Hymnal Revision Project Halted for This Quadrennium

(Nashville-- May 19, 2009) -- Work on the revision of The United Methodist Hymnal, authorized by the 2008 General Conference, has been stopped, members of the Hymnal Revision Committee (HRC) learned today.

"The resources required to sustain a dedicated staff and pay for the planned activities are simply not available at this time and will not be available in time for completion of the assignment to deliver proposed content for a new compilation to the next General Conference," Bishop Ernest S. Lyght, chair of the HRC, told the members of the committee. "As a result, and with great regret, we acknowledge that the United Methodist hymnal revision project cannot continue this quadrennium due to unexpected and extraordinary financial constraints resulting from the world-wide economic crisis."

In January, The United Methodist Publishing House (UMPH) announced that the work on the revision had been slowed to allow time for a better sense of both the ability of the Publishing House to invest in the revision's development and the ability of congregations to purchase new hymnals. Today's announcement acknowledges that economic conditions have not improved to allow work to move ahead; thus the massive undertaking of developing a new hymnal cannot now be completed in time for the 2012 General Conference.

Both Karen Greenwaldt, General Secretary of the General Board of Discipleship, and Neil Alexander, President and Publisher of UMPH, told the committee that special projects in the development of resources for the church's liturgical life and music ministries will be pursued on other tracks. The two agencies will collaborate with each other and with worship leaders across the connection in the next months, they said. The Facebook New United Methodist Hymnal Group will continue as a valuable resource for new and emerging publishing projects in worship and music for the church.

UMPH, which is completely self-funding, would have to invest at least $2 million in the development of the new hymnal. While eventual sales of the revised hymnal would likely recover the investment and exceed it, at this time sufficient funding to continue the work is not available either from ongoing operations or from reserves.

"The news that the project cannot move forward for lack of funding is unwelcome for all involved," said Bishop Lyght. "But it is also understandable as we witness the rollbacks and financial constraints faced by many churches, annual conferences, and United Methodist organizations."

Direct inquiries to Amy Smith, The United Methodist Publishing House, 201 8th Avenue S., Nashville TN 37203, or e-mail [email protected].