ME514: Worship Leadership (4 units)

Roberta R. King, Associate Professor of Communication and Ethnomusicology
Spring 2005 Pasadena

DESCRIPTION:

Worship plays a significant role in the life of the church and doing mission. Thus, dynamic and effective worship leadership is demanding and multi-faceted. This course focuses on four major aspects critical to worship facilitation: 1) the building of positive relationships within the church and church leadership, i.e. – pastors and worship leaders/musicians, 2) the nurturing and mentoring of worship leaders, 3) working together as a team in designing, planning, and leading culturally appropriate worship, and 4) discerning worship formats that facilitate authentic worship for varying cultural and multi-cultural contexts. This course allows the student to explore, research, and interact with many of the issues facing the global church today.

LEARNING OUTCOMES:

• Students will understand the dynamic interrelationship between Biblical worship, Culture, and the Arts.
• Students will develop a theory of application in leading and designing culturally appropriate worship in
global contexts.
• Students will be able to articulate their own personal philosophy of worship leadership.
• Students will gain skills in adapting an improving worship leading in diverse cultural contexts.

COURSE FORMAT: The course follows a lecture/discussion format including small-group discussions, practical exercises in designing, planning and leading worship, participant-observation, group presentations, and guest lectures.

REQUIRED READING:

Begbie, Jeremy, Ed. Beholding the Glory: Incarnation Through the Arts. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2000. Best, Harold Unceasing Worship: Biblical Perspectives on Worship and the Arts. InterVarsity, 2003.
Carson, D.A., Ed. Worship by the Book. Grand Rapids, Zondervan, 2002.
Clinton, J. Robert. “A Personal Ministry Philosophy: One Key to Effective Leadership.” Barnabus Publishers Reprint, 1992.
Frame, John Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense. P & R Publishing.
Frame, John M. Worship in Spirit and Truth. P&R Publishing, 1996.
Hawn, Michael C. Gather into One: Praying and Singing Globally. Eerdmans, 2003.
SELECT ONE OF THE FOLLOWING
Kimball, Dan Emerging Worship: Creating Worship Gatherings for New Generations. Zondervan, 2004.
Maynard-Reid, Pedrito U. Diverse Worship: African-American, Caribbean & Hispanic Perspectives. InterVarsity Press.
Noland, Rory The Heart of the Artist: A Character-Building Guide for You & Your Ministry Team. Zondervan,1999.
Sample, Tex The Spectacle of Worship in a Wired World: Electronic Culture and the Gathered People of God. Abingdon, 1998.
Siewert, Alison, Ed. Worship TEAM HandBOOK. Downers Grove, Il: InterVarsity Press, 1998.

RECOMMENDED READING:

Brink, Emily, Ed. Authentic Worship in a Changing Culture. Grand Rapids, MI: CRC Publications, 1997.
Goen, Linda M. Praising God through the Lively Arts. Abingdon, 1999.
Gonzalez, Justo L., Ed. !Alabadle! Hispanic Christian Worship. Abingdon, 1996.
Langford, Andy. Transitions in Worship: Moving from Traditional to Contemporary. Abingdon Press, 1999.
Moeller, Pamela Ann. Exploring Worship Anew. Chalice Press, 1998.
Towns, Elmer. Putting an End to Worship Wars. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997.

ASSIGNMENTS:

1. A field research project done in teams of two or three students on worship leadership in the church today, Includes class presentation with accompanying 10-page group report.
2. Three Interactive 1-page Reading Reports.
3. Short worship leading assignments and in-class exercises based on the components and issues of worship under discussion.
4. Term Paper: A philosophy of worship leadership, 10-12 pages.

PREREQUISITES: None.

RELATIONSHIP TO CURRICULUM: Elective. Important for pastors, church planters and worship/music leaders in diverse worship contexts.

FINAL EXAM: None.

Last Date Edited: December 14, 2004