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Home > Resources > Interdisciplinary Learning > Teaching > Syllabi > WitvlietChristian Formation for Participation in Worship:
Teaching Worship in Congregations and Schools
John Witvliet
Calvin Institute of Christian Worship
This seminar was held in the summer of 2005 at Calvin College, hosted by Seminars in Christian Scholarship, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
This seminar explored the nature of "full, conscious, and active participation" in Christian worship and asked what role Christian teaching ministries can play in nurturing it. Seminar discussions focused on both the content of Christian worship and the pedagogical processes best suited to enhance it.
Weblog Summaries of Seminar Sessions
Notes
- Ahead of the seminar, I recommend studying Cornelius Plantinga, Discerning the Spirits, Leanne Van Dyk, A More Profound Alleluia, and chapters 1, 2, 10, 11, 13, and 15 in Worship Seeking Understanding.
- We'll meet each morning from 8:30-10:00 and 10:30-11:45 or discussion.
- Morning break and lunch will be spent in communal fellowship with members of all on-campus seminars.
- In the afternoon, I look forward to individual or group discussions with many of you.
- Plan on spending roughly two hours of your time each day preparing to discuss the next day's readings.
- The rest of your time is yours to spend in rest, prayer, and in development of teaching materials, sermons or other resources for your congregation, college, or seminary. Along the way, we'll offer opportunities for you to present your questions and comments to the group for feedback.
- On the Sunday between our two weeks of study, we'll organize some optional visits to local congregations together.
- Choosing these books was nearly impossible. There are 29 more we could add! Rest assured that we can talk about many more types of resources, and we'll have access to many of them during the seminar.
- We can't begin to cover all these books in their entirety. In most cases, we'll focus on a 2-3 key chapters. Part of my aim to expose us all to a range of literature.
Initial Agenda
DAY |
TOPIC |
FORMAT |
READINGS
|
1. |
A-Introduction to Worship, Full, Conscious, Active Participation B-Congregation and College/Seminary Based Learning |
Brief Introductions (Personal, Professional) Lecture/Discussion |
Selected Chapters in: John D. Witvliet, Worship Seeking Understanding: Windows into Christian Practice, Baker Academic, 2003, ISBN: 0801026237 James F. White, Documents of Christian Worship: Descriptive and Interpretive Sources, Westminster John Knox Press; 1st edition, 1992, ISBN: 0664253997 Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (on Vatican website) |
2. |
A-Diversity of Contemporary Worship B-Teaching Strategies for Diverse Audiences: Evaluating Plantinga |
Brief Introductions (Liturgical, Ecclesial) Seminar Discussion |
Cornelius Plantinga Jr., Sue A. Rozeboom (Editor), Discerning the Spirits: A Guide to Thinking about Christian Worship Today, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003, ISBN: 0802839991 Thomas Kane, The Dancing Church Around the World: DVD Collection (Paulist Press) See www.thedancingchurch.com |
3A. |
A-Worship and Theology
|
[altered schedule for Morning Worship, with All Seminars] Seminar Discussion |
Leanne Van Dyk (Editor), A More Profound Alleluia: Theology and Worship in Harmony, ISBN: 080282854X The Worship Sourcebook, Baker; Bk&CD-ROM edition, 2004, ISBN: 0801091721 Vertical Habits website |
3B. |
B-The Bible and Worship |
Seminar Discussion |
Mark Ashton, R. Kent Hughes, Timothy J. Keller, D.A. Carson (Editor), Worship by the Book, Zondervan, 2002, ISBN: 0310216257 Gerrit Scott Dawson, Jesus Ascended, P&R Publishing, 2004, ISBN: 087552849X Tremper Longman III, Immanuel in Our Place: Seeing Christ in Israel's Worship (The Gospel According to the Old Testament), P&R Publishing, 2001, ISBN: 0875526519 |
4. |
Survey of Teaching Strategies
|
Seminar Discussion |
Each seminar member studies two of these and "reviews" the rest. John D. Witvliet, A Child Shall Lead: A Sourcebook for Christian Educators, Musicians, and Clergy, Choristers Guild, 2001, ISBN: 1929187130 Norma de Waal Malefyt and Howard Vanderwell, Designing Worship Together: Models and Strategies for Worship Planning, Alban Institute, 2004, ISBN: 1566992966 C. Michael Hawn, One Bread, One Body: Exploring Cultural Diversity in Worship, Alban Inst., 2003, ISBN: 156699277X Sing! A New Creation, CRC Publications, 2001, LEADER'S EDITION. Ron Rienstra, Ten Service Plans for Contemporary Worship, Faith Alive Christian Resources, 2002, ISBN: 156212868X Quentin J. Schultze, High-Tech Worship? Using Presentational Technologies Wisely, Baker Books, 2004, ISBN: 0801064805 |
5A. |
Learning in Congregations
|
Guest Presentation by David Wood, First Baptist Church, Gardiner, Maine |
|
5B. |
Discuss Congregations |
Seminar Discussion |
Debra Dean Murphy, Teaching That Transforms: Worship as the Heart of Christian Education, Brazos Press, 2004, ISBN: 1587430673 Anne E. Streaty Wimberly, Nurturing Faith and Hope: Black Worship as a Model for Christian Education, Pilgrim Press, 2004, ISBN: 0829815686 Anthony B. Robinson, Transforming Congregational Culture, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2003, ISBN: 0802805183 |
6A. |
Stepping Back: Educational Philosophy |
Seminar Discussion |
Readings from Elliot Eisner, The Educational Imagination: On the Design and Evaluation of School Programs
|
6B. |
Specific Strategies: Case Studies, Participant Observer Exercises, Leadership Skill Developments
|
Seminar Discussion |
Visit Almond Springs: http://www.christianleaders.org/Almond_Springs/index.htm; Ravenswood Project Beta Laurence Hull Stookey, Let The Whole Church Say Amen!: A Guide for Those Who Pray in Public, Abingdon Press, 2001, ISBN: 0687090776 Robert Buckley Farlee (Editor), Mark Paul Bangert (Editor), Eric P. Vollen (Editor), Leading the Church's Song (Leading Congregational Song), Augsburg Fortress Publishers; Book & CD edition, 1998, ISBN: 0806635916 |
7A. |
Stepping Back: Educational Philosophy |
Seminar Discussion |
Craig Dykstra, Growing in the Life of Faith: Educational and Christian Practices, Westminster John Knox Press, 1999, ISBN: 0664500331 |
7B. |
Children, Youth, and Congregational Learning |
Presentation by Bob Keeley |
Keeley manuscript |
8A. |
Stepping Back: Teaching Strategies |
Seminar Discussion |
Ken Bain, What the Best College Teachers Do, Harvard University Press, 2004, ISBN: 0674013255 |
8B. |
Designing and Evaluating (Teaching) Projects |
Seminar Discussion |
Kathleen A. Calahan, Projects That Matter: Successful Planning and Evaluation for Religious Organizations, Alban Institute, 2003, ISBN: 1566992761 |
9A. |
Worship's Wisdom Literature |
Seminar Discussion |
Thomas G. Long, Testimony: Talking Ourselves into Being Christian (J-B Practicing Our Faith Series), Jossey-Bass, 2004, ISBN: 0787968323 |
9B. |
Worship's Wisdom Literature |
Presentation by Debra Rienstra |
Debra Rienstra, So Much More: An Invitation to Christian Spirituality, Jossey-Bass, 2005, ISBN: 0787968870 |
10 A/B. |
Wrap-Up |
Brief Presentations |
|