Worship Space 101: Designing and Renovating a House for the Church
Daniel Benedict, instructor
Starts September 24, ends November 10
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. (Read a related article written by the course instructor)

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

Questions: contact Dan directly at stlukebysea@yahoo.com

Registration: visit www.BeADisciple.com

Online education is offered by the UMR/Lumicon Institute for Church Communications and BeADisciple.com, the online presence of the Richard and Julia Wilke Institute for Discipleship at United Methodist-related Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas.