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Home > Events > Academic CoursesMasters of Arts in Worship at Calvin Theological Seminary
The M.A. in Worship is designed as a post-baccalaureate degree to prepare persons for assuming positions of competent leadership in the worship ministries of their faith communities. Normally the M.A. in Worship is a two-year program, combining background theological studies with a concentration of study and field experience in worship. The program may also be taken on a part-time basis.
Program information
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is the degree designed for? What will the degree equip me for?
2. Does this degree allow me to consider further study at the doctoral level?
3. What particular skills will I learn in this degree?
4. What role does music and the other arts play in the degree?
5. Why no auditions?
6. What is the structure of the program—full-time or part-time?
7. Is field education required?
8. What is the purpose of the Master’s project?
9. What are the strengths of the degree as I compare it to other similar degrees?
10. How many of my classes will include just students in this degree program?
11. What style of worship will the degree provide training in?
12. What is the relationship between this degree and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship?
1. Who is the degree designed for? What will the degree equip me for?
First, the degree is designed primarily for those who are currently serving or hope to serve local congregations in staff positions related to worship ministry. Often these positions have titles like “worship coordinator” or “director of worship.” Though the degree does not offer courses in musical skills, it provides an invaluable theological education for musicians hoping to work in congregations in positions with titles like “pastoral musician,” “Director of Music,” or “Director of Fine Arts.”
Second, students who complete the degree will also be qualified to serve in organizations such as publishing companies that provide and develop resources for congregations and support congregational worship in other ways. Many churches are searching for a worship leader as their worship becomes a critical component in their outreach efforts.
Third, because the degree includes coursework in several areas of ministry, as well as a comprehensive introduction to biblical and theological studies, graduates will be well qualified for staff positions in other areas of ministry, or teaching assignments in Christian non-profit organizations, retreat centers, or schools. Elective courses can add further qualifications in the area of church education, youth ministry, evangelism, and church administration.
In addition, some applicants may enroll in the program simply because of the spiritual nourishment and personal growth the degree can provide.
Job search resources: Prospective students can research potential jobs at the following websites:
ministrysearch.com
churchstaffing.com
churchjobs.net
2. Does this degree allow me to consider further study at the doctoral level?
Because this is a graduate degree from an accredited seminary, the M.A. can be a stepping-stone to advanced academic study in theology, including liturgical studies. However, students who are actively considering Ph.D. work should strongly consider the M.T.S. or M.Div. degree at Calvin Seminary (students can still take many of their elective courses in the area of worship). The M.T.S. and M.Div. degrees offer courses based on original biblical languages and at a more advanced level—which are desirable for graduate schools and provide more in-depth training for advanced academic work.
3. What particular skills will I learn in this degree?
Courses in worship will teach skills in worship planning and leading, as well as offering an overview of the field of worship and liturgical studies.
Courses in other areas of ministry will develop skills in teaching, pastoral care, evangelism, and church administration that are invaluable for all forms of work in congregations.
Courses in Bible, history, and theology provide necessary foundations for all these areas of ministry, and teach the kinds of aptitudes, skills, and resources that are very helpful for working collaboratively with pastors and other ministry professionals.
4. What role does music and the other arts play in the degree?
Music and other art forms play vital roles in congregational worship. Nearly every worship course includes discussions about both helpful principles for sound music and study of promising musical repertoire. This is a particular focus of “music and the arts in Christian worship.” Further, all students are encouraged to participate in the Calvin Seminary choir, and can receive course credit for two years of participation in that ensemble.
The degree does not include a formal music cognate, or award credit for private musical study. Musicians are encouraged to apply for the degree, and to continue private study of musical skills in keyboard, composition, organ, conducting, or other instruments during their time at the seminary. Seminary worship faculty can recommend qualified local teachers in each of these areas.
5. Why no auditions?
Students do not need to audition for this degree program. The program is designed more to teach about leadership and worship planning. Students generally will come with a wealth of musical background, and this program is designed to prepare students for leadership roles in the church.
6. What is the structure of the program—full-time or part-time?
The program is designed to be completed over a two-year timeframe, assuming full-time enrollment. Most of the courses meet only one day per week, allowing for part-time enrollment as well.
7. Is field education required?
Students will learn not only through their course work but also through field education. Calvin Seminary will assist students in finding placements for field education and lead students through a comprehensive experience so that they can test the skills they are learning.
8. What is the purpose of the Master’s project?
The purpose of this project is for students to pull together all that they have learned and formulate a theology of worship. Students will research and explain their view of worship and how various forms and functions are involved in worship.
9. What are the strengths of the degree as I compare it to other similar degrees?
First, this worship degree offers a broader base of biblical, historical, and theological courses than most comparable degrees.
Second, this degree features at least six courses in worship. These courses feature a strong theological and pastoral orientation that will develop skills and aptitudes.
Third, the degree offers in depth exploration of a Reformed perspective on worship while offering significant exposure to other Christian worship traditions.
Fourth, because of the collaborations with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, studies in this program will put you in touch with emerging publications, research, and learning from a variety of congregations and traditions.
10. How many of my classes will include just students in this degree program?
Very few. Most of your classes in Bible, history, and theology will include other students in M.A. programs. Most of your classes in worship and ministry will include students in the M.Div. or M.T.S. programs. This diversity is very helpful, since most ministry staff positions, whether in congregations or organizations, are based on models of close collaboration. The diversity of students in these courses, who come with unique perspectives and questions, provides helpful windows into the unique challenges and resources of these areas of ministry.
Students will learn through these courses how to discuss music and worship within non-worship contexts and with people who may not have the same musical and worship background as they do. In other words, the courses will prepare students for leading in a real-world context.
There will be times for gathering with people with particular interests in worship, including regular worship colloquia sponsored by the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship.
11. What style of worship will the degree provide training in?
The degree is not oriented to any one style of worship. At Calvin Seminary there are students from nearly 20 countries, from both new and established congregations, from both large and small churches. The goals of the worship courses are to explore the deep biblical and theological themes and practices that should be present in any style, and to learn from effective ways that leaders in a variety of congregations are accomplishing that today.
12. What is the relationship between this degree and the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship?
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship is not a degree-granting entity; the M.A. is offered solely under the auspices of Calvin Theological Seminary.
The Worship Institute does, however, provide significant resources for students in the M.A. program, including regular colloquia on topics related to worship planning, and various educational workshops, lectures, and conferences, including the annual Calvin Symposium on Worship.
In addition, several Worship Institute staff serve as professors, adjunct professors, and guest presenters in seminary courses.
The Calvin Institute of Christian Worship provides many resources, books, and articles to assist people in planning worship.
Instructional Objectives
For each student . . .
- To become better worshipers : that is, to experience deeply the privilege of offering public worship to God in Christ through the Spirit and to grow in the joy of new life in Christ.
- To become better pastoral theologians : that is, to learn how to articulate key biblical and theological dimensions of Christian public worship; to develop aptitude for critical theological thinking about public worship; to develop pastoral sensibilities for applying these principles in challenging pastoral settings; to gain a sense for the discipline of the study of Christian worship, including basic bibliographic and source materials.
- To become better guests and hosts : that is, to learn how to be perceptive participant-observers in public worship services in varied ministry settings, to develop sensitivities that help us better welcome guests and strangers in our congregations.
- To become better worship leaders : that is, to develop basic skills in worship planning and worship leadership, such as choosing hymns, preparing prayers and spoken introductions, and training worship leaders; to fall in love with the joy of imaginative, creative, thoughtful worship planning that moves beyond basic skills to genuinely excellent offerings of our skills and resources to God; to sense the sheer privilege of leading congregations in worship.
NOTE: In saying this, I want to add that the course is designed to be equally helpful for MA, MDiv, MTS, and ThM students.
COURSE READING
- Required Books
Theology of Worship, Perspectives on Worship, Writings About Worship
Authentic Worship in a Changing Culture, Faith Alive Resources, 1997
John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, selected passages of book IV.
Hughes Oliphant Old, Worship: Reformed According to Scripture (Revised and Expanded
edition), Louisville: John Knox Press, 2002
Neal Plantinga and Sue Rozeboom, Discerning the Spirits, Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2003
John D. Witvliet, Worship Seeking Understanding, Baker Academic, 2003
Quentin Schultze, High-Tech Worship? Using Presentational Technologies Wisely, Baker, 2004 (you will be given a copy of this book)
PRTH 650 Course Reader -will be handed out on the first day.
Worship Planning and Leading Resources
Psalter Hymnal, Faith Alive Resources, 1987
Sing! A New Creation, Faith Alive Resources, 2001
Worship Sourcebook, Faith Alive Resources/Baker (forthcoming, 2004)
- Recommended Resources
Theology, Perspectives, and Writings about Worship
D.A. Carson, ed., Worship By the Book, Zondervan, 2002
Thomas Long, Beyond the Worship Wars, Alban Institute, 2001
Michael Hawn, One Bread, One Body, Alban Institute, 2003
Paul Wadell, Becoming Friends: Worship, Justice and the Practice of Christian Friendship, Brazos Press, 2002
James B. Torrance, Worship, Community and the Triune God of Grace, InterVarsity Press, 1996
N.T. Wright, For All God's Worth: True Worship and the Calling of the Church, Eerdmans, 1997
Lukas Vischer, Christian Worship in Reformed Churches Past and Present, Eerdmans, 2003
Christine D. Pohl, Making Room: Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition, Eerdmans, 1999
Richard Lischer ed., The Company of Preachers: Wisdom on Preaching Augustine to the Present, Eerdmans, 2002
Paul Tokunaga, Invitation to Lead: Guidance for Emerging Asian American Leaders, InterVarsity, 2003
Worship Planning and Leading Resources
Timothy Botts, Sunday Doorposts, Tyndale, 1998 (reproducible calligraphy of Bible verses; great for bulletin covers!)
Robert Webber, Renew! A Hymnal for Blended Worship, Accompaniment Edition, Hope Publishing
Leonard Vander Zee, In Life and In Death, Faith Alive Resources (resource for funerals)
Recent CRC Liturgical Forms Disk (very useful if you want to reprint forms in bulletins)
Harvey Smit, "So You've Been Asked to Read Scripture," Faith Alive Resources
John Witvliet, "So You've Been Asked to Plan a Worship Service," Faith Alive Resources
John Witvliet, "So You've Been Asked to Lead a Worship Service," Faith Alive Resources
Jessie Schut, "So You've Been Asked to Give a Children's Message," Faith Alive Resources
Hughes Oliphant Old, Leading in Prayer, Eerdmans, 1995 (a mix of teaching and sample prayers)
Songs for LiFE, CRC Publications (children's hymnal; Living in Faith Everyday curriculum resource)
Sunday Morning Live, CRC Publications (Youth Curriculum)
Ron Rienstra, Ten Service Plans for Contemporary Worship, Faith Alive Resources (worship plans with a contemporary flavor)
Reformed Worship, Faith Alive Resources (a quarterly publication with resources for planning and leading worship)
Book of Common Worship, Louisville: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1993
The New Handbook of the Christian Year, Hoyt Hickman, Don Saliers, Laurence Stookey, and James White, Abingdon Press, 1992 (A comprehensive ecumenical guide that offers a series of worship services organized around the Christian year.)
For an extensive bibliography of other worship resources, see the Worship Planners' Bookshelf and http://www.iwsfla.org/flabibl.htm
Also note that the CICW website includes resources in various languages including Spanish and Korean.