Christian Formation for Participation in Worship
This syllabus was for a seminar that explored the nature of “full, conscious, and active participation” in Christian worship and asked what role Christian teaching ministries can play in nurturing it. Seminar discussions focused on both the content of Christian worship and the pedagogical processes best suited to enhance it.
Course Syllabus
This seminar explored the nature of “full, conscious, and active participation” in Christian worship and asked what role Christian teaching ministries can play in nurturing it. Seminar discussions focused on both the content of Christian worship and the pedagogical processes best suited to enhance it.
Notes
- Ahead of the seminar, I recommend studying Cornelius Plantinga, Discerning the Spirits, Leanne Van Dyk, A More Profound Alleluia, and chapters 1, 2, 10, 11, 13, and 15 in Worship Seeking Understanding.
- Morning break and lunch will be spent in communal fellowship with members of all on-campus seminars.
- In the afternoon, I look forward to individual or group discussions with many of you.
- Plan on spending roughly two hours of your time each day preparing to discuss the next day’s readings.
- The rest of your time is yours to spend in rest, prayer, and in development of teaching materials, sermons or other resources for your congregation, college, or seminary. Along the way, we’ll offer opportunities for you to present your questions and comments to the group for feedback.
- On the Sunday between our two weeks of study, we’ll organize some optional visits to local congregations together.
- Choosing these books was nearly impossible. There are 29 more we could add! Rest assured that we can talk about many more types of resources, and we’ll have access to many of them during the seminar.
- We can’t begin to cover all these books in their entirety. In most cases, we’ll focus on a 2-3 key chapters. Part of my aim to expose us all to a range of literature.
| Day | Topic | Format | Readings |
| 1 |
A-Introduction to Worship, Full, Conscious, Active Participation B- Congregation adn College/Seminary Based Learning |
Brief Introductions (Personal, Professional) Lecture/Discussion |
Selected Chapters in: John D. Witvliet, Worship Seeking Understanding James F. White, Documents of Christian Worship: Descriptive and Interpretive Sources Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (on Vatican website) |
| 2 | A-Diversity of Contemporary Worship
B-Teaching Strategies for Diverse Audiences: Evaluating Plantinga |
Brief Introductions (Liturgical, Ecclesial)
Seminar Discussion |
Cornelius Plantinga Jr, Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today Thomas Kane, The Dancing Church Around the World: DVD Collection |
| 3A | A-Worship and Theology |
[altered schedule for Morning Worship, with All Seminars]
Seminar Discussion |
Leanne Van Dyk (Editor), A More Profound Alleluia: Theology and Worship in Harmony Vertical Habits website |
| 3B | B-The Bible and Worship | Seminar Discussion |
Mark Ashton, R. Kent Hughes, Timothy J. Keller, D.A. Carson, Worship by the Book Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended Tremper Longman III, Immanuel in Our Place: Seeing Christ in Israel’s Worship (The Gospel According to the Old Testament) |
| 4 | Survey of Teaching Strategies | Seminar Discussion |
Each seminar member studies two of these and “reviews” the rest. John D. Witvliet, A Child Shall Lead: A Sourcebook for Christian Educators, Musicians, and Clergy Norma de Waal Malefyt and Howard Vanderwell, Designing Worship Together: Models and Strategies for Worship Planning C. Michael Hawn, One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship Sing! A New Creation, CRC Publications, 2001, LEADER’S EDITION. Ron Rienstra, Ten Service Plans for Contemporary Worship Quentin J. Schultze, High-Tech Worship? Using Presentational Technologies Wisely |
| 5A | Learning in Congregations |
Guest Presentation |
|
| 5B | Discuss Congregations | Seminar Discussion |
Debra Dean Murphy, Teaching That Transforms: Worship as the Heart of Christian Education Anne E. Streaty Wimberly, Nurturing Faith and Hope: Black Worship as a Model for Christian Education Anthony B. Robinson, Transforming Congregational Culture |
| 6A | Stepping Back: Educational Philosophy | Seminar Discussion | Readings from Elliot Eisner, The Educational Imagination: On the Design and Evaluation of School Programs |
| 6B | Specific Strategies: Case Studies, Participant Observer Exercises, Leadership Skill Developments |
Seminar Discussion |
Visit Almond Springs: http://www.christianleaders.org/Almond_Springs/index.htm; Ravenswood Project Beta Laurence Hull Stookey, Let The Whole Church Say Amen!: A Guide for Those Who Pray in Public Robert Buckley Farlee (Editor), Mark Paul Bangert (Editor),Eric P. Vollen (Editor), Leading the Church’s Song (Leading Congregational Song) |
| 7A | Stepping Back: Educational Philosophy | Seminar Discussion | Craig Dykstra, Growing in the Life of Faith: Educational and Christian Practices |
| 7B | Children, Youth, and Congregational Learning | Guest Presentation |
|
| 8A | Stepping Back: Teaching Strategies | Seminar Discussion | Ken Bain, What the Best College Teachers Do |
| 8B | Designing and Evaluating (Teaching) Projects | Seminar Discussion | Kathleen A. Calahan, Projects That Matter: Successful Planning and Evaluation for Religious Organizations |
| 9A | Worship’s Wisdom Literature | Seminar Discussion | Thomas G. Long, Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian (J-B Practicing Our Faith Series) |
| 9B | Worship’s Wisdom Literature | Guest Presentation | |
| 10 | Wrap-Up | Brief Presentations |