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Summer 2005
Calvin Theological Seminary
Prof. John D. Witvliet
Course Syllabus
Catalog Description
A study of prominent theological writings from the Reformed tradition on nature and purpose of public worship. The course will include study of documents by Zwingli, Calvin, Hodge, Nevin, Barth, and von Allmen with an examination of how the enduring themes in these writings might be reflected in the practice of public worship in today's cultural environment.
Instructional Objectives
For each student . . .
- To sense more deeply the privilege of offering public worship to God in Christ through the Spirit; to sense the privilege of leading congregations in worship, and to dream dreams and see visions about new opportunities for faithful service in Christ's church.
- To gain a sense of the central themes, metaphors, and angularities of the practice of worship in Reformed tradition, and, more generally, to articulate key biblical and theological dimensions of Christian public worship; to develop aptitude for critical theological thinking about public worship.
- To reflect on the nature of catholic worship across Christian traditions and what it means to live as a truly catholic Christian in today's era of global Christianity.
- To gain a sense for the discipline of the study of Christian worship, including basic bibliographic and source materials.
BOOKS
Each student (including auditors and guests) should have their own copy of The Worship Sourcebook. All other course materials (and there will be a lot of them) will be provided in multiple binders, at no expense to students. Students taking the course for credit should also purchase the volume described in the writing assignment below.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
- Brief Biographies
- By the second day of class, email Prof. Witvliet with a brief description of what you hope to learn in this class (and, if this is your first class with Witvliet, provide a brief description of your background and what brought you to take this class).
- By the second day of class, email Prof. Witvliet with a brief description of what you hope to learn in this class (and, if this is your first class with Witvliet, provide a brief description of your background and what brought you to take this class).
- Reading Analysis. Read carefully Christian Worship in Reformed Churches, Past and Present, Lukas Vischer (Eerdmans).
- In light of class discussions, respond in writing to each article in Part I. What idea most challenged or intrigued you in each chapter? How would that chapter deepen or inform our course discussions? How would our course discussions correct, inform, contradict, or complement each chapter? Write all this in a series of bullet point observations (complete sentences are not necessary). Note: You could probably get a C- on this without mentioning our course discussion. Your grade will be heavily dependent on references to course discussions and the way these factor in to your journaling.
- In complete sentences and well-formed paragraphs, write a 7-page critical review essay of Part II of this volume. Suppose it was being presented to your congregation's council or consistory for adoption as your official worship statement. What are its strengths and weaknesses? What is missing? Cite at least 8 other documents covered in class as you develop your argument. Again, a good grade is dependent on these citations and the integration of your reflections on course discussions into your paper.
- In light of class discussions, respond in writing to each article in Part I. What idea most challenged or intrigued you in each chapter? How would that chapter deepen or inform our course discussions? How would our course discussions correct, inform, contradict, or complement each chapter? Write all this in a series of bullet point observations (complete sentences are not necessary). Note: You could probably get a C- on this without mentioning our course discussion. Your grade will be heavily dependent on references to course discussions and the way these factor in to your journaling.
- Pastoral Letter
- Prepare a 5-page pastoral letter to a specific congregation (that you already know well) to address the question: "How can we most fruitfully worship as Christians who are both self-consciously Reformed and also self-consciously catholic?" Describe the congregation in a brief, 3-4 sentence preface to your letter.
TIME ESTIMATES
Coursework: 27 Hours
Reading During Coursework: 5 Hours
Reading Analysis (part A): 45 hours (15 chapters, 2 hours each to read, 1 hour for commentary)
Reading Analysis (part B): 10 hours
Pastoral Letter: 5 hours
TOTAL: 92 hours
GRADING
Class Participation 15%
Reading Analysis (A) 35%
Reading Analysis (B) 25%
Pastoral Letter 25%
SCHEDULE
Class meets Monday through Thursday, 9:00-12 noon and 1-4 PM and on Friday from 9:00-12 noon.