2025-2026 Catalog

 

WSHP - Worship

WSHP-520 Space and Time in Worship

This course explores Christian worship - its rhythms, rituals, spaces, and sacred actions - through the thematic lens of space and time, offering a holistic understanding of worship practices integrated with biblical, theological, and historical perspectives. Special attention is given to the theology of the sacraments, the seasons of the Christian year, sacred space, and church architecture. Prerequisite: THEO-500

3

WSHP-540 Music and Arts in Worship

Congregational worship incorporates a broad spectrum of the performative and visual arts. This course examines the role of music and the arts in congregational worship. The biblical, theological, and historical foundations of music and the arts will be brought to bear on worship ministry practices in today's church. Special attention is paid to the formational role of worship and the pastoral role of the worship leader.

3

WSHP-560 Media and Technology in Worship

This course is an interdisciplinary examination of the nature of technology and its relationship to and role within Christian worship. Topics include the history of technology; technology's impact on church and society; the philosophy of technology; the basics of audio-visual technologies in the worship environment (sound, video, lighting, presentational software); troubleshooting technical systems; use of the internet and social media; and critical, contextual thinking about effective use of technology in the life of the church today.

3

WSHP-565 Proclamation Through Word and Sacrament

This course examines the biblical, historical and theological foundations of Christian worship and rituals in order for each student to derive a practice of worship for the local church that is culturally relevant and rooted in the rich tradition of the ages. Emphasis is given to designing and leading the basic Lord's Day service including the sacraments, as well as services related to life passages. This course combines theological reflection with practical application for creating well-grounded, robust, participatory services of worship.

3

WSHP-565 Proclamation Through Word and Sacrament

This course examines the biblical, historical and theological foundations of Christian worship and rituals in order for each student to derive a practice of worship for the local church that is culturally relevant and rooted in the rich tradition of the ages. Emphasis is given to designing and leading the basic Lord's Day service including the sacraments, as well as services related to life passages. This course combines theological reflection with practical application for creating well-grounded, robust, participatory services of worship.

3

WSHP-580 Emerging Trends in Worship

This course examines the changing face of worship in the 21st century and offers helpful tools for discerning how emerging worship styles may be integrated into the student's own worship context. The course examines the intersection of postmodernity, generational theory, cultural theory and the study of subcultures, as well as worldview with the Millennial Generation as it relates to worship forms and practices, resulting in contextual expressions of worship that move beyond the usual categories of traditional and contemporary.

3

WSHP-600 Christian Worship

This course is a comprehensive, integrative approach to Christian worship, beginning with biblical foundations and ending with the tools needed to facilitate it in the church today. Topics range from administration of the historic sacraments and ordinances of the church to the use of music and media arts in contemporary worship. The course involves problem based case studies from the student's ministry context and so will require that the student currently be in an approved ministry setting. Prerequisite: MDIV-500

6

WSHP-621 Christian Worship

This course develops a holistic, integrated approach to planning and leading Christian worship. Using their own ministry context as a case study and laboratory, students will analyze the formational effectiveness of worship practices, contextualize worship within a historic Christian framework, and learn to equip others for faithful and transformational worship leadership. Prerequisite: CHST-621

3

WSHP-665 Leading Worship Renewal: Moving from Passive to Participatory Worship

This course will help leaders identify a wide range of ancient and emerging practices useful for actively engaging worshipers, and strategize ways to pastorally move them toward becoming full participants in worship. This course is only offered as part of the Accelerated Master of Divinity program. Prerequisites: WSHP-565, WSEM-550 or WSEM-551. Corequisite: SPIR-620.

3

WSHP-600ES Christian Worship

This course is a comprehensive, integrative approach to Christian worship, beginning with biblical foundations and ending with the tools needed to facilitate it in the church today. Topics range from administration of the historic sacraments and ordinances of the church to the use of music and media arts in contemporary worship. The course involves problem based case studies from the student's ministry context and so will require that the student currently be in an approved ministry setting. Prerequisite: Pastor, Church, and World.

6

WSHP-621ES Christian Worship

This course develops a holistic, integrated approach to planning and leading Christian worship. Using their own ministry context as a case study and laboratory, students will analyze the formational effectiveness of worship practices, contextualize worship within a historic Christian framework, and learn to equip others for faithful and transformational worship leadership. Prerequisite: CHST-621

3

WSHP-621ES Christian Worship

This course develops a holistic, integrated approach to planning and leading Christian worship. Using their own ministry context as a case study and laboratory, students will analyze the formational effectiveness of worship practices, contextualize worship within a historic Christian framework, and learn to equip others for faithful and transformational worship leadership. Prerequisite: CHST-621

3
Indiana Weselayan