The 2004 General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) gave authorization to the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, and the Office of Theology and Worship to begin research into the feasibility of a new Presbyterian hymnal. The results of this feasibility study were to be reported to the 217th General Assembly in 2006. With the help of Research Services of the PC(USA), a questionnaire was developed assessing the need for a new hymnal and was distributed in August 2005 to members of the Presbyterian Panel. This Panel consists of three nationally representative samples of groups affiliated with the PC(USA): members, elders, and ordained ministers. Research Services tabulated the results of the Panel survey and then presented the results to the 2006 General Assembly, which granted authorization for the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to research, develop, and produce a new hymnal. The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation is assuming all costs for the development and production of the hymnal, including the expenses of the Hymnal Committee. No money is being spent on the project from the denomination's budget.

Members of the Hymnal Committee have been selected, and had their first meeting in the fall of 2008. The Hymnal Committee consists of fifteen voting members (two of whom are under the age of twenty-five), the editor (with vote), and three ex officio members appointed by the three denominational entities that are charged with responsibility for the hymnal: the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, and the Office of Theology and Worship. It is projected that the work of the Hymnal Committee will take four to five years. During this time there are plans for the church at large to have multiple opportunities for input into the hymnal process. Presbyterian Publishing Corporation, again working with Research Services, will undertake several significant surveys to gather opinions about what materials from the current 1990 Presbyterian Hymnal should be carried forward into the next hymnal and to ascertain what materials not found in the current hymnal are being used often in PC(USA) congregations. All the information gathered through these surveys will be given to the Hymnal Committee to help them make their decisions regarding content of the next hymnal.

The biblical narrative contains many references to singing joyfully to our God. In every generation we are called to claim our song and bear witness to what God is doing in the world. A new hymnal will give us an opportunity to make available a great wealth of hymns and spiritual songs that have arisen since the 1990 hymnal, to acquaint worshipers with wonderful resources from Christian communities around the world, and to review again the great heritage of congregational songs that have been passed on to us from past generations of faithful worshipers.

May God continue to guide us on this path of discernment, and may our next hymnal help God's people sing joyfully for generations yet to come!