Spiritual Formation for Leading African American Worship – WRSP 631

CG • Section 8WK • 07/01/2018 to 12/31/2199 • Modified 09/05/2023

Course Description

This course deals with a biblical approach to spiritual formation for leading African American worship. Included in this study are practical lessons related to God's mandate for worship, African-American spiritual life, spiritual disciplines, and the relationship between music and spiritual formation.

For information regarding prerequisites for this course, please refer to the Academic Course Catalog.

Rationale

It is vitally important for the worship leader to grow deeper in their relationship with God. In doing so, the worship can be effective as they lead the worship ministry (choirs, praise teams) and the congregation. There are unique dynamics associated with leading worship in the African American church community. This course explores spiritual formation in detail as it relates to the African American worship leader. 

Course Assignment

Textbook readings and lecture presentations/notes

Course Requirements Checklist

After reading the Course Syllabus and Student Expectations, the student will complete the related checklist found in the Course Overview.

Discussions (4)

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to provide a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. Each thread must be 300 words and demonstrate course-related knowledge. Post must include two scholarly citations. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to 2 other classmates’ threads. Each reply must be 200 words. Each reply must include one scholarly citation. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E)

Journal Entry Assignments (7)

The student will write a journal entry (two to three paragraphs) based upon a prompt supplied by the instructor. The prompt is designed to inspire the student to (1) consider what he/she has learned during the module: week and (2) consider how the course content will influence his/her life and ministry. (CLO: A, B, C, D, E, F)

African American Worship Reflection Paper Assignment

The student will write an 8-10 page paper discussing the history, theology and worship components of the African American Church. The paper will also include a 10-12 slide PowerPoint presentation. The paper will be written in Turabian format and consist of at least ten citations from 5-10 scholarly sources. (CLO: B, D, F)

African American Religious Figure Research Paper Assignment

The student will research two noted African American religious figures (one male and one female) and write a paper discussing the person's contributions to the spiritual and physical well-being of African American people in general and particularly, the Christian faith. The paper should be 8-10 pages in length and include a bibliography  (Turabian format) of selected sources to support the topic (at least 10 sources _books, articles, etc.) (CLO: B)

Final Project: Outline Assignment

The student will prepare a two page outline of the final project.  The outline will include details of how the final project on spiritual disciplines will be laid out. All citations included in the outline will be presented in Turabian format. A cover page is not required for the submission of this assignment. (CLO: C, D, G)

Final Project: Spiritual Discipline Pedagogical Project Assignment

The student will develop a three module course to introduce the three categories of spiritual disciplines in an African American context.  As part of this project, the student will develop a syllabus, identify helpful texts, write lecture notes and identify a total of six songs that align with the two disciplines from the three categories the student chooses. The final project should be 18-20 pages in length excluding the cover page and the bibliography and should be developed from the outline submitted earlier in the course. Bibliography must contain 6-8 relevant, scholarly resources. (CLO: C, D, E, F, G)