Worship is central to Christian faith and life, as it is to most religious traditions.  This module explores Christian worship from a variety of perspectives, such as theological, historical, anthropological, aesthetic and pastoral.  By focusing this exploration on a number of significant issues relating to Christian worship in the contemporary context, the module seeks to deepen students’ understanding of the lived and experienced reality of Christian worship today.  This understanding will be of value to those preparing to lead worship themselves, as well as to other students of theology and religious studies who want to gain insight into this core religious activity.  The module values the diverse starting points of different groups of students and seeks to make this diversity part of the learning experience.

·       analyse and evaluate the significance of different approaches to the study of Christian worship and their usefulness for understanding a particular act of worship;

·       engage critically in current debates about the nature and significance of different forms and aspects of contemporary Christian worship;

·       think critically and creatively about the nature of Christian worship;

·       critically reflect on and evaluate their own experience of Christian worship, as observer, participant, or leader/facilitator;

·       appraise particular acts of worship through the use of observational skills supported by skills of analysis and reflection;

·       use the knowledge and understanding gained through the module to assess and, in the case of ministerial training students, to plan and lead worship;

Lectures will introduce the different methodological approaches to the study of worship as well as a selection of contemporary issues in worship;

teacher-initiated discussionwill explore the significance and usefulness of the different methodologies as well as promoting critical reflection on particular issues; set readings in preparation for interactive-style lectures will encourage engagement with complex ideas; observationof and/or participation in acts of worship will develop skills of observational and reflective analysis (at least one will be required to complete the module, but more will be encouraged).

These include the ability to:

·       select appropriate methodologies for particular intellectual tasks;

·       assess the value of different forms of knowledge;

·       bring together insights from different disciplines;    

·       use observational analysis to interpret the actions and rituals of others;     

·       achieve an empathetic understanding of the beliefs and practices of others;

·       analyse complex and multi-layered human interaction;

·       relate theory to practice

p> The main summative assessment for this module is a 3,000 word reflection on an act of worship which will count for 75% of the overall module mark. This will assess the ability of the student to make use of some of the approaches to the study of Christian worship introduced in the module for the task of understanding what is happening in a particular act of worship. This reflection is supported by a short piece of work (1,000 words equivalent) which will count for 25% of the overall mark. This assesses engagement with one of the approaches to worship discussed in the module or a particular topic in the study of Christian worship. This shorter piece may be, for example, an essay, a presentation and/or a book review. For formative assessment, feedback will be given on a draft of the reflection on an act of worship of up to 2,000 words.

The opportunity for reassessment in this module

As above, submitted in August. 

The module will be sub-divided into two main parts: 

(1) Approaches to the study of Christian worship:

·       historical: a brief history of Christian worship

·       theological: an introduction to liturgical theology

·       anthropological: an introduction to ritual studies

(2) Worship in the contemporary context: themes and issues, for example:

• inculturation
• worship and ethics

·       the aesthetics of worship: understanding the significance of art, music, language, and buildings in worship

• pastoral perspectives on worship
• the postmodern context of worship

Please see Background Reading List for an indicative list.

Indicative Reading and Resource List:

Bradshaw, Paul (Ed.) The New SCM Dictionary of Liturgy and Worship London: SCM Press, 2002

Bradshaw, Paul and Spinks, Bryan (Eds.) Liturgy in Dialogue: Essays in Memory of Ronald Jasper London: SPCK, 1993

Bradshaw, Paul and John Melloh (eds.) Foundations in Ritual Studies: A Reader for Students of Christian Worship London: SPCK, 2007

Burns, Stephen, SCM Studyguide to Liturgy London: SCM Press, 2006

Forrester / McDonald / Tellini (Eds.), Encounter With God:  An Introduction to Christian Worship and  Practice, Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1996 (second edition)

Jones, Cheslyn (et. al.) The Study of Liturgy London: SPCK, 1992 (revised edition)

Ramshaw, Gail Christian Worship: 100,000 Sundays of Symbols and Rituals Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2009,    Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1994 (second edition).

Vogel, Dwight W. Primary Sources of Liturgical Theology: A Reader Minnesota: Pueblo (Liturgical Press), 2000

Wainwright, Geoffrey and Karen B. Westerfield Tucker 'The Oxford History of Christian Worship' Oxford: OUP, 2006

White, James F. Introduction to Christian Worship  Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1990 (revised ed.)

White, Susan J. Groundwork of Christian Worship Peterborough: Epworth, 1997