Humming a New Tune (for five, maybe six years)
In a press release today, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation announced the Committee to Develop the Next Presbyterian Hymnal. Pretty exciting stuff.
Denominational hymnals tend to have a life comparable to one generation, so the PC(USA) is doing well to start the process now since a quality hymnal takes around 5 years to develop. The denomination’s 1990 “new blue hymnal” isn’t so new anymore, so the General Assembly in 2004 authorized the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to conduct a feasibility study and develop a new hymnal in collaboration with the Office of Theology, Worship, and Education, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and the Holy Spirit (sorry, no link). PPC will assume all the costs for development, including the expenses of the committee.
What’s super crazy, though, is the interest in the project. Over 230 applications were received….yes, for a hymnal committee! The committee of 15 is quite diverse, with eight men and seven women, two Asian Americans, one African American, two young adults, a seminary president, pastors, professors, and an internationally known hymn writer. And, perhaps the most disturbing thing you’ll read all week: I’m on it.
Our first meeting is next week. I’m pretty darn pumped. I’m not sure how much blogging I’ll do about the project along the way, but I have heard that so far, at least, folks really value openness and will intentionally seek ways to keep the church involved along the way. So we’ll see.
To see the press release, other committee members, hymnal website, FAQs, or complain about their ridiculous choice of a certain young adult, click on the graphic above or below.
Connect Online
dude, i expect some pomo hymns. some emergent stuff.
gimme me good stuff man. i’m counting on you. that’s great that you felt bold enough to let us know you are on it. so, if any of us ever have any problems with it – any at all – we’ll know who to come to
yeah man, there’ll be a public process for folks to submit suggestions. and think about it: the whole point in developing a new hymnal is to get some new stuff. i don’t plan to be held totally responsible for the project, so i don’t know about you coming to me. unless you like it, in which case i’m happy to take all the credit.
Yay for new hymnals and yay for you being on the committee!! Us ELCA-types just finished this process in the last couple years and we have a great new worship book (that many love and many hate, as will always be the case). It took a lot of time and work, and lots of outside input, as well as re-stating the theological basis for how we worship. I’m amazed at all who participated in that process and wish you blessings as you take on this work!
Freebird!
lol, David.
Melissa–I think we have 3 of the new ELCA worship books in the household. Indeed, it’s a real gem (though not a flawless diamond, of course). I do hope the Lutheran wisdom is thoroughly considered in the PC(USA) process, though with more third use of the law as is only right.
Congrats! That’s quite an honor.
Maybe the committee could send a survey and have the primary music person in each congregation check off which of the hymns in the blue hymnal are sung frequently enough for the people to know. (Or some other way of finding out usage so that it will be easy to know which ones can be dropped easily.)
We’ve got a supplement to the blue hymnal which has some much more contemporary stuff in it – but it has words only.
There is an incredible resource in the denomination that might be used – the statistical folks are second to none. Perhaps they could include some questions in the annual info requested of each congregation. Along with questions about how many female elders, how many adults were baptized, etc, perhaps questions could be added to ask about music – use of a digital projector, which hymn books are in the pews, how many songs each week, percentage of hymns to worship choruses, etc. Actually, it’s the General Assembly Council which is responsible for the annual reports, with the data collected then released to the Research Services folks to analyze and maintain.
Actually, the U.S. Congregations study being undertaken by the statistical folks in Louisville might have questions of this nature. Over a million questionaires will be going out, though not just to Presbyterian congregations. I’m sure they will be able to slice up the info though. The questionaires will be given now through Oct. 19, so they should have a handle on whatever questions are asked – probably by February. They will be able to slice up the info by size of congregation, whether or not the congregation is growing, etc.
This isn’t to suggest that you folks on the hymnal committee should be looking backwards to what has been used – instead of looking forward. But it may tell you quite a bit about what isn’t being used, and what is being used effectively by congregations.
I like “Sing! a new creation”, though my favorite hymnal currently out is “Worship and Rejoice” by Hope Publ. It has a good mix of hymns and choruses. Quite frequently we (legally) copy songs from it for inserts in our bulletin. I’d suggest keeping the creeds and Great Prayer of Thanksgiving in the very front of the blue hymnal.
Thanks for the great words, Dennis. I’ll find out more next week, but we’re already working with statistical services preparing some of just the questions you suggest. Finding out how the blue hymnal is used is vital info before going forward.
I’ll try to comment more sufficiently at a later date.
Can we have lots of songs about the devil? He can go down to Georgia. Or blow out this little light of mine. possibilities are endless really.
I wonder if that is why I’m not on the committee? Or perhaps I should have submitted an application.
In any case, I’m very glad to hear that you are! Congratulations!
Adam, you’ll be great at it. Do me a favor though, don’t be choosing any more John Bell and Iona stuff…
am delighted for you, Adam – have fun -I know you will learn and contribute a great deal. Delighted to know at least two of the folks on the committee.