SEMINAR IN DOCTRINE: THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP

BDOC 459

Harding University

Fall 2010

MWF 10:00-10:50 MCIN 350

Instructor: Dr. K. Stanglin

Office phone: 279-4620

Email: kstanglin@harding.edu

Websites: www.harding.edu/kstanglin and www.facebook.com

Office hours: MCIN 209, 8:00-9:00, 2:00-4:00 (MWF), 4:00-5:00 (Friday in Student Center)

I want you to do well in this course, so please let me know if you are having difficulty with the class material.

Office phone, hours, and email should suffice for class business.

Course Description:

This course will explore the nature and theology of worship by 1) surveying the history of liturgy, 2) grounding the practice of worship in the doctrine of God and the church, 3) discussing and assessing current practices, and 4) taking the Lord’s Supper as a test case in biblical and historical theology of worship. Emphasis will be given to the purposes of corporate worship and the need for discernment.

Core Values:

“Liturgy is like a strong tree whose beauty is derived from the continuous renewal of its leaves, but whose strength comes from the old trunk, with solid roots in the ground.” -Pope Paul VI

“...ut legem credendi lex statuat supplicandi.” -Prosper of Aquitaine, De gratia Dei et libero voluntatis arbitrio VIII; PL 51:209C

Course Objectives:

In light of the university’s mission and objectives, the student who successfully completes this course will be able to:

1. Describe the main liturgical developments from the early church to the present.

2. Explain the nature of worship, along with its biblical and theological foundations.

3. Articulate the purposes of corporate worship.

4. Evaluate various elements and practices in corporate worship and navigate the “worship wars.”

5. Think theologically about worship.

6. Plan a thoughtful worship service.

7. Unify, not divide, congregations by teaching and practicing faithful worship.

Course Textbooks:

Dawn, Marva J. Reaching Out without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for this Urgent Time. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.

Hicks, John Mark. Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord’s Supper. Orange, CA: New Leaf Books, 2002.

White, James F. A Brief History of Christian Worship. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.

Attendance Policy:

Students are expected to attend classes regularly. In the event of illness, family emergency, a school-sponsored activity, or an extenuating circumstance, it is the responsibility of the student to notify the instructor as soon as possible of the reason for the absence. With regard to excuses, I defer to the criteria set by Academic Affairs. A doctor’s note is required for excusing personal illness. Print a hard copy for my records. N.B.: Excuses will not be accepted more than one week after returning to class.

The official policy of COBR states that the equivalent of one week of unexcused absences (3) is allowed in this class. Each additional absence above 3 automatically reduces your final grade by 3 percentage points. Anyone accumulating 9 unexcused absences will be dropped from the course with a “WF” (withdrawn, failing).

You will be considered tardy if you are not present when the roll is checked or if you leave during class. 3 tardies = 1 unexcused absence. If you are tardy, it is your responsibility to make sure you were not counted absent. But if you come in more than 10 minutes late, or leave before the end of class without telling me why, you will be counted absent, and will not be allowed to take the test or quiz. Take care of all business before and after class.

Students with Disabilities:

It is the policy for Harding University to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal and state law. Therefore, any student with a documented disability condition (e.g., physical, learning, psychological, vision, hearing, etc.) who needs to arrange reasonable accommodations, must contact the instructor and the Disabilities Office at the beginning of each semester. (If the diagnosis of the disability occurs during the academic year, the student must self-identify with the Disabilities Director as soon as possible in order to get academic accommodations in place for the remainder of the semester.) The Disabilities Office is located in Room 102 of the Lee Academic Center, telephone, (501) 279-4019.

Assessment:

Harding University, since its charter in 1924, has been strongly committed to providing the best resources and environment for the teaching-learning process. The board, administration, faculty, and staff are wholeheartedly committed to full compliance with all criteria of the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The university values continuous, rigorous assessment at every level for its potential to improve student learning and achievement and for its centrality in fulfilling the stated mission of Harding. Thus, a comprehensive assessment program has been developed that includes both the Academic units and the Administrative and Educational Support (AES) units. Specifically, all academic units will be assessed in reference to the following Expanded Statement of Institutional Purpose: The University provides programs that enable students to acquire essential knowledge, skills, and dispositions in their academic disciplines for successful careers, advanced studies, and servant leadership.

Academic Honesty:

Harding University places a high priority on honesty and a biblical commitment to truth. Incidents of cheating, plagiarism, or any other activities deemed dishonest will result in penalties. These penalties may range from receiving a zero (0%) on the assignment to failing the course or dismissal from the school. (According to Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, to “plagiarize” is to steal and use as one’s own the ideas, words, etc., of another. Collaborating on written assignments that should be done individually would fall under this category of dishonesty. See also the definitions and descriptions in the catalog or student handbook.)

Classroom Expectations and Decorum:

I expect your best effort and cooperation. I also expect all students to behave in a Christian manner in and out of the classroom. Appropriate behavior includes abiding by the conduct and dress codes set by the university. Turn off all cell phones. Do not even bring them on test or quiz days. Do not eat food in the classroom. Only drinks in spill-proof containers are allowed in class. If you make a mess, it is your responsibility to clean it up or pay for it to be cleaned.

If it looks to me like you are sleeping, texting, or doing other work in class, I will ask you to leave and it will be counted as an unexcused absence.

You may use laptops for taking notes only. If you use a laptop, you must sit on the front row.

Class will be dismissed when I finish, not necessarily when the bell rings.

Course Requirements:

1. Introductory reflection paper. 10 pts. Write a 200-word reflection on the nature of worship. That is, define worship, and unpack your definition briefly. Due Week 1 (W).

2. Reading and class participation. 10 pts. You are expected to complete all assigned readings prior to the class meetings. The lectures will assume you have read the assignments, and part of the grade is dependent on your participation in discussing the readings. Evaluation criteria: Demonstrate your preparedness. Sign a statement declaring that you read all assigned readings.

3. Reading questions and reflections (RQR). 120 pts. (10 pts. each). On Mondays of Weeks 2-15, you should turn in a set of reflections and questions about the outside readings due for that day. These prior reflections will help initiate the discussion of the readings in class. Answer questions such as: What do you not understand? What do you agree/disagree with? What would be a good principle to put into practice? Each RQR must be at least 200 words in length. You must turn in 12 RQR’s to get full credit; you may choose any two weeks to take a break (but not from the readings). Evaluation criterion: Quality of questions and reflections, demonstrating you read the material.

4. Moodle Forum post: 50 pts. The seminar will pursue an ongoing dialogue through the Forum on Moodle. You are required to respond to the instructor’s questions. Your main response must be a fairly substantial post.

Although you are only required to submit one post per question, you may want to engage fellow members in discussion and submit multiple posts as issues arise. The greater the quality and quantity of your interaction, the higher your grade will be for this assignment. The purpose of the exercise is a forum for continued classroom discussion throughout the week that will focus on important questions for the course to pursue.

5. Prayer. 10 pts. Compose a prayer that would be intended for a public setting (e.g., corporate worship assembly), based on a designated passage of Scripture. Be ready to turn it in and share it in class by Week 2 (F).

6. Song evaluation. 100 pts. Two songs will be assigned to you. Subject them to the criteria suggested by Donald Williams. In the process, explain the meaning of the words and evaluate the “fit-ness” of the songs for use in corporate worship. Make a 10-minute presentation to the class that summarizes your thoughts.

7. Song selection. 10 pts. Identify a balanced set of five songs for a lament service, either congregational (e.g., death of a member) or societal (e.g., commemorating 9/11).

8. Worship project and presentation. 100 pts. You must do one of three different projects.

a) Write an original research paper on one of the following topics: lex orandi, lex credendi; the purpose of communal worship; the worship wars; baptism in the early church; theology of the Lord’s Supper.

The paper should be 6-8 pages (Times New Roman, double-spaced, not including bibliography). Use Turabian style footnotes and proper, academic English style. Read the handouts in my syllabus on writing papers. Assessment criteria will include such things as: clearly stated purpose, logical organization, faultless style, evidence of research, and interaction with sources.

No less than 13 sources are to be used. These sources should include relevant surveys, special monographs, and at least three peer-reviewed journal articles. If the topic is historically oriented, at least two sources should be primary documents. Do not cite sources in the bibliography unless they are used in the paper.

b) Propose to me a practical worship project. It may be the planning and implementing of worship services, or teaching a series of lessons on worship at a local congregation. You may work on this project with one or two other students.

c) Critical book review. In consultation with the instructor, choose a book from the course bibliography. Read it and write an original review. See the handout describing Carisse Berryhill’s IDeA method for book reviews. Critically engage the book’s ideas with outside research and the knowledge you have gained in the course.

Additional guidelines for the projects:

i. Not optional. A course grade of “F” will be assigned to anyone not turning in a project.

ii. Your project type and topic must be turned in to me by the end of Week 3.

iii. Projects are due at the beginning of class on Wednesday, Week 13. A penalty of 10% each class period will be assessed to late projects. Projects will not be accepted after Wednesday of Week 14.

iv. In addition to the hard copy, you must also submit the project electronically before the deadline. Go to www.turnitin.com. The class ID is 3401676, and the password is worship. Click “submit” and follow the instructions. Papers not submitted through this website will not be accepted.

v. You must give the class a 10-minute presentation that summarizes your project. Be prepared to ask the class thought-provoking questions, as well as respond to their questions about your project. The presentations will take place on Monday, December 13, 8:00-10:00 a.m. Evaluation of presentation is based on your grasp and communication of the material and a polished delivery.

9. Observations of worship. 75 pts. (25 pts. each). You must visit and report on three different worship assemblies. They must be worship assemblies of Christian traditions other than your own. You must attend 1) Roman Catholic mass (preferably in Latin) or Eastern Orthodox liturgy, 2) liberal Protestant service (e.g., Episcopalian), and 3) service in the charismatic tradition (e.g., Assembly of God). For each worship assembly, write a paper that includes your observations and reflections. Include data about the church and the date you attended. Among the questions you should address, include the following: How does this group approach worship? How do you think their worship reflects their theology? What is distinct about their worship? How would you evaluate the worship assembly? These reflection papers are to be your own individual work, and should not require any outside research. Each paper should be at least 300 words in length. Each paper is due within a week of attendance at the service. Evaluation criterion: Thoughtful reflections and insights.

10. Three exams. 225 pts. (75 pts. each). An essay exam will be given over each of the three units in the course. (Make-up exams will only be given for students who have an excused absence.) Study: lecture notes and readings.

11. Extra Credit: Attend and take notes at any (up to three) of the lectures by Everett Ferguson on Tuesday, Sept. 28 (see lectureship schedule). Make a copy of your notes, and turn them in to me on Sept. 29, and no later. (up to 10 pts. for each set of lecture notes)

Grading Scale: 710 points total

90-100% = A 80-89 = B (Good) 70-79 = C (Average) 60-69 = D 0-59 = F

Although it is your responsibility to keep up with your grades and absences, I will periodically post them on my website. Check your grades with your last name and password (H number). If the numbers are incorrect, I will gladly correct them. Otherwise, final grades are non-negotiable.

Tentative Schedule:

Wk. 1, 8/23 Introduction to course, Syllabus

8/25-27 What is worship? Worship reflection paper due

Wk. 2 White, Preface, 1. Didache 6-10. Justin, First Apology 65-67.

I. History of Liturgy

8/30 RQR 1.

9/1 Synagogue worship. New Testament.

9/3 Early Church.

Wk. 3 Hippolytus, The Apostolic Tradition. Egeria’s Travels. Ferguson, “Lord’s Supper and Love Feast,” Christian Studies 21 (2005-06): 27-38. White, 2-3.

9/6 RQR 2.

9/8 Developments in the Lord’s Supper. Development of Easter and Lent.

9/10 Medieval Period.

Wk. 4 White, 4-6

9/13 RQR 3.

9/15 Reformation. Modern.

9/17 Exam 1.

II. Theology of Worship and Current Practices

Wk. 5 Arie C. Leder, “Holy God, Holy People, Holy Worship,” Calvin Theological Journal 43/2 (2008): 213-33 (full text through ATLA). Thomas W. Mann, “Passover: The Time of Our Lives,” Interpretation 50/3 (1996): 240-50 (full text through ATLA). Dawn, 1.

9/20 RQR 4.

9/22 Danny Mathews

9/24 The Foundation of Worship

Wk. 6 Dawn, 2-4.

9/27 RQR 5. Ferguson

9/29 Diles’ lecture on Lord’s Supper

10/1 Kevin Youngblood

Wk. 7 Dawn, 5-7.

10/4 RQR 6.

10/6 Watch John Witvliet’s Worship 101, at http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=4597969802143707418#

10/8 Worship as Divine Encounter

Wk. 8 Dawn, 8. Alexander Campbell, “Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, 1852.” Donald Williams, “Durable Hymns,” Touchstone (July-August 2009): 19-21.

10/11 RQR 7.

10/13 A Cappella

10/15 Ritual of Baptism

Wk. 9 Dawn, 9.

10/18 RQR 8.

10/20 Group work. Edit the document “Worshiping the Triune God” (2010). http://www.reformedchurches.org/docs/Proverbs-English.pdf

10/22 READING BREAK! NO CLASS.

Wk. 10 Dawn, 10. Arie C. Leder, “The Place of Christian Worship: Gathered around the Throne of the Almighty,” Calvin Theological Journal 40/2 (2005): 227-47 (full text through ATLA).

10/25 RQR 9.

10/27 Architecture and Aesthetic

10/29 Worship and Culture

Wk. 11 Dawn, 11-12.

11/1 RQR 10.

11/3 Consumerism

11/5 Exam 2.

III. Lord’s Supper

Wk. 12 Hicks, Intro. and part 1.

11/8 RQR 11.

11/10 OT Covenant Meals

11/12 Fellowship Meals

Wk. 13 Hicks, part 2.

11/15 RQR 12.

11/17 Passover

11/19 NO CLASS. Stanglin at Society of Biblical Literature meeting in Atlanta.

THANKSGIVING BREAK!

Wk. 14 Hicks, part 3.

11/29 RQR 13.

12/1 Luke/Acts

12/3 Lord’s Supper and Lord’s Day

Wk. 15 Hicks, part 4 and conclusion.

12/6 RQR 14.

12/8 Revisioning the Lord’s Supper

12/10 Exam 3.

SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR BDOC 459: THEOLOGY OF WORSHIP

COMPILED BY DR. K. STANGLIN

I. Worship in General

Allmen, Jean-Jacques von. Worship: Its Theology and Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1965.

Balentine, Samuel E. The Torah’s Vision of Worship. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress Press, 1999.

Bechtel, Carol M., ed. Touching the Altar: The Old Testament for Christian Worship. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

Bradshaw, Paul, ed. The New Westminster Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 2002.

Byars, Ronald P. Christian Worship: Glorifying and Enjoying God. Louisville: Geneva Press, 2000.

. What Language Shall I Borrow? The Bible and Christian Worship. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

Dawn, Marva J. Reaching Out without Dumbing Down: A Theology of Worship for this Urgent Time. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1995.

. A Royal “Waste” of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

Dyrness, William A. A Primer on Christian Worship: Where We’ve Been, Where We Are, Where We Can Go. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.

Eliade, Mircea. Images and Symbols: Studies in Religious Symbolism. Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1991.

Hart, Darryl G. Recovering Mother Kirk: The Case for Liturgy in the Reformed Tradition. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003.

Hawn, C. Michael. Gather into One: Praying and Singing Globally. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

Hicks, John Mark and Greg Taylor. Down in the River to Pray: Revisioning Baptism as God’s Transforming Work. Siloam Springs: Leafwood, 2004.

Hicks, John Mark, et al. A Gathered People: Revisioning the Assembly as Transforming Encounter. Siloam Springs: Leafwood, 2007.

Jensen, Robin M. The Substance of Things Seen: Art, Faith, and the Christian Community. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.

Kavanagh, Aidan. On Liturgical Theology. 1984; Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1992.

Mouw, Richard J. and Mark A. Noll, eds. Wonderful Words of Life: Hymns in American Protestant History and Theology. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2004.

Peterson, David. Engaging with God: A Biblical Theology of Worship. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1992.

Plantinga, Cornelius and Sue A. Rozeboom. Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

Ramshaw, Gail. Christian Worship: 100,000 Sundays of Symbols and Rituals. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009.

Ross, Melanie C. and Simon Jones, eds. The Serious Business of Worship: Essays in Honour of Bryan D. Spinks. New York: T and T Clark, 2010.

Saliers, Don E. Worship as Theology: Foretaste of Glory Divine. Nashville: Abingdon, 1994.

Schmemann, Alexander. Introduction to Liturgical Theology. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir’s Seminary Press, 1986.

Senn, Frank C. Christian Liturgy: Catholic and Evangelical. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1997.

Smith, James K. A. Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2009.

Thompson, Bard. A Bibliography of Christian Worship. ATLA Bibliography Series, 25. Metuchen, NJ: American Theological Library Association, 1989.

Vischer, Lukas. Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Past and Present. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003.

Wainwright, Geoffrey. Doxology: The Praise of God in Doctrine, Worship, and Life. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980.

Webber, Robert. Worship Old and New. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.

, ed. The Complete Library of Christian Worship. 8 vols. Peabody: Hendrickson, 1993.

White, James F. Christian Worship in North America: A Retrospective, 1955–1995. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1997.

. Introduction to Christian Worship. Nashville: Abingdon, 2001.

. Protestant Worship: Traditions in Transition. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1989.

. Roman Catholic Worship: Trent to Today. 2^nd ed. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 2003.

Willimon, William H. The Service of God: How Worship and Ethics Are Related. Nashville: Abingdon, 1983.

Willis, Wendell. Worship: A Definitive Study of the History, Methods and Intent of Christian Worship. Austin: Sweet, 1973.

Witvliet, John D. The Biblical Psalms in Christian Worship: A Brief Introduction and Guide to Resources. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

. Worship Seeking Understanding: Windows into Christian Practice. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2003.

The Worship Sourcebook. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2004.

II. History of Worship

Bradshaw, Paul. Early Christian Worship: A Basic Introduction to Ideas and Practices. Collegeville: Liturgical Press, 1996.

. Reconstructing Early Christian Worship. London: SPCK, 2009.

. The Search for the Origins of Christian Worship: Sources and Methods for the Study of Early Liturgy. 2^nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Davies, Horton. Christian Worship: Its History and Meaning. Nashville: Abingdon, 1957.

. Worship and Theology in England. 2 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1996.

Ferguson, Everett. Baptism in the Early Church: History, Theology, and Liturgy in the First Five Centuries. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009.

Hurtado, Larry W. At the Origins of Christian Worship: The Context and Character of Earliest Christian Devotion. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999.

Kilde, Jeanne Halgren. When Church Became Theatre: The Transformation of Evangelical Architecture and Worship in Nineteenth-Century America. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.

Maag, Karin and John D. Witvliet, eds. Worship in Medieval and Early Modern Europe: Change and Continuity in Religious Practice. Notre Dame: University of Notre Dame Press, 2004.

Martin, Ralph P. Worship in the Early Church. Rev. ed. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974.

Old, Hughes Oliphant. The Reading and Preaching of the Scriptures in the Worship of the Christian Church. 7 vols. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998–2010.

Senn, Frank C. The People’s Work: A Social History of the Liturgy. Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006.

Spinks, Bryan D. Liturgy in the Age of Reason: Worship and Sacraments in England and Scotland, 1662–c. 1800. Burlington, VT: Ashgate, 2008.

Stapert, Calvin R. A New Song for an Old World: Musical Thought in the Early Church. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2007.

Thompson, Bard. Liturgies of the Western Church. Cleveland: Collins, 1962.

Wainwright, Geoffrey and Karen B. Westerfield Tucker, eds. The Oxford History of Christian Worship. New York: Oxford University Press, 2005.

White, James F. A Brief History of Christian Worship. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.

Willimon, William H. Word, Water, Wine and Bread: How Worship Has Changed over the Years. Valley Forge, PA: Judson Press, 1980.

III. Lord’s Supper

Allmen, Jean-Jacques von. The Lord’s Supper. 1969; repr., Cambridge, UK: James Clarke, 2002.

Barth, Markus. Rediscovering the Lord’s Supper: Communion with Israel, with Christ, and among Guests. Atlanta: John Knox, 1988.

Byars, Ronald P. The Bread of Life: A Guide to the Lord’s Supper for Presbyterians. Louisville: Geneva Press, 2005.

Hicks, John Mark. Come to the Table: Revisioning the Lord’s Supper. Orange, CA: New Leaf Books, 2002.

Keating, J. F. The Agape and the Eucharist in the Early Church: Studies in the History of Christian Love-Feasts. London: Methuen and Co., 1901.

McNicol, Allan J. Preparing for the Lord’s Meal: Nourishing Spiritual Life through the Lord’s Meal. Austin: Christian Studies Press, 2006.

Marshall, I. Howard. Last Supper and Lord’s Supper. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980.

Smith, Dennis E. From Symposium to Eucharist: The Banquet in the Early Christian World. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2003.

Welker, Michael. What Happens in Holy Communion? Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2000.

Willimon, William H. Sunday Dinner: The Lord’s Supper and the Christian Life. Nashville: The Upper Room, 1981.

IV. Websites

Calvin Institute of Christian Worship- http://www.calvin.edu/worship/

Liturgics bibliography- http://divinity.library.vanderbilt.edu/bibliographies/Liturgics2004.pdf

Reformed Worship: Resources for Planning and Leading Worship- www.reformedworship.org