September 25, 2008
Denominational consultants examine timing of next hymnal project
By Cynthia Linscheid
Survey comments showed strong support for current denominational music and worship resources, as well as eagerness for future resources.
Mennonite Publishing Network (MPN) initiated the survey in early 2008 on behalf of a committee of consultants called together at the request of the denominations and their publisher. The survey was intended to help discern whether a new hymnal project should be undertaken and, if so, how soon. The current hymnal, Hymnal: A Worship Book, was published in 1992. Two supplements to Hymnal have also been published: Sing the Journey (2005) and Sing the Story (2007).
Marlene Kropf, David Bergen, and Eleanor Snyder — representing Mennonite Church USA, Mennonite Church Canada, and MPN — convened the consultants April 10 to 12 in Elkhart, Indiana. Attending were Irma Fast Dueck, Manitoba; Mark Diller Harder, Ontario; Duff Warkentin, Saskatchewan; Cynthia Neufeld Smith, Kansas; Kenneth Nafziger, Virginia; Michael Bishop, Pennsylvania; Randall Spaulding, Florida; and Cynthia Linscheid, MPN staff. Several others — George Makinto of California; Anita Amstutz of New Mexico and Marilyn Houser Hamm of Manitoba — were unable to attend but provided preliminary research also reviewed at the consultation.
The survey, conducted in March 2008, included questions designed to provide insight into current congregational usage and needs regarding music and worship, and also predict future ones. (See graphic for excerpts, or read the complete survey at www.mpn.net/hymnalnews.) Congregations were asked to submit one response representing their group. Mennonite Publishing Network received responses from 264 American and 94 Canadian congregations.
The consultants studied both these responses and other research they had completed on topics related to worship and music practices, demographics, technology and finance. They concluded that although technological advances and other changes in worship point to significant unknowns, in the future a good number of Mennonite congregations will still want a printed hymnal from which to sing together.
Survey comments showed strong support for current denominational music and worship resources, as well as eagerness for future resources.
“Keep putting new things in front of us,” said one responder. “It helps make the old sounds fresh again.”
Some comments also underscored financial or other realities. “I’m not sure we would replace all 200 hymnals in our pews, given that we still haven’t sung probably half the songs that are in the one we have!”
Eleanor Snyder, director of Faith & Life Resources — the congregational division of MPN responsible for overseeing a future hymnal project — said the results revealed overall loyalty to Mennonite published music resources as well as a deep love for good hymnody.
“Along with answering our questions, people offered helpful advice and encouragement, often making specific suggestions or expressing gratitude for past and current resources,” said Snyder. “They also communicated their need for training, and for more people skilled in leading music and worship.”
Snyder noted that the results of the survey provide only partial insight into denominational needs.
“Mennonite Publishing Network is interpreting this information as a call to proceed with caution. Over the next few years, we will continue to listen, study and plan carefully and prayerfully. A new hymnal project is a huge, complex undertaking. We appreciated the help of this ad hoc group of consultants, and of our congregations, as we took a first step in that direction.” Photo and graphic available.
Survey excerpts: (see graphic)
MPN received responses from a total of 358 congregations--264 from USA and 94 from Canada.
In our congregation, we sing from the following Mennonite hymnals and songbooks (check as many as apply):
- Hymnal: A Worship Book: 80 percent
- Sing the Journey: 55 percent
- Sing the Story: 29 percent
- Mennonite Hymnal: 39 percent
- Sing and Rejoice: 18 percent
- Other Mennonite hymnals: 11 percent
In our congregation, we sing from hymnals or bound songbooks from other than Mennonite publishers.
- No: 62 percent
- Yes: 38 percent (over 35 non-Mennonite songbooks were listed)
What is the life span of a denominational hymnal?
- 25 years: 34 percent
- 20 years: 14 percent
- 30 years: 21 percent
- Other: 31 percent. (Examples of comments added: 10 years; whenever the books wear out.)
Our congregation sings a capella (unaccompanied) music:
- Always: 3 percent
- Often: 33 percent
- Occasionally: 38 percent
- Never: 24 percent
Our congregation uses these instruments to accompany singing (check all that apply):
- Organ: 36 percent
- Piano: 97 percent
- Guitar: 84 percent
- Percussion: 64 percent
- Wind instruments: 44 percent
- Brass instruments: 25 percent
Alongside a printed hymnal, we would want to have:
- Electronic version for PowerPoint projection: 49 percent
- A companion resource with background information: 52 percent
- Accompaniment resources: 82 percent
- Music CDs: 49 percent