 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
| |
 |
Current Course Offering
House for the Church
Daniel Benedict, instructor
Starts September 24, ends November 10 (registration closed)
Register at www.BeADisciple.com
Description: This course is a practicum for pastors and other motivated
church leaders and will focus on updating worship space in our present-
day missional context as the Body of Christ. The course will engage
participants in reflecting on their current worship space (or an
anticipated space) in light of sound and practical missiological and
liturgical understandings. The aim will be to consider how current space
could be updated, first through relatively inexpensive and exploratory
changes, and, as appropriate, through a more thorough-going
renovation or new build.
Participants from all denominations are welcome and each will be
encouraged to work from within his or her tradition with an eye to the
wider ecumenical liturgical journey.
Participants will read significant texts, share in conversation with other
participants, and do field explorations in developing awareness and skill
related to questions and considerations around architecture, furnishings,
lighting, acoustics, art, music and digital technology. Consideration of
initiating and managing change will also be part of the course.
A high speed internet connection and a digital camera are requisites.
CEU credits (1.3) based on 13 hours of class time. Students seeking
CEU credit will be expected to spend weekly (1) one hour online with the
assignment page, online lecture/PowerPoint presentations, or papers,
(2) one hour in the course discussion room, (3) and at least one hour
over the six weeks in one of the weekly “live chat” sessions. Course
reading will be in addition to these “in class” sessions. The instructor will
assess whether or not those seeking CEU credit have met this time
requirement before signing CEU statement and certificate.
Goals
1. Develop a working familiarity with the vocabulary and central issues of
worship space design
2. Explore the biblical and historical roots of liturgical space
3. Deepen understandings and connections between the design of
worship space and Christian mission in our North American post-modern
context
4. Visit other worship spaces (real-time/real-place and virtual) to gain
perspective on problems and possibilities in your current worship space
5. Experiment with creating digital presentations for use in the course
and with local church leaders
6. Create a building/renovation checklist of questions and considerations
for your setting
7. Build personal energy and deep convictions about the urgency of re-
imagining and re-arranging worship space
8. Experience yourself learning within an online community of learners
and colleagues
9. Re-imagine and re-vision your worship space in ways that it will more
adequately serve as a house for the church
Session Topics:
Online learning
For those new to online learning it can be intimidating to think that you
have to deal with a lot of technology and frustration. Well, I can't promise
there won't be a learning curve for you, but it will not take long to get
used to the BlackBoard environment.
There will be some "real-time" components of the course, but they are
not required, unless you are seeking CEUs. If you cannot participate in
the "real-time" sessions (chat and virtual classroom) you will still be able
to benefit fully from the course since the reading, discussion room, and
assignments are done on your time--that is, any time you choose during
the respective segments of the course. Generally those will be a week
long, but one will be a two-week session.
The live-chat and virtual classroom session times will be scheduled in
light of those participants who express a desire to be part of them.
Course Texts: (If you plan to register, you should order these books in
time to have them by the start date of the course, Sept. 24, 2007.)
prefer to order them from another supplier. If you order them all from
Amazon you will likely get free shipping.
Course syllabus available on request.
Questions or interested in signing up for this or other courses in the
future? contact me at stlukebysea@yahoo.com
Daniel Benedict, instructor
Starts September 24, ends November 10 (registration closed)
Register at www.BeADisciple.com
Description: This course is a practicum for pastors and other motivated
church leaders and will focus on updating worship space in our present-
day missional context as the Body of Christ. The course will engage
participants in reflecting on their current worship space (or an
anticipated space) in light of sound and practical missiological and
liturgical understandings. The aim will be to consider how current space
could be updated, first through relatively inexpensive and exploratory
changes, and, as appropriate, through a more thorough-going
renovation or new build.
Participants from all denominations are welcome and each will be
encouraged to work from within his or her tradition with an eye to the
wider ecumenical liturgical journey.
Participants will read significant texts, share in conversation with other
participants, and do field explorations in developing awareness and skill
related to questions and considerations around architecture, furnishings,
lighting, acoustics, art, music and digital technology. Consideration of
initiating and managing change will also be part of the course.
A high speed internet connection and a digital camera are requisites.
CEU credits (1.3) based on 13 hours of class time. Students seeking
CEU credit will be expected to spend weekly (1) one hour online with the
assignment page, online lecture/PowerPoint presentations, or papers,
(2) one hour in the course discussion room, (3) and at least one hour
over the six weeks in one of the weekly “live chat” sessions. Course
reading will be in addition to these “in class” sessions. The instructor will
assess whether or not those seeking CEU credit have met this time
requirement before signing CEU statement and certificate.
Goals
1. Develop a working familiarity with the vocabulary and central issues of
worship space design
2. Explore the biblical and historical roots of liturgical space
3. Deepen understandings and connections between the design of
worship space and Christian mission in our North American post-modern
context
4. Visit other worship spaces (real-time/real-place and virtual) to gain
perspective on problems and possibilities in your current worship space
5. Experiment with creating digital presentations for use in the course
and with local church leaders
6. Create a building/renovation checklist of questions and considerations
for your setting
7. Build personal energy and deep convictions about the urgency of re-
imagining and re-arranging worship space
8. Experience yourself learning within an online community of learners
and colleagues
9. Re-imagine and re-vision your worship space in ways that it will more
adequately serve as a house for the church
Session Topics:
- 1. Course introduction—Temple or Tent?
2. The House and the Landscape (Missiology)
3. Spaces for Action: Initiating, Gathering, Proclaiming and
Responding, Breaking Bread
4. Spaces for Action: Preparation, Making Music, Marrying,
Burying,
5. Getting There: Play, Change and Conflict
6. Blueprints: Your Design and Plan for Implementation
Online learning
For those new to online learning it can be intimidating to think that you
have to deal with a lot of technology and frustration. Well, I can't promise
there won't be a learning curve for you, but it will not take long to get
used to the BlackBoard environment.
There will be some "real-time" components of the course, but they are
not required, unless you are seeking CEUs. If you cannot participate in
the "real-time" sessions (chat and virtual classroom) you will still be able
to benefit fully from the course since the reading, discussion room, and
assignments are done on your time--that is, any time you choose during
the respective segments of the course. Generally those will be a week
long, but one will be a two-week session.
The live-chat and virtual classroom session times will be scheduled in
light of those participants who express a desire to be part of them.
Course Texts: (If you plan to register, you should order these books in
time to have them by the start date of the course, Sept. 24, 2007.)
- 1. The Incarnation and the Church’s Witness by Darrell L. Guder
(Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1999)
2. Re-Pitching the Tent: The Definitive Guide to Re-ordering
Church Buildings for Worship and Mission (Third Edition) by
Richard Giles (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2004)
3. Church Architecture: Building and Renovating for Christian
Worship by James F. White and Susan J. White (Akron: OSL
Publications, 1998)
4. (Optional) United Methodist Altars by Hoyt Hickman (Nashville:
Abingdon Press, 1996) I highly recommend that you have this
book if you are United Methodist and not very familiar with the
furnishings and spaces use for Christian worship in mainline
Protestant worship.
prefer to order them from another supplier. If you order them all from
Amazon you will likely get free shipping.
Course syllabus available on request.
Questions or interested in signing up for this or other courses in the
future? contact me at stlukebysea@yahoo.com
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Interior of Covina UMC, Covina CA. This
church completed in 1966 features the
congregation and choir seated around the
congregation and choir seated around the
recent years removed the high, massive
altar-table in the center. The congregation in
pulpit now uses a simple, single
ambo/lectern near the altar-table. The
baptismal font is on the left.
Photo by Glenn Reed.
church completed in 1966 features the
congregation and choir seated around the
congregation and choir seated around the
recent years removed the high, massive
altar-table in the center. The congregation in
pulpit now uses a simple, single
ambo/lectern near the altar-table. The
baptismal font is on the left.
Photo by Glenn Reed.
Gathering at Aldersgate UMC in Honolulu, a
largely Filipino congregation. Everything in
the chancel area is fixed. What strengths
and challenges does this congregation
experience in this space?
Photo by Daniel Benedict
largely Filipino congregation. Everything in
the chancel area is fixed. What strengths
and challenges does this congregation
experience in this space?
Photo by Daniel Benedict
St. Theresa Co-Cathedral in Honolulu. This
traditional nave to congregational seating on
three sides of the altar-table and ambo
(lectern) placed midway on the old "side"
wall. Imagine the process this congregation
went through in letting go of the "old" and
welcoming the "new."
Photo by Daniel Benedict
traditional nave to congregational seating on
three sides of the altar-table and ambo
(lectern) placed midway on the old "side"
wall. Imagine the process this congregation
went through in letting go of the "old" and
welcoming the "new."
Photo by Daniel Benedict