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An annotated bibliography summarizing published research in areas related to worship on seminary campuses.
Nearly every seminary in North America worships together during the week. These services are central to a seminary’s communal life and work, for worship is deeply formative – spiritually, educationally, and institutionally. Yet there is significant variety in the ways in which seminary communities plan for, lead, and learn about worship.
This list is a select review of items of interest found on seminary worship websites, organized according to common themes: Customaries, Denominational Diversity, Stylistic Variety, Curricular Integration, and Other issues.
Surveys are wonderful – though limited – tools for gathering data on worship priorities and practices. The survey used by the CICW/Brehm study group asked broad questions in four categories: Leadership, Liturgy, Community, and Curriculum. Many other research goals and strategies might suggest other questions and/or analytical data-gathering mechanisms.
In the spring of 2007, a questionnaire was sent to all ATS-accredited Protestant seminaries in the USA. The purpose of the study was to begin to map the range of practices and policies at the nation’s seminaries surrounding community worship. Thus, the questionnaire asked simple questions and invited reflection and feedback. The questions were divided into four primary categories: Leadership, Liturgy, Community, and Curriculum.
Paul Ryan discusses the impact of a name and how this changes the understanding behind how we see worship.
Vital questions to ask about worship before calling a minister.
A description of Chris O'Reilly and Peter Bush's experience training lay leaders to pray and preach.
The longer I live, the more I become convinced three things are true: 1. God does exist 2. I am not God. 3. The first two points are worth remembering—always.” Wise words from an aged Roman Catholic priest. How easy to slip into the sin of what St. Paul terms “thinking too highly of ourselves.”
General Position Expectation for Director of Music: administers and produces all aspects of music. This would include recruitment, training, and leading a varied ministry of music for the congregation in harmony with the church's mission statement.
The Minister of Music, Worship & Fine Arts develops the ministries of music, drama, dance and the visual arts and incorporates these in the worship of the church so that the worship of the congregation is enhanced to the glory of God. This ministry ultimately helps the church fulfill her God-given vision, “to help people from our diverse community grow in their relationship with Christ and with each other.”
A Director of Music helps develop and lead the worship music ministry for the church, in consultation with the senior pastor and other team members, in a way that is consistent with the mission, values, and theology of the church community.
