UM HYMNAL PROPOSALGeneral Conference 2016

What Is the Concept for the New UM Hymnal?• Core collection of required music and liturgical

resources• Supplemental collection—a large assortment of

available resources for worship and song• Available in multiple formats—digital, print,

presentation, and others• English language hymnal for use principally in the

United States that may be adapted for other regions and languages as copyrights and technologies allow.

How Will It Happen?

• Hymnal Revision Committee• Standing Hymnal Advisory Committee

Hymnal Revision CommitteeWhat is the work of this committee?

• Recommend core resources to be included in every edition

• Recommend large assortment of supplemental resources to be added to core at discretion of congregation or individual

Work will begin January 1, 2017For approval by General Conference 2020

Standing Hymnal Advisory CommitteeWhat is the work of this committee?• Continues work of Hymnal Revision Committee beyond first

quadrennium• Evaluates and recommends additional song and ritual resources

for future inclusion in core and supplemental canons• Proposes new materials for approval by General Conference 2024

and succeeding General Conferences

Work will begin January 1, 2018

• Select individual hymns from a large, cloud-based digital library of supplemental materials (hymns and resources) OR

• Select supplemental material from bundled collections

• Order hard copies of pew editions • Obtain digital editions for worship leaders and

congregants in multiple digital and print formats

Options for Congregations

Benefits• Offers a fresh, up-to-date selection and presentation of

The UMC’s core hymnody and worship resources• Assures easy access to a wide assortment of additional

approved music and liturgical resources• May be customized by choosing supplemental material

that meets the particular needs of a wide variety of congregations in different settings

• Gives every church greater control about when and how to update their hymnals

• Offers a variety of digital and print formats to choose from• Provide greater flexibility by using cloud technology to

continuously update and add new resources

Hymnal Revision Committee Membership

• 5 at-large members, one from each jurisdiction selected by that jurisdiction’s College of Bishops

• 1 member selected by the Association of United Methodist Theological Schools

• 7 members chosen by Discipleship Ministries• 2 members chosen by The United Methodist Publishing House

Note: All members must be a member of a United Methodist church for at least one year when selected

Standing Hymnal Advisory Committee Membership• Committee will be made up of no more than 9

persons• 2 classes with overlapping 4-year terms• Members will serve a maximum of 2 consecutive

terms

Hymn and Resource Guidelines

All content will be compatible with doctrinal standards of The UMC and our social commitments as expressed in the Book of Discipline, Social Principles, and Book of Resolutions.

In Conclusion…This contemporary way of updating and distributing The United Methodist Hymnal makes quality General Conference–approved Wesleyan resources even more accessible; allows for regular additions of new hymns, tunes, and worship aids; and provides customized editions that better serve varied contexts. The process assures timely compilation of relevant and vetted worship resources that can be delivered economically and promptly in more formats and is consistent with the UMC Constitution.