2024 Round of Vetting for CCLI Top 100 + Beyond Project for United Methodist Worship Leaders

There is wisdom in a hymnal. It’s a curated collection of songs and resources at a particular time and for a particular people that reflects the theological richness of a tradition and fosters faith formation through corporate worship. There is also wisdom in contemporary worship songs in an “unbound” format. New songs are being sung unto the Lord by diverse people with different musical styles, featuring a wide scope of theological perspectives and commitments. Since they are unbound, new songs are always being added to the rotation! As United Methodists, how might we balance our call to “sing a new song” while staying committed to singing our faith with understanding?

Discipleship Ministries has been engaged with this work since 2015 with our CCLI Top 100 Project, and most recently with our CCLI Top 100 + Beyond Project. Through these projects, we offer vetted collections of contemporary worship songs that we encourage United Methodist congregations to sing. All songs are evaluated for their resonance with Wesleyan theology, use of language for God and humanity, and performance practice. You can read more about our guidelines here.

The 2024 CCLI Top 100 + Beyond Project features songs on the CCLI Top 100; others are supplemented (i.e., “+ beyond”) to address representation and diversity. Our team wanted to uplift songs and artists from Black, Latino/a/e, and Asian communities; songs and artists from underrepresented music labels and independent artists; songs and artists from the “global song” genre; and songs and artists that represent the richness of the United Methodist theological spectrum. Additionally, we sought to promote underrepresented thematic emphases of contemporary congregational music, such as lament, inclusion/welcome, and justice.

Our ten-member team is composed of United Methodist and pan-Methodist pastors, theologians, and contemporary worship practitioners who reflect the diversity of our denomination. The team is led by Rev. Dr. Nelson Cowan, Project Manager, who works with Dr. Diana Sanchez-Bushong, Executive Director of Worship Ministries and Director of Music Ministries at Discipleship Ministries.

This year, we offer to you another list of 64 songs to consider.

The new round of vetted songs with additional songs will be available May 2024, so stay tuned and keep singing!