Pre-requisites

None

Co-requisites

None

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, the student will be able to:

Unit Description

The aim of this unit is to help learners develop proficiency in their understanding of worship in the life of the believer and the community of faith and the nature of worship as a central Christian act of celebration and identity formation. Van Leeuwen has said that those who grasp the little finger of liturgics will find that they have taken the whole hand of theology.

The unit starts with a brief overview of liturgical traditions within Christianity. This serves to introduce the learner to the diversity within Christianity while at the same time providing a succinct comment on the nature of worship. The unit traces the development of worship in the different periods of the Hebrew people while at the same time looking at the various offerings and rituals. Special attention is given to the priestly role in the Old Testament. The focus shifts to a Pauline perspective on worship. Here the learner is introduced to the tension between order and chaos in liturgy and the role of freedom in worship.

Christian worship is traced from its roots in Judaism and into the first few centuries through to the contemporary western context. The unit is designed to introduce the learner to these expressions of worship but also to understand the changes and developments that have taken place. It will also show the learner various liturgical treasures we have lost, and will point to some that have been retained but may be ignored or under-appreciated by the contemporary church.

Learners will explore the relationship of the Christian doctrine of the Holy Spirit to aspects of worship, examining the mutual influence of theological concepts and experience of God in Worship. They should be able to draw upon a knowledge of the doctrine of God as it has been developed in scripture, traditional formulations and modern thought. Learners will examine the place of public and personal worship in the life of the Church; ways in which worship relates to the whole life of the Church and its mission in the world; rites of the Church related to people and their needs; non-verbal aspects, such as time and space, architecture and art; and cultural factors that affect our understanding and practice of worship. They will also be helped to identify insights into worship and prayer gained from other disciplines, especially the human sciences.

In exploring worship which addresses and engages the emerging culture, the learner will identify some of the great changes and movements as primitive Christianity and post-modern realities converse to produce new expression of awe and wonder. In this context, learners will explore the changing role of the pastor, such as described as the move from sole-visionary to curator, as a co-artist, worship crafter; and fellow pilgrim with their congregation as all move deeper into the mystery that is God. Modern and post-modern approaches to worship are examined, with special attention given to the demands of the visual age on Christian worship. Learners will be required to articulate the nature of these demands while being able to highlight the advantages and disadvantages of liturgical renewal.

Teaching Strategies

The learning process consists of three phases: Reading, Residential, and Research. Each phase has a blend of individual and group learning, and subsequent phases build upon the learning of those that come before.

The first phase is a Reading phase, and lasts for 12 weeks. The learner, as part of a small cohort study group (3 to 5 members), is guided through a reading program to explore the current scholarship on the practice of leading people in the presence of God.

Reading assignments are compiled with the help of the librarian, the educational technologist, and administrative support staff. Required weekly readings are posted to the unit website once a week for downloading, utilising Tabor Victoria’s Moodle platform.

Students are also required to read the prescribed textbooks in this phase.

During this first phase learners in cohort groups embark on a guided social inquiry, resulting in a research project. Hands-on research conducted in context by each participant allows him/her to gain an understanding of specific, emerging ministry concerns/questions encountered by local churches.

Second phase is a residential phase: Equipped with the reading and research, learners then undertake a Residential phase of 40 hours worth (one week, full-time) of residential study. During the residency, all cohort groups gather in a teaching church chosen because of a leader who is known as a thoughtful practitioner, and because the agency has a proven track record in ‘Leading people in the presence of God’.


Unit offerings

Face to face: (Every 3rd Year, Semester 1)

Please note

The Unit Offerings listed above are a guide only and the timetable for any year is the final authority. The College may vary offerings based on demand, regulatory requirements, continual improvement processes or other conditions.

This unit may be available in different modes of delivery i.e. online and face-to-face as listed above. The unit content will not differ between these modes of delivery. There will possibly be a difference in the schedule and/or the prescribed assessment tasks, however both will cover and assess the same content.