Leading Worship is a two-week foundational course on worship for laity and clergy who want to build their leadership confidence. Focus is on the Basic Pattern of Christian worship and on the dynamics of energy, presence, and flow, giving learners the opportunity to practice and improve those elements with feedback from the instructor and from their peers.
The course requires using Assignments and Discussion Boards in Blackboard. In addition to those daily Blackboard interactions, two required Zoom meetings will be held on Saturday from 3:30 – 5:00 p.m. (Eastern). This course session will be led by instructor Daniel Benedict.
Learners are required to obtain the following texts before the course begins. For a successful learning experience, the instructor strongly recommends reading the first required text prior to the beginning of the course.
- 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: $105
CEUs: 1.0
Required books: Yes
Blackboard: Yes
Zoom: Yes, required
Certification or Series: Yes (Lay Servant Ministries)
Read course description for details.
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Price: $105
Past Learners Said…
“The biggest thing I learned was that there are many different ways to lead worship, even with the UM Basic Pattern, and that every single worship leader has his or her own style and makes use of the resources provided. I also learned that leading worship isn’t about showmanship but about authenticity, reverence and prayerfulness, while also sometimes stepping outside of one’s own comfort zone.”
“This was a good course and the instructor was very organized, informative, and pleasant to interact with.”
About the Instructors
Rev. Beth Perry has been an instructor at BeADisciple since 2010. As clergy, her approach to this course is based on decades of leading worship in ways that deepen the relationship between God and others. Beth is passionate about empowering others through education and training.
Cindy Barrineau Curtis is a master teacher, published author, and motivational speaker. Her career spans more than 30 years in education, ministry, writing, and speaking. She has designed workshops on poetry and writing memoir, and has published six books. Cindy’s nonfiction writing offers hope and empowers readers with methods to manage life’s ups and downs with confidence and grace. She offers faith building tips and motivational thoughts (Wednesday Words) through her weekly email subscription. Visit her website at cindybcurtis.com for more information.
Daniel Benedict has devoted more than 50 years to worship planning and leadership as a scholar, writer, teacher, and pastor. 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, and fostering shared liturgical leadership between clergy and laity. Passionate about cultivating fulsome celebrations of Holy Communion, he mentors clergy, laity, and congregations in bringing energy, presence, and flow to Word and Table (the Eucharist). Among other books, he is the author of Patterned by Grace: How Liturgy Shapes Us, an introductory resource for liturgy students.
Sherry Bryant-Johnson is an ordained United Methodist deacon, spiritual director, retreat leader, and author. She is certified in spiritual formation through the United Methodist General Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Institute for Discipleship. As one who has devoted nearly three decades to the ministry of Christian faith formation, she sees worship as a powerful means of grace that nurtures growth toward Christlikeness for both individuals and church communities. Sherry Bryant-Johnson also leads the BeADisciple Courses, Abiding in Christ Together: Leading Gospel-Centric Retreats and Rediscovering Our Spiritual Gifts.
