This unit outlines the contours of ecumenical liturgical theology, exploring the juxtapositions between people, scripture and sacrament, space, and symbol in the life of the church. The aim of the unit is to give students an understanding of the importance of the liturgy in the life of the Church and of individual believers. It will cover the historical development of the liturgy and how it was implemented in the life of the church. This will be done by the exploration of the theology of liturgy; the liturgical role of ministers; the role and meaning of symbols; the role of music; liturgical space and the language of the liturgy.
Unit code: DL1200Z
Unit status: Approved (Major revision)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Undergraduate Level 1
Unit discipline: Liturgy
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: St Barnabas College and Pilgrim Theological College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Articulate the centrality of liturgy to the life of the church, and of Christ to liturgy |
| 2. | Explain liturgy as enacted, embodied communal ritual |
| 3. | Articulate and illustrate the connection between worship, Christian living and mission |
| 4. | Identify principles for the appropriate shaping and use of liturgy in different contexts. |
| 5. | Critique and construct liturgical practice within and beyond their ecclesial tradition |
Foundational unit in liturgical studies
Teaching will be done through interactive lectures and discussions. Students also learn by writing an essay on an ecclesial tradition different from their own.
Burns, S. Liturgy: SCM *Studyguide (London: SCM Press, second ed., 2018) (Recommended for purchase)
Burns, S., ed., *Liturgical Spirituality (New York, NY: Seabury, 2013)
*Burns, S., and A. Monro, eds Christian Worship in Australia: Inculturating the Liturgical Tradition, St Pauls Publications, 2009
*Carvalhaes, C. ed., Liturgy in Postcolonial Perspectives: Only One Is Holy, Palgrave Macmillan, 2015
*Chia, Edmund Kee-Fook, 'Spirituality, Mission, and Liturgy: A Sacramental Perspective', in Kirsteen Kim, and Alison Fitchett-Climenhaga (eds), The Oxford Handbook of Mission Studies, Oxford Handbooks (2022; online edn, Oxford Academic, 19 Dec. 2022), https://doi-org.divinity.idm.oclc.org/10.1093/oxfordhb/9780198831723.013.11
*Gonzalez, J. L and Gonzalez, G. G., Worship in the Early Church, John Knox Press, 2022
*Gordon-Taylor, B. and J. Day, The Study of Liturgy and Worship, SPCK, 2013
*Graham, Elaine L., Making the Difference: Gender, Personhood and Theology, Bloomsbury Academic, 2016
*Hegy, P., Worship as Community Drama: Introduction to Liturgy Evaluation, Wipf and Stock, 2019
*Senn, F. C., Embodied Liturgy: Lessons in Christian Ritual, Fortress Press, 2016
| Type | Description | Word count | Weight (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay | Essay, 2500 words |
2500 | 50.0 |
| Report | Report on field work, 2000 words |
2000 | 50.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 13 Dec, 2023
Unit record last updated: 2023-12-13 16:46:50 +1100