1. Why do we need a new hymnal?
   The call to "sing to the Lord a new song" resounds through the Bible. In every generation, the people of God are called to claim their song, to bear witness to the new thing that God is doing in the world here and now. It might be helpful to think of the hymnal not as a product but as a process of discerning what the Spirit is saying to the church today. Our next hymnal will make available a great wealth of new hymns and spiritual songs that have been created since the 1990 hymnal was published. It will also give an opportunity to acquaint worshipers with wonderful resources from Christian communities around the world, and it will give us a chance to review again the great heritage of congregational songs and make sure our roots run deep. A new hymnal will help to articulate and preserve the distinctive elements of Reformed theology and liturgy, while shaping and nurturing the faith and worship of a new generation of Presbyterians.

2. What is the function of a denominational hymnal?
   It is a means of helping the people within a particular faith tradition sing what they believe and believe what they sing. Denominational hymnals are reflections of a given generation of believers of the songs and liturgies that best reflect their understanding of the gospel in their context. A new Presbyterian hymnal will provide a foundation for the unity and harmony of the church's song. It will comprise the core repertoire that we hold in common, allowing us to sing together-even as it suggests the rich and vibrant diversity of our many different voices.

3. How long will the process take for the next hymnal?
   The Hymnal Committee has been selected and will have their first meeting in the fall of 2008. Their work will take four to five years. In order to get the most participation and create the best hymnal, there is a possibility the hymnal may not be ready until 2013 or 2014.

4. Who will decide what goes into the next hymnal?
   Selections will be made by the Hymnal Committee, relying on extensive conversation with various constituencies in the denomination through surveys, focused consultations, and other methods of gathering input and feedback. The Hymnal Committee consists of fifteen appointed 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.

5. Will the next hymnal be available online or in an electronic format?
   One of the goals of the Hymnal Committee will be to determine what, in addition to a regular print pew edition, is needed and desired by those who will be using the hymnal. From the beginning, there is an understanding that the next hymnal will be developed in coordination with electronic resources. Because of copyright restrictions and technological constraints, it remains to be seen exactly what shape those resources will take. It is reasonable to assume that texts and tunes in the public domain will be available electronically, along with other materials for which we are able to secure the appropriate permissions.

6. Didn't we just publish a hymnal supplement?
   A supplement titled Sing the Faith was published in 2003. It was not created with the same level of attentiveness and discernment that will be a part of the process leading to a new hymnal. By the time the next hymnal is available, the supplement will be at least ten years old.

7. Wouldn't it be better to publish a number of small collections or supplements?
   It is possible that various collections and supplements may be published to field-test new hymns and liturgy, but multiple worship resources can be unwieldy to use and lead to confusion about "which book are we in now?" The preparation of a single comprehensive collection serves a powerful symbolic function, representing the denomination's commitment to both unity and diversity.

8. Who is going to pay the production costs of the next hymnal?
   The 217th General Assembly (2006) granted authorization for the Presbyterian Publishing Corporation to research, develop, and produce a new hymnal. The Presbyterian Publishing Corporation will assume all costs for the development and production of the hymnal, including the expenses of the Hymnal Committee. PPC is working in close collaboration with the Office of Theology and Worship and the Presbyterian Association of Musicians, but no General Assembly Council funding will be used to create or produce the hymnal.

9. How often does the Presbyterian Church produce a new hymnal?
   The Presbyterian Church has published a new hymnal roughly every twenty years, or about every generation. Precursors to the forthcoming Presbyterian hymnal include The Hymnal (1933), The Hymnbook (1955), The Worshipbook (1972), and The Presbyterian Hymnal, (1990).

10. What color will the next hymnal be?
    That decision will be made in the next four to six years. What color would you like it to be?

For more information, please contact:
David Eicher, Hymnal Editor
Presbyterian Publishing Corporation
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396
deicher@presbypub.com
Fax: 502-569-5113