Masters in Worship

During the last few decades the Worship Pastor or Director of Worship or Worship Leader has become an essential position within the ministry teams of local congregations. In response to this expectation, a flood of individuals have taken their places in service to local congregations.

In recent years, a growing cry has come from local congregations for worship leaders who are deeper and wider, that is, for worship leaders who have a growing understanding of the church, a deepening relationship with Jesus Christ, and a fully deployed set of gifts. This cry has been accompanied by a growing awareness on the part of Worship Leaders for development in their understanding of worship, spiritual formation, and competencies.

The Masters in Worship responds to that cry. In this program, we seek to develop deeper and wider worship leaders who as growing disciples of Jesus Christ realize the difference between great concerts and the great commission, a great show and a great shepherd, gigs and growth, tours and tears, commitment to fans and commitment to family.  In the end, we hope to send graduates throughout the world who, as leaders of worship, shape the way the world worships.

Philosophy

This program encourages students to build professional development into the rhythm of their lives and, for thirty-six months, dedicate that slice of life to the life-transforming experience of earning an advanced degree. It is hoped that such an approach will allow the students to enjoy, absorb, and apply the experience to life and ministry.

Model

This program affirms the value of mentoring, peer accountability, friendship, and life together as disciples towards personal and professional development. Hence, 20-30 students form a cohort and progress together for 36 months as a community of disciples.

Delivery & Schedule

This program will utilize multiple channels in addition to traditional classroom instruction. Classroom instruction will take place in our Lisle Center in Chicagoland and via Northern Live Streaming Technology. The supervised ministry or internship component will utilize real-time face-to-face communication. Our program also hosts a yearly (one week) intensive where we dive deeper into the practices of worship leading and theology.

MA Course Layout

*Master of Divinity students will complete these Worship specialization courses as well as the other Master of Divinity requirements.

Christian Heritage Core Courses

• IN 304 Introduction to Biblical Interpretation
• OT 307  Pentateuch, Poetry and Wisdom Books
• OT 308 Historical Books and the Prophets
• NT 307 The Gospel and Acts
• NT 308 New Testament Letters and Revelation
• TH 301 Christian Theology I
• CH 301 Early and Medieval Christianity
• CH 302 Reformation and Modern Christianity

Worship & Supervised Ministry Courses

• WO 301 Call to Worship
• WO 405 Work of Worship
• WO 417 History of Worship in America
• WO 412 Everything but Sermon and Song
• WO 440 Sending in Worship
• WO 444 The Influence of a Worship Pastor
• SM 305 or 306 or 307 Formation for Ministry or Pastoral Leadership
• WO 500 Annual Worship Conference

Final Project –  Choose Internship or Project

• WO 401 Internship 1
• WO 402 Internship II
• WO 502 Designing and Leading Worship Project

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