Hymnal Project: Updates
October 2011
For approximately three years, tasks of collecting, reviewing, researching, questioning, editing, singing, and selecting hymns for the next hymnal have been underway. This process is at times overwhelming, humbling, but always exciting! A host of hundreds have played significant roles in assisting the steering team along the journey. In fact, more input and consultation from various esteemed experts and individuals have been involved in determining outcomes for this next hymnal, than the prestigious 1981 Hymns of the Saints committee. We are blessed with the participation of many and are grateful for everyone’s contributions. At some point, we hope to post that list, though inevitably, could we account for every valued participant? The bridge that binds this not-too-distant resource with those that have come before, is rich, relevant, and getting ready to serve the church into the future.
As we approach the fall of 2011, the project has crossed several milestones. Though we cannot answer with absolute certainty all questions at this time, transparency is important. We want you to know where we are in the process and decisions that have been made to date. Under “What’s New!” please click on the highlighted links directing you to recent updates. For now, please check out the links to:
- How the book will be organized – Table of Contents
- Summary snapshot of the current collection
- “Joyful Noise” workshop – Independence, Missouri USA February 11 -12, 2012
For the next two years and until the hymnal launch event in October of 2013, there is much to be done and several factors that will yet impact and change the final form of the book. Permissions are being requested from copyright holders, hymns are being engraved and cycled through several rounds of proofing, accompaniment tracks are being recorded with select vocal recordings being determined, guitar chords charted, robust topical and scriptural indexes created, musician and worship planner workshops scheduled, field work and presentations to experience, a concordance created, distribution processes developed, and the list goes on. Continue to check the website for project updates.
Finally, for now, the window for titling recommendations has closed. Over 300 suggestions were submitted! Thank you to all who participated! These titles have been reviewed and a short list compiled for further discernment. Soon, concepts will be created and a final cover design for the hymnal selected. This is on track to be announced early next year.
November 2010
We are completing the hymn selection process and have narrowed the first round of requests to approximately 700 selections. During the two-year open submission window, over 4,500 submissions were received and recorded in our database. Decisions based on the underlying guidelines of the project have been made, with consideration given towards balance in the overall collection.
To date, the hymnal project has enlisted the help of over 2,000 participants worldwide in various critical capacities, such as theology, language issues, translations, musical review, creation, field testing, feedback, and research. These important consultations are ongoing.
We are in the process of turning over the collection to our publisher, Hope Publishing Company. They will begin the task of seeking permissions from copyholders for all texts and tunes and alterations we are requesting. We will not know or be able to report on the final contents of the collection until the approval process is over. During this time, Community of Christ authors and composers will also be contacted with requests for permission to use original submissions. By the summer of 2011, we anticipate the final 2013 hymnal selection process to be finalized and will communicate the outcomes shortly thereafter.
December 2009
A detailed style sheet has been developed and submitted to Hope Publishing Company, our production partner. The style sheet gives instructions to follow for musical style and typesetting, interlining of words, four-part harmonization, guitar chords, and more.
As of August 2009, over 2,000 people have participated in the survey, submission, and review of hymns in the following ways:
- Hymnal survey of Hope Publishing Company’s Worship and Rejoice hymnal
- Community of Christ online hymnal survey covering all existing hymnals
- Well-known hymn authors and composers invited to submit their work
- Community of Christ worship ministries experts recommended new texts and new tunes
- Open submission request for material
- Reviewers specializing in the areas of:
- Theology
- Language
- Shared hymns with Hope Publishing
- African American spirituals
- Native American songs
- Global song
- Field site evaluations of new hymns
- Ongoing consultation
In total, there were over 5,000 hymns submitted for consideration.
Community of Christ congregations from 18 countries submitted recordings, and you can hear samples of some of these selections.
From September 2009 through June 2010, the Steering Team has dedicated 702 hours, or over 17 solid weeks, to determine final selections for the 2013 hymnal. During this time of review, all hymnal contributors and submissions are anonymous.