Worship Practicum Knox College, Winter 2014 KNP2101HS Time: Tuesday, 2-4pm Instructor: Rev. Dr. Sarah Travis 905-845-8095 sarah.travis@utoronto.ca COURSE DESCRIPTION Building on introductory worship courses, this course will explore worship as a theological practice. It will examine a series of topics related to the development of worship leadership skills, nurturing community through worship, and effective worship practices for the contemporary church. The first part of the course will ask the question: How do we as worship leaders understand the realities facing worshipping communities in the twenty-first century? The second part of the course asks: How do we as worship leaders practice evaluation and discernment in a diverse and dynamic twenty-first century context? COURSE OUTCOMES 1. Through practice and theological reflection, students will develop a dynamic and practical theology of worship. 2. Students will develop skills for effective worship leadership. 3. Students will learn about a wide variety of ancient and contemporary forms of Christian worship, and consider the implications of technology, space, and art for worship today. 4. Students will reflect on the implications of culture and difference for worship. 5. Students will learn to evaluate the effectiveness of worship in specific contexts, as well as developing an awareness of their own leadership styles.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS Required Books (available at Crux): Cherry, Constance M. The Worship Architect: A Blueprint for Designing Culturally Relevant and Biblically Faithful Services. Grand Rapids, Mich: Baker Academic, 2010. Long, Kimberly Bracken. The Worshipping Body: The Art of Leading Worship. Louiseville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press, 2009. Required articles/chapters are listed below in the course outline. These are on reserve in the Caven Library, unless otherwise indicated. Another required resource is the Knox College Worship Handbook, which can be found at: http://www.knox.utoronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/forms/worshiphandbook.pdf Assignments: to keep a weekly journal. Each entry should be 2 pages, double-spaced, due in class 1. Weekly Journal In order to deepen your reflection upon class discussions and course readings, as well as your own experience as a participant and leader of worship services, you are asked each week. Each entry should consider ideas and questions that have arisen through the week. What new things have you learned? What ideas have challenged you? What are the implications of what you have learned for the context in which you worship? Evaluative Criteria: clarity, creativity, depth of engagement with readings/lectures/discussions, reveals a growing theological awareness of worship. Due: in class, weekly. 2. In-Class Worship and Self-Evaluation Each week, class will begin with a 20-minute time of worship. Each student will lead 1 worship session (either alone, or with a partner). You may choose any style of worship, and does not necessarily need to take place in the classroom. The student is responsible for booking space (if not using the classroom), providing music and printed materials if necessary. Within one week of your worship service, submit a one page evaluation of your worship service. What was most effective? What was least effective? What would you do differently next time? Evaluative Criteria: effectiveness of worship leadership, quality of preparation, depth of insight and honest reflection in evaluation. 3. Chapel Worship Students will work in groups to prepare and lead (2)Tuesday afternoon Knox
Community Worship services. Students are responsible for recruiting other leaders (ie. musicians, etc), and preparing any materials (such as an order of service). One week prior to leading worship, the group will submit an outline of the worship service to the Minister-in-Residence/professor. Following the worship service, each student will submit an evaluation form. Evaluative Criteria: degree of organization, individual contribution to team, the degree to which worship reflects principles/ideas discussed in class and course readings, effectiveness of worship leadership. 4. Annotated Bibliography There is a vast amount of literature and resources available to support worship leadership. Identifying these resources and learning to evaluate their value is a useful exercise for your current and future ministry. At the end of the semester, students will submit a fully annotated bibliography of at least 12 resources that you feel will be useful to you as a worship leader. Give a one paragraph summary of each book/resource, and attempt to answer the following questions: in what worship context would this book/resource be most helpful? In what way do I think this book/resource will enable me to lead worship effectively? What theological statement does this book/resource make regarding worship? NOTE: you must choose resources that are different from those used in class. While this project is due at the end of the semester, you should begin working on it immediately. You do not have to read each book/resource in its entirety, but you do have do demonstrate familiarity with its content. Evaluative Criteria: degree of familiarity with the book/resource, ability to communicate information about the resource in a concise yet detailed manner, critical engagement with the resource. Due: April 10 5. Class Participation This is a participatory, practical course. You are required to come to class prepared to discuss the readings, share your own beliefs and experiences regarding worship, and participate fully in class activities. Course Evaluation 1. Journal 15% 2. In-Class Worship 20% 3. Chapel Worship 30% 4. Annotated Bibliography 25% 5. Participation 10% COURSE OUTLINE st Part I: Situating Worship in the 21 Century 3
January 7: Week One Introduction to Course Syllabus Sign up for Worship Leadership (in class and chapel) Review: Principles of Reformed worship January 14: Week Two Worship in the Twenty-first Century Church Leadership: Developing theology and practice Where are we now? Canadian worship in-between modernity and postmodernity. Cherry: Worship Architect. Introduction, Chapter 1 and 2 January 21: Week Three Worship and Culture What is the relationship between worship and the culture at large? The Emergent Church Major cultural issues affecting worship today. Worship, Identity and Power Kathy Black. Culturally-Conscious Worship. St. Louis, Mo: Chalice Press, 2000. Introduction and Chapter 3 Nairobi Statement on Worship Videos: http://worship.calvin.edu/resources/resource-library/an-open-and-discernin g-approach-to-culture/ PBS video about emerging church. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wf79xw6rah4 4
January 28: Week Four Contexts for Worship Exegeting congregational worship style and leader s worship style Test case: Knox College chapel community. Cherry: Chapter 2 and 3 read article Who in the world are these people? http://www.faithandleadership.com/features/articles/who-the-world-are-the se-people by Bob Wells. February 4: Week Five Worship and Conflict Leonora Tubbs Tisdale. Preaching as Local Theology and Folk Art. Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press, 1997. Chapter 3. Leadership during times of Conflict and Transition leading worship during times of congregational transition Case Study: Leading Worship as an Interim Moderator Cherry, Chapter 7 and 8 Carol Doran and Thomas H. Troeger. Trouble at the Table: Gathering the Tribes for Worship. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992. Chapter 1 Part II: Evaluation and Discernment - Locating Effective Worship for the 21 st Century February 11: Week Six Evaluating worship 5
What is effective worship? How do we measure success? What is our role as discerning leaders? Choosing quality worship materials and resources. February 18: Reading Week February 25: Week Seven Worship and Technology Developing a theological approach to worship technology. In what ways does technology enhance worship? Using technology well. Leonard Sweet. Viral: How Social Networking is Poised to Ignite Revival. WaterBrook Press, Colorado Springs, CL, 2012. Introduction, Chapter 1 and 2. March 4: Week Eight Music and Worship exploring a variety of ancient/contemporary styles and practices. Cherry. Chapter 9, 10, 11. March 11: Week Nine Nurturing Congregational Identity and Community through Worship Dealing with Cultural difference (ethnicity, age, socioeconomic difference) Issues of accessibility/inclusivity Children and Youth in Worship Shaping a Common Point of Identity: 6
Readings Blount, Brian K., and Leonora Tubbs Tisdale. Making Room at the Table: An Invitation to Multicultural Worship. Louisville, Ky: Westminster John Knox Press, 2000. Chapter 7 and 9. (These chapters are written by Sang Hyun Lee and Kenda Creasy Dean). http://www.nytimes.com/1992/11/17/nyregion/challenge-of-access-for-thedisabled-at-worship.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm March 18: Week Ten Worship and Creativity What does art have to do with worship? Creative Liturgy The Church Years, Symbols and Sacred Space Readings Cherry. Chapter 12 and 13. March 25: Week Eleven Embodying Worship The Presider: physical presence, movement, voice and prayer. Liturgical Vestments: What (not) to Wear. At the Table: To touch and handle things unseen Readings Kimberly Long. The Worshiping Body. ALL CHAPTERS April 1: Week Twelve Worship as Embodied theology Developing a Theology of Worship Who are you as a Worship Leader? Sharing resources Emergent issues 7
Evaluations Readings Cherry. Chapter 15 COURSE POLICIES: Policies for courses are contained in the TST Basic Degree Handbook and the Knox College Student Handbook. In particular note: Late Assignments Policy: You must contact the instructor in advance if your assignment will be late. Otherwise, 4 points will automatically be deducted if the assignment is not handed in by midnight on the day it is due. If you have informed me in advance that your assignment will be late, you will lose two points if you hand it in by Friday at noon, and 2 more after Friday at noon (to a maximum of 4 points per week). Completion of Course work: all course work (including any late work) must be completed by dates as set out by the Instructor. Only in the case of illness (with a note from a doctor), bereavement or other unusual circumstances will an extension be considered and this must be authorized by the Faculty. An SDF request form must be submitted. Style Guidelines for Papers: see A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses and Dissertations, by Kate L. Turabian. Attendance: Students are expected to see that in a professional program they must approach study as they would employment. To that end, it is a regulation of the Board of Governors of Knox College that a minimum of 80% attendance at lecture courses is required for credit: 100% attendance is required at seminar courses. Habitual lateness for class will be counted as absence. Inclusive Language: Inclusive language is to be used in all class presentations and written assignments. Email assignments: Papers and assignments may be accepted by email, but you must receive permission from the instructor. 8
Plagiarism Policy: See TST Basic Degree Handbook Consultation: Please do not hesitate to consult with the instructor about any questions you may have. E-mail is normally the most immediate form of contact. Grading Scheme The grading scheme for this course is outlined in the Basic Degree Handbook. 9