Would you feel confident to lead worship if the pastor was ill? Does your church or district need Lay Servants to be regular or occasional worship leaders? Imagine confidently assisting with Holy Communion! The “Leading Worship” course will engage daily readings and discussion concerning the basic pattern of Christian worship and the dynamics of energy, presence, and flow.
To mimic the in-person components of the course material, learners will create four videos of themselves conducting various elements of worship, and they will receive feedback from the instructor and peers on this informed practice and demonstration of leading worship. Through the process you will be under the guidance of an experienced BeADisciple instructor competent in worship leadership, study, and teaching online courses, with the goal of improving your competence and confidence as a worship leader.
Successful completion of this course requires learners to create and submit video assignments according to provided specifications. Prior knowledge of uploading video content to a hosting platform such as YouTube is helpful although not required, and a willingness to seek outside technical assistance from others when needed is essential. If “technologically-challenged” is a way you describe yourself, we recommend taking this course in person.
Learners are required to obtain by the start date:
- Worshiping with United Methodists Revised Edition: A Guide for Pastors and Church Leaders by Hoyt L. Hickman
- The United Methodist Hymnal (1989)
- The United Methodist Book of Worship (1992)
This class has been approved by Discipleship Ministries as an advanced course in Lay Servant Ministries. It is the “worship” class required for Lay Speaker certification.
This course is eligible for 1.0 CEU.
Quick Info:
Number of weeks: 2
Price: $85
CEUs: 1.0
Required books: Yes
Blackboard: Yes
Zoom: No
Certification or Series: Yes (Lay Servant Ministries)
Read course description for details.
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About the Instructor
Daniel Benedict has devoted more than 50 years to worship planning and leadership as a scholar, writer, teacher, and practitioner. Since 2006, he has taught hundreds of students through BeADisciple.com. From 1993 to 2005, he served as Director of Worship Resources for Discipleship Ministries. His work centers on shaping congregational life around the sacraments and the means of grace while fostering shared leadership between clergy and laity to enrich worship. Passionate about cultivating meaningful celebrations of Holy Communion, he mentors clergy, laity, and congregations in bringing energy, presence, and flow to worship, following the United Methodist Church’s “Basic Pattern of Worship.” He is also the author of “Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us,” a foundational resource for laity.
