WRSP 845 Pastoral Roles of the Worship Leader

A philosophical study of the use and function of music in the worship practice of the local church. Particular emphasis is given to the goals, motivations, responsibilities, parameters, and aesthetics of music in the evangelical church community.

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

Developing a philosophy of music and Christian worship is vital to the student serving in a leadership position in ministry. Understanding music and liturgy and the role that each plays in the formation of corporate gatherings is tethered to a proper theology and determines the methodology of worship. 

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

Discussions are collaborative learning experiences. Therefore, the student is required to create a thread in response to the provided prompt for each discussion. In addition to the thread, the student is required to reply to at least 2 classmates’ threads. While there are no required word counts, students normally write between 250 and 300 words for the original thread and 150 words for the replies. There are no required citations. 

Optional Live Discussions may be offered for this course. Should the student choose to attend a Live Discussion, the student will need to download a free version of Microsoft Teams (this is available in Canvas). A link with instructions on how to download and use Microsoft Teams is included under the Resources header for each Discussion.

Using the Turabian Chart of Citations as a guide, the student will create sample footnotes and bibliography samples for each of the textbooks for the course. The student will also create a footnote and bibliography entry for a journal article and course lecture, as well as provide a sample parenthetical citation for a Scripture reference. This assignment provides preparation for the detailed formatting work required in other course assignments. 

In these assignments, the student will write a two-part reflection consisting of a Summary at least 3 pages in length and a Response and Application of at least 2 pages in length in current Turabian format. The required content for each assignment will include the Read items as specified in the assignment instructions. The purpose of these assignments is for the student to recall and respond to the concepts presented in the assigned reading and discussed in the course as a point of preparation for applying them in a worship ministry context. The summary must be written in third-person perspective, while the response and application may be written in first-person perspective. The student should include support from the assigned text, the Bible, and scholarly sources. The total page count (title page, summary, response and application, and bibliography) for these assignments should be between 8 to 9 pages. 

In this assignment, the student will identify and interpret key theological themes in Best’s text, Music Through the Eyes of Faith. The student will connect philosophical ideas about music and worship to real-world musical practices. and reflect personally and creatively on the role of music in Christian worship. The Music Through the Eyes of Faith Journal Template is provided for this submission. Four original journal entries are required that reflect on four unique themes from the assigned text. Each entry must identify the key theme, a relative Scripture verse, and  including a theological reflection (150-200 words), philosophical engagement (150-200 words) and a musical connection (150-200 words). The bibliography must include complete source information for the Best text. 

In this assignment, you will create an annotated bibliography with a minimum of 15 sources that you could utilize in your Philosophy of Music and Worship Paper Assignment. These sources must include:

• 5 (all) of the current course texts
• 5 sources from your own library or past coursework
• 5 sources discovered through a search using Microsoft Copilot

Note: The sources must be varied in type, including texts, journal articles, and dissertations. Course Lectures may also be used for this submission, where appropriate.

Note that your sources should address the following topics:

• Focus of Worship (avoiding idolatry)
• God’s Creation and Musical Pluralism
• Excellence in Practice and Presentation
• Transformative Habits in Worship
• Role of Music in Liturgy and Ordo
• Hope in Music and Worship

The assignment instructions provide detailed information on how to utilize Microsoft Copilot to aid in the search for qualified sources (10-15). A copy of the student’s Copilot search must be included in the final submission in Canvas. Student will select the 5 most relevant sources from their AI search to include in the bibliography. Original annotations (3- to 5- sentences) must be provided for each source. The assignment must follow current Turabian Formatting. An Annotated Bibliography Template and other resources are provided in the Annotated Bibliography Resources in Canvas. 

Based on insights gained throughout the course, the student will craft a 12- to 15-page paper (excluding title page, contents, and bibliography) outlining an individual Philosophy of Music and Worship for use in future ministry applications. The paper should include topics discussed in the course with specific application to the following topics: 

• Focus of Worship (avoiding idolatry)
• God’s Creation and Musical Pluralism
• Excellence in Practice and Presentation
• Transformative Habits in Worship
• Role of Music in Liturgy and Ordo
• Hope in Music and Worship

The paper must include support from 15 scholarly sources, including all course textbooks, external texts, journal articles, and the Bible. The paper must be written in current Turabian format.

The student will craft a 4-week devotional that explores the lyrical content of 4 songs that emphasize the topic of hope. The student will analyze the intent of the lyrics, provide biblical and scholarly support, and address whether the songs speak to present or future hope. Song choices across the 4-week devotional must also be reflective of Trinitarian worship. Each devotional must be at least 1 full page and not more than 2 full pages in length. Song lyrics must be provided in the Appendix. Student should use the Words of Hope Devoational Template for this assignment. Turabian formatting is required.