New hymnal proposed for United Methodist Church

By Andrew J. Schleicher*

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (UMNS) - The United Methodist Church could have a new hymnal by 2013 under plans endorsed by the denomination's Board of Discipleship.

Directors of the board, meeting Aug. 22-25, voted to ask the 2008 General Conference to form a hymnal creation committee next year to begin developing a new hymnal.

If the committee's work is approved by the denomination's top legislative body in 2012, the new resource would replace The United Methodist Hymnal published in 1989. It would be the second official revision since the merger of the Evangelical United Brethren and Methodist churches in 1968, not including new songbooks for specific racial/ethnic or language communities.

The Rev. Karen Greenwaldt, chief staff executive of the Board of Discipleship, pointed out that the current hymnal would be almost 25 years old-"normally the life of a hymnal"-by the time a new one could be ready for distribution.

"What is the message being sent to young people who come to church and see a hymnal from 1989-a hymnal that is older than they are?" Greenwaldt said in an interview with United Methodist News Service. "We need a new hymnal that picks up new hymns, new texts, new melodies, new words to old tunes that are being created and being sung in our churches. It is time to engage the General Conference in this question."

The United Methodist Publishing House already has endorsed the project.

"Our research shows that The United Methodist Hymnal is widely used in all membership-size churches, but that there is also the strong desire for additional and new hymns and tunes to augment worship in a variety of styles and settings," said Neil Alexander, president of the church's publishing agency.

Alexander suggested a new hymnal would include musical styles such as jazz, spirituals and contemporary harmonies and a greater variety of accompaniment settings for guitars, keyboards and percussion instruments. It also would draw more music from racial/ethnic communities and would better serve contemplative settings such as Taize worship and special services for baptism and communion.

Emerging needs
The denomination recognized the need for new music amidst widening worship styles in 2004 when General Conference formed a committee to study:

.Trends and measurement of congregational singing;
.Psalter, services, ritual and service music;
.Texts and tunes (including global and ethnic music);
.Implications of digital and other emerging technologies for worship and congregational singing; and
.The Wesley hymns.

The committee, with membership from the Board of Discipleship and the Publishing House, conducted research and listed 19 needs that include "new UM worship and music resources; … providing resources in a variety of ethnic and cultural styles; … (and) new UM resources for ethnic, global, praise, and contemporary music."

While the committee agreed on the needs, it opted not to make recommendations to the 2008 General Conference and instead referred its findings to Greenwaldt and Alexander, who then proposed the development of a new hymnal to their respective agencies.

Dean McIntyre, staff member of the Board of Discipleship and a member of the music study committee, said a key reason that no recommendations came out of the panel's work was a lack of consensus over which new resource should get first priority. McIntyre said all agreed about the need for a new hymnal eventually.

Hymnal committee
Under the resolution endorsed by the Board of Discipleship, General Conference will be asked to create a committee to develop "a single volume hymn and worship book with provisions for supporting resources in multiple media for adoption as an official hymnal of The United Methodist Church and for congregational use in The United States of America."

The hymnal committee also would be instructed to use non-discriminatory language guidelines developed by the 1989 hymnal revision committee.

Expenses for the project would be borne by the Publishing House, though the agency has not yet developed a business plan with estimated costs.

The Board of Discipleship also is sending General Conference a separate resolution to establish a study committee to examine the need for "an official United Methodist hymnal for North American Christians of African descent in the Wesleyan heritage."

A new Africana hymnal would be developed to complement other official worship resources listed in the denomination's Book of Discipline. In addition to the 1989 hymnal and the Book of Worship, these include the Spanish-language Mil Voces Para Celebrar: Himnario Metodista and Come, Let Us Worship: The Korean-English United Methodist Hymnal.

Alexander pointed to the recently published songbook Zion Still Sings! as a way that the Publishing House is addressing this need. "UMPH will continue to actively listen, learn and work with others to hear from a cross-section of African-American leaders and envision additional resources for the future that help churches grow in faithful witness and vitality," Alexander said.

Other business
The Board of Discipleship supported much General Conference legislation proposed by its Division on Ministries with Young People. Luke Wetzel, a young adult director from Kansas, encouraged board members not to send petitions deferring action out of the Global Young People's Convocation and Legislative Assembly. The 2004 General Conference enabled the young people's event to send legislation directly to General Conference.

The board struggled with how to structure its meeting times to benefit from interaction with young people. During the current four-year cycle, the board's meeting only once overlapped the meeting of the young people's division. Directors approved a schedule for 2008-2011 providing for more joint meetings, including possibly one outside the United States.

Directors reconsidered legislation that the board supported in the spring that addresses the effectiveness of ordained elders. It was replaced with a new version also being submitted by the United Methodist Board of Higher Education and Ministry and the Council of Bishops. Among other changes, the new proposal provides options for addressing an elder who does not meet his or her professional responsibilities.

The board approved a request by the Upper Room Division to develop a bookstore and coffee shop near its offices in Nashville. Directors also agreed to create a "Fresh Air" book imprint and a new edition of The Upper Room daily devotional to be distributed through newsstands and grocery stores.

Planting and watering
Greenwaldt reported on ministries planted by the Board of Discipleship since the 2004 General Conference, citing the beginnings of the Division on Ministries with Young People, the youth worker movement, a young adult network and Discipleship University, which launches in October in Nashville to instruct teams of pastors and lay members on ways to revitalize their local congregations.

In addition, Greenwaldt cited expansion of Africa Upper Room and the agency's efforts to renew congregations and start new churches in the United States. It launched a new branding strategy and redesigned its Web site.

"You have planted and you have watered," Greenwaldt told directors at their final meeting before a new board is named. She thanked them for holding the agency accountable to "make sure your decisions are founded and grounded in God."

*Schleicher, former editor of The United Methodist Newscope, is a freelance writer in Nashville, Tenn.

Free Music downloads from the General Board of Discipleship music web site -- MUSIC RESOURCES FOR WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2007

The following music for congregation, choir, or soloist are free music downloads from the General Board of Discipleship music Web site (http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?loc_id=17,897,951&act=nav_loc):

Congregational Communion Responses Based on Familiar Hymn Tunes
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15326&loc_id=17,897,951
(“In Christ There Is No East or West,” arr. Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=13931&loc_id=17,897,951
(tune, SANTO, SANTO, SANTO; arr. Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14552&loc_id=17,897,951
(“O, How I Love Jesus,” arr. Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14572&loc_id=17,897,951
(“It Is Well with My Soul,” arr. Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14581&loc_id=17,897,951
(“We Shall Overcome,” arr. Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=14685&loc_id=17,897,951
(“Steal Away to Jesus,” arr. Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=15325&loc_id=17,897,951
(tune, HYFRYDOL; arr. Lewis Worthington)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=22650&loc_id=17,897,951
(contemporary musical responses by Jerome Malek)

Music for Choir
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=13971&loc_id=17,897,951
(“O Lamb of God” (Agnus Dei), SATB choral setting by Dean McIntyre)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=10212&loc_id=17,897,951
(“Christ, We Do All Adore Thee” from SEVEN LAST WORDS by Dubois; SATB choir)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=10495&loc_id=17,897,951
(Communion music for contemporary worship, by Steve Parnell)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/music/youholy.pdf
(“You Are Holy,” contemporary song based on Psalm 99, by Steve Parnell)

Music for Congregation or Choir
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=22649&loc_id=17,823
(a setting of the Kyrie by Jerome Malek)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=26089&loc_id=17,897,951
(“Celebrate Our Lord’s Communion,” a Eucharistic hymn by Richard Turner; tune, BEACH SPRING)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=16560&loc_id=17,897,951
(“The Four Words: Take, Bless, Break, Give,” a solo song or hymn by Michael and Cynthia Marion)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=16036&loc_id=17,897,951
(“I Am the Bread of Heaven,” a new communion hymn by Sandy Willard Rogers)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=10187&loc_id=17,897,951
(“May Christians All With One Accord,” tune GELOBT SEI GOTT; introit for Communion)
- http://www.gbod.org/worship/default.asp?act=reader&item_id=10602&loc_id=17,897,951
(The Great Thanksgiving, contemporary musical setting in pdf and midi by Ryan Neaveill;
Includes The Lord Be With You; Holy, Holy, Holy; Christ Will Come Again; Amen)

Dean McIntyre, music@gbod.org Director of Music Resources
GBOD The United Methodist Church
PO Box 340003Nashville, TN 37203-0003
www.GBOD.org/worship
Toll-free: (877) 899-2780 Ext. 7073

Bishop Wills Journal Entry for August 14, 2007 - Joy In The Morning

S: John 16: 22. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.

O: Even in hard times, the Lord comes to us and gives us a joy no one can take away.

A: This morning I can remember some very hard times in ministry. The more personal I felt the pain, the more I did not feel the presence of the Lord with me. You would think I would have fallen away from faith. In fact, before I started reading scripture each morning for more than just writing a sermon, I did feel the Lord was absent.

Here is what reading scripture has taught me about personal suffering. In my hardest times, especially with physical pain, when I felt the absence of the Lord, I knew from scripture the Lord had not left me alone in my suffering. When I did not have the energy to pray, I knew the Lord understood and I also knew others were praying for me. I have learned the presence of the Lord does not depend on my feelings.

When in suffering times I know the Lord is with me because the scripture tells me not to depend on my own feelings. The Lord has given me a joy which is deep in my soul. When my suffering lessons, the joy comes pouring out of my soul.

Nothing can take away the joy I have found in choosing to be a follower of Jesus. Even in the hardest times of personal pain, the joy is deep within me even though, at the moment, I do not seem to recognize it. I believe the joy comes as one who has given my life to becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus.

I have just come through a time of personal pain. As the pain has gone away, I have felt the joy deep within me come pouring out. I am so grateful, this morning, to be a follower of Jesus and I ask the Lord just to allow me to be part of what he is blessing.

It is true: no one can take away the joy I have found as a follower of Jesus.

P: Father thank you for walking through this recent time of pain. Thank you for the joy of being allowed to be a follower of your Son, Jesus the Christ. Thank you for the joy which overflows in my being this morning. Love, Dick

Y: I yield my despair and pain because I know there is a joy deep within me which will bubble into my present time.

Faith Journal for July 31, 2007: Simple Ordinary Clay

S: Isaiah 64:8Yet you, LORD, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter we are all the work in your hand.

O: No matters what has happened, we are still the work of God’s hand.

A: As I sit here this morning, I am aware God is the potter and I am the clay. But there is a funny thing about clay. Sometimes it will take on a life of its own as the potter is shaping the clay on a spinning wheel. When that happens the potter will take the clay off and usually slam the clay on a board or add water and begin to jab the potter’s fingers into the clay and then the potter will begin again and usually the clay will submit to the design of the potter.

The potter chooses the design. The clay does not get to say what it will be. That image seems a lot like myself and other Christians I know. We do well then comes along something that triggers a rebellion in us. The result is always distance from God and we usually break the unity of the church which the Lord always desires. There is another way to make a pot. The potter can make a pot by not using a wheel. It is called a coil pot and this process takes a lot longer.

The potter will roll the clay into lengths of clay. This way the clay is not so free to rebel and seek its own form. Then the potter will take a single strand of clay and lay it in a circle. Then there will be another strand of clay prepared and this strand will be placed on the first coil. The potter then shapes the surrendered clay and smoothes out the lines of the coil so no signs of all the coils of clay can be seen. It takes a long time to make a coil pot and in the end it is not perfect but it is the design of the potter.

My life is a slow process more like the coils of a piece of pottery. I have to have all the rebellion worked out of me, one piece at a time. The process is long and in the end I am the unique work of the potter. I have many rough edges as one coil is laid on me as I am shaped and the potter has to smooth out the rough edges which I must admit is very painful for me. But if I learn, then the next coil works better and I surrender to the will of the potter and this time it is not nearly so painful. In fact, I become used to the potter taking off my rough edges with each new coil. I begin the choose to cooperate with the Lord and it is very good what the Lord makes of my life. I am amazed what the Lord is doing to my heart and I am discovering the purpose for which I am being designed.

P: Father forgive my rebellion when you have to come along and smoothes the rough edges of my life. I know you are not finished with me and hopefully I am learning to trust you more each day. I am grateful for your smoothing out my rough edges because I become more like Jesus and more useable by you. I know I do not deserve what you are making of my life. I was used to being just ordinary clay lying next to a stream of water in the Texas soil, but you claimed me and now you are shaping my life each day. Thank you Love, Dick Wills

Y: I will surrender my rebellion when the Lord smoothes the rough edges in my life.