Date

12-2020

Department

School of Music

Degree

Doctor of Worship Studies (DWS)

Chair

John Gabriel Miller

Keywords

Worship, Worship Education, Volunteer, Bi-vocational

Disciplines

Christianity | Liturgy and Worship | Religion

Abstract

Since the institution of Old Testament-Temple corporate worship, there has been someone assigned the task of leading congregational worship. The Chronicler records King David’s divisions of the sons of Asaph to be “set apart for service…under the direction of their father in the music in the house of the Lord.”1 Although for some churches, a full-time, salaried position is not feasible or there may not be enough existing duties to justify a paid position. In this case, the responsibility of leading worship falls to a person in the congregation who might have any type of background in music or an assemblance of skill. These skills are justified reasons for selecting this person to provide an adequate worship experience, but has this newly appointed minister been given the proper tools, not only for music, but for theological integrity of worship songs or for discipling those within the worship ministry? Other responsibilities that could be assigned to this newly appointed worship leader could include directing the choir, crafting the weekly worship service and possibly with creating a budget for a worship ministry, just to name a few. The research of this project is qualitative-historical. The data shows the current and historical pattern of the educational background of those leading worship each week. The project shows self-evaluated areas of worship ministry training deficiencies for worship leaders. The research shows the need for training material that is accessible to worship leaders who have no intention of returning to a four-year institution or completing a degree. Some non-degreed worship leaders have sought some form of training, but they are hesitant because they do not know which programs or websites are reputable. In the appendix of this project, a worship 1 I Chronicles 25:1, 6 (ESV), all biblical references will be English Standard Version, unless notated by another designated translation within the footnote. v leading training course has been established to fill in the gaps for those worship leaders who do not have formal training in music, theology and ministry.

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