Hymnal Project FAQ

Why do we need a new hymnal?

• Since Hymns of the Saints was published in 1981 and has been supplemented three times with Sing For Peace (1994), Sing a New Song (1999), and By Request (2004), it is time for resources that will incorporate new songs and include, as best as possible, the languages, cultures, and understandings of a global church.
   

• Our songs may well be the single most important resource for expressing the evolving theology of Community of Christ and reinforcing our identity, mission, message, and beliefs.

What are the criteria to be used in selecting new hymns and retaining older, more familiar ones?

We will follow a set of Conceptual Guidelines which outline the foundational principles for hymn selection.  We will select and retain hymns that:

• Represent the diversity and global nature of Community of Christ.
   

• Honor and affirm our rich heritage as members of a universal body of Christ and our identity in the Restoration Movement, mindful that the enduring values of the church will undergird this project.
   

• Speak clearly to the current context of human life, using metaphors and rhythms of the 21^st century.
   

• Capture our calling as a prophetic people.
   

• Incorporate topics pertaining to justice and peace, our global mission, the sacraments, Community of Christ’s heritage, witness and invitation, and our place in contemporary society.
   

• Achieve a balance of old and new, celebration and contemplation, and variety in styles.

What process is in place to produce this Hymnal set?

• The steering team is purposefully small to able to manage the process more efficiently with the assistance of sub-teams.
   

• Through technology, many voices and opinions are providing input through methods such as an online survey of the church’s hymnals (see results), electronic coordination of volunteers to assist with evaluation, and submissions of texts through electronic files.
   

• A unique partnership has been formed with Hope Publishing Company to provide services in all phases of production: typesetting, editing, arranging copyright permissions, printing, storage, and distribution; services we can no longer provide because of limited resources and staff.
   

• The church will be responsible for selection of texts, tunes, indexes, numerical order, organization, title, color, etc.
   

• The hymnal set will be published using the Herald House name.

Who’s on the steering team?

·        Jane Gardner, team leader

      Lauren Hall, project administrator

Jan Kraybill

Joey Williams

Peter Judd

Bruce Lindgren

What will the hymnal be named?

• The hymnal name has not yet been determined. 
   

• Please submit name suggestions to Lauren Hall. 
   

• Check the website for updates.

What will the hymnal look like?

• The hymnal will be a two-piece set for congregational use in the Community of Christ.
   

• One piece will be a hard-bound collection of hymns, praise choruses, chants, and songs primarily in English. It will contain approximately 500 selections.
   

• The other piece will be a soft-bound collection of songs from our international members in multiple languages. It will contain about 100 selections and be packaged together with the English-language book. Few attempts have been made by other denominations to produce this type of cross-cultural book to be used in congregational worship as well as in international gatherings and at World Conference.
   

• Other products will include recorded accompaniments suitable for congregational playback, a musician’s edition for both books with guitar chords.

What can I do?

• If interested in volunteering to help with any aspect of the project, please enroll online through the “Volunteer to help” link