and give them skills for undertaking these roles effectively.

The course will meet daily for four-hour meetings. It will involve lecture, discussion of reading material, and a practical component which will provide students with practice in the performative aspects of worship leadership. The course grade will be based on knowledge and understanding of lecture and reading material, participation in discussion, performance on class assignments, and diligence in the practical exercises.

Bartow, Charles, Effective Speech Communication in Leading Worship. Abingdon, 1988.

Dawn, Marva. A Royal Waste of Time. Eerdmans, 1999. (Selected portions.)

Hustad, Donald. True Worship. Hope Publishing Company, 1998. (Selected portions.)

Sample, Tex. The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World. Abingdon, 1998.

Webber, Robert E. Worship is a Verb. Hendrickson, 1999.

White, James. Introduction to Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1990. (Selected portions.)

One denominational book of worship of the student's choice (e.g., Book of Common Worship, PCUSA or This Far by Faith, ELCA). (Selected portions.)

Black, Kathy. Worship Across Cultures. Abingdon, 1998.

Costen, Melva Wilson. African American Worship. Abingdon, 1993.

Duck, Ruth. Finding Words for Worship. Westminster John Knox, 1995.

Gonzalez, Justo L., ed. Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996.

Jacks, Robert G. Getting the Word Across. Eerdmans, 1995.

Students will participate in class discussions and practical exercises, take a mid-term examination on the reading and lecture material, submit two brief written assignments (first: in which the student evaluates two contrasting styles of worship as experienced in local congregational settings; second: in which the student compares and contrasts the sacramental/ordinance theology of his or her denomination with that of another denomination) and write a final paper in which the student states a personal understanding of his or her theology of Christian Worship.