1. Nature of the Course

• trace the history of Christian worship,
• identify the major developments in worship through the centuries,
• summarize the state of Christian worship in the modern period.

2. Textbooks

Tucker, Karen and Geoffrey Wainright. The Oxford History of Christian Worship, Oxford University Press, 2005.

In addition to the above textbook, student are encouraged and expected to read the primary liturgical texts we will be talking about. Many of these texts are available in the G. Allen Fleece Library (CIU), Lineberger Memorial Library (Lutheran Seminary), or the Thomas Cooper Library (USC) or via interlibrary loan in the USC Library. In addition, most of the liturgies we will be studying are available in some form on the internet, and students are encouraged to take full advantage of this resource. Students should take advantage of these resources to gain personal familiarity with the texts to be studied.

3. Course Requirements

1. Regular Attendance. Students are expected to attend all class sessions and participate in any group discussion. While attendance will not be taken, ten “pop” quizzes will be administered at the start of ten random class periods. Students who are late or absent will not be allowed to make up the quiz. These quizzes will be on the material to be read before class and should be a good way to help boost your grade.

2. Exams. Three exams will be administered during the course of the semester, one at the conclusion of each section on the schedule below. They will be composed of short answer questions and a major essay question. Questions will be drawn from material covered in the preceding section of the course. Students are expected to bring their own blue books to class. If a student must miss an exam for some legitimate reason, they take a make-up exam within one week of their returning to class.

3. Paper. Each student is required to submit an original paper on some aspect of the history or study of Christian worship. Papers should be 10-15 pages in length exclusive of citations and bibliography. Students should clear their topic with the instructor before beginning their research. Papers are due no later than the start of class on April 14. For every day late, a five point penalty will be applied. A grade of “F” will automatically be assigned the last day of class.

4. Worship Experiences. As Christian worship is a living entity, students will be expected to interact with the modern expression of at least five different forms of Christian worship. Students are expected to attend the main service (usually Sunday morning) of each style/family of worship and are required to write a one page reaction paper. After attending all five services, students will write a five page comparison of each different type, focusing not just on what the student did and did not like, but the historical issues that underlie differences. Students will turn in all five reaction papers and the comparison paper no later than the last day of class. Student may choose their five services from the following: Anglican/Lutheran, Charismatic/Holiness (Pentecostal, Assembly of God, etc.), Greek/Russian Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox (Armenian Apostolic, Coptic, etc.), Reformed (Presbyterian/Methodist), Free Church (Baptist, etc.), Roman Catholic, or “Contemporary” (in any of the above traditions, provided the “traditional” form is also experienced). Students who have any questions about where a particular church’s tradition may fall should consult the instructor for guidance.

5. Schedule