Wednesday, May 11, 2005
17 Questions For Worship Renewal
The newly released revision of the Worship Renewal Grants application brochure includes 17 questions for proposed projects that address not only the basic details of a proposal but also the theological background behind it.
Official applications for Worship Renewal Grants must follow the posted guidelines, but we post the application questions here for non-applicants, in the hope that they may stimulate reflection on the meaning of worship and the dynamics of worshiping communities.
Basic Description
A rationale makes explicit the assumptions and arguments that stand behind a project. A project advances certain claims about the condition, its response, and the supporting organization.
*Kathleen Cahalan, Projects That Matter
1. Summarize your project in 1-2 concise sentences.
2. What local need(s) or emerging opportunity(ies) will this project address?
3. Write a month-by-month timeline that describes how the implementation of your project will unfold.
4. What resources * human, material, and financial * are available to you for your project?
Community
In New Testament thinking, nobody gains union with Christ by himself. No one is in Christ by herself. . . . As Christians we are members of a worldwide and local body, a whole team of believers, ‘a great cloud of witnesses’ (Heb. 12:1).
*Cornelius Plantinga, Jr. and Sue A. Rozeboom, Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today
5. How does your project express and strengthen your congregation’s or organization’s unique mission and history?
6. What is the nature of collaboration in the preparation of this proposal and the implementation of your proposed programs?
7. How will this project nourish healthy congregational life? If your project is focused on a particular group, how will this project strengthen unity and sense of community in your congregation?
8. What are the gifts and credentials of your implementation team? How will they be accountable to each other and to church leadership?
Theological Reflection
At the heart of worship is sheer wonder at the beauty of God, gratitude for the gospel of Christ, and eagerness to promote self-giving service in God’s world.
*Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
9. How would you describe authentic worship?
10. How will this project draw on the insights of scriptural texts? How will this project draw on the wisdom and practices of other expressions of the Christian tradition, both historical and global?
11. How will this project lead worshipers to deeper encounters with the Christian gospel? How will this project encourage and enable deeper and fuller participation of worshipers?
12. How will your project involve not only activities, but also reflection and learning?
13. Provide a list of books, articles, and other resources that will guide your project.
Beyond the Project
Our goal is to keep the momentum of learning going, to nurture a culture of ongoing learning.
*Betty Grit, Worship Renewal Grants Program
14. Describe a process (other than a survey) for assessing your project. How will you know if you have met your goals?
15. In what ways might project participants be changed and renewed by their involvement in this project?
16. What long-term changes in the patterns and habits of worship do you hope will be visible in your congregation as a result of this project?
17. How will the results and fruits of your project, and the learning and growth it brings about, be celebrated in your congregation and communicated to a larger community? How might your project provide help, inspiration, and resources to other congregations and communities?
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