Module THMN45530: Studying Contemporary Worship

Department: Theology, Ministry and Mission

THMN45530: Studying Contemporary Worship

Pre-requisites

Corequisites

Excluded Combinations

Aims

• 1. Introduce students to the field of Contemporary Worship Studies
• 2. Facilitate the development of theological forms of evaluation of contemporary forms of worship
• 3. Enable students to develop skills for qualitative research in the field of Contemporary Worship Studies.

Content

• An overview of the development of Contemporary Worship
• An account of current scholarship in the theological and empirical study of Contemporary Worship
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Contemporary Paradigms of Congregational Worship

Learning Outcomes

• Upon successful completion of the module students will have gained:
• 1. A comprehensive overview of the development of contemporary worship
• 2. An in-depth understanding of theological paradigms to critically evaluate contemporary worship
• 3. The foundations for the Qualitative Empirical Study of worship.

• Upon successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Offer critical analyses of theological texts related to worship
• Design and implement a small-scale research project
• Critically evaluate different paradigms and practice in the field of worship

• Upon successful completion of the module students will be able to:
• Reason theologically in relation to practice
• Make links between theoretical frameworks and the practice of religious communities
• Develop small-scale research related to ministerial and ecclesial life.

Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module

• Lectures provide content, a conceptual framework and a survey of approaches within Old Testament studies and hermeneutics that enable students to locate their learning in a wider context, to make connections with other disciplines, and to evaluate and apply their learning to different contexts.
• Seminars offer students an opportunity to present, evaluate and apply their knowledge to specific reading contexts, and to engage with teaching staff and peers in debate and reflection.
• Guided reading in conjunction with lectures and seminars encourages independent learning and underpins the knowledge and understanding gained in lectures and seminars.

Teaching Methods and Learning Hours

Summative Assessment

Formative Assessment

Presentation of the qualitative empirical research project via an online seminar. The data from the Empirical research project presented at the formative will form the basis for the resulting summative. The summative will focus on analysis of the data and theological reflection.