WRSP 845 Pastoral Roles of the Worship Leader

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 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 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, contents page, summary and response, and bibliography) for these assignments should be between 5-9 pages.

Based on insights gained throughout the course, the student will craft a 12- to 15-page paper outlining an individual Philosophy of Music and Christian Worship for use in future ministry applications. The paper should include topics discussed in the course with specific application to musical style, musical pluralism/diversity, worship ordo and liturgy, creativity in worship, and excellence in practice and presentation. 

Capstone Project: Annotated Bibliography Assignment

The student will prepare a Bibliography of at least 15 sources, including course texts, external texts, and journal articles. A brief annotation of 35 to 50 words per source is required to establish relevancy, and the Bibliography must be submitted in current Turabian format.

Capstone Project: Outline and Introduction Assignment 

The student will present an outline of required elements for the research project and write an introductory paragraph for the paper, including a carefully constructed thesis statement.

Capstone Project: Philosophy Paper Assignment

The student will present a 12- to 15-page research paper which presents the student’s personal Philosophy of Music and Christian Worship. The paper must include support from 15 scholarly references, 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. Turabian formatting is required.