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 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 exploring 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: DL8321Z
Unit status: Approved (New unit)
Points: 18.0
Unit level: Postgraduate Foundational
Unit discipline: Liturgy
Delivery Mode: Blended
Proposing College: St Barnabas College
Show when this unit is running| 1. | Explain the centrality of liturgy to the life of the Christian church, and the centrality of Christ to Christian liturgy. |
| 2. | Identify and analyse perspectives on liturgy as enacted, embodied communal ritual. |
| 3. | 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 the student’s ecclesial tradition. |
| 6. | Demonstrate an understanding of the various sources of liturgical theology including word, ritual, prayer, symbol, time/space and liturgical arts. |
Lectures, tutorials, online discussion, forum.
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 - Design a liturgy | 1250 | 25.0 | |
| Essay - Major Essay | 2500 | 50.0 | |
| Report - Church liturgy report | 1500 | 25.0 |
Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 17 May, 2024
Unit record last updated: 2024-05-17 09:20:27 +1000