GS 2022 art 111

GS 2022 Article 111 – SCBP – Additional Psalms and Hymns

1.   Material

  • 1.1    Report of the Standing Committee for the Publication of the  (SCBP):
    • 1.1.1   Supplement Report 1 – Psalms and Hymns (8.2.2.2);
    • 1.1.2   Supplement Report 2 – Psalms and Hymns (8.2.2.3).
  • 1.2    Submissions from the following CanRC and ARC: Dunnville (8.3.2.1), Niagara-South (8.3.2.2), Elora (8.3.2.3), Nooksack Valley (8.3.2.4), St. Albert (8.3.2.5), Fergus-North (8.3.2.6), Burlington Waterdown-Rehoboth (8.3.2.7), Aldergrove (8.3.2.8), Devon (8.3.2.9, 8.3.2.10), Smithville (8.3.2.11), Yarrow (8.3.2.12), Tintern Spring Creek (8.3.2.13), Coaldale (8.3.2.14), Fergus-Maranatha (8.3.2.15), Carman East (8.3.2.16), Flamborough-Redemption  (8.3.2.17), Owen Sound (8.3.2.18), Calgary (8.3.2.19), Glanbrook-Trinity (8.3.2.20), Barrhead (8.3.2.21), Willoughby Heights (8.3.2.22), Hamilton-Cornerstone (8.3.2.23), Winnipeg-Redeemer (8.3.2.24), Grand Valley (8.3.2.25), Ancaster (8.3.2.26, 8.3.2.27, 8.3.2.28, 8.3.2.29), Neerlandia (North) (8.3.2.30), Edmonton-Immanuel (8.3.2.31), Lynden (8.3.2.32), Carman-West (8.3.2.33), Orangeville (8.3.2.34, 8.3.2.35, 8.3.2.36), Hamilton-Providence (8.3.2.37, 8.3.2.38), Burlington-Ebenezer (8.3.2.39), Grand Rapids (8.3.2.40), Toronto-Bethel (8.3.2.41), Lincoln-Vineyard (8.3.2.42), Langley-Refuge (8.3.2.43), Coaldale (8.7.2).

2.   Admissibility

  • 2.1    The report was declared admissible.
  • 2.2    Supplement 1 was declared admissible.
  • 2.3    Supplement 2 was declared admissible.
  • 2.4    The submissions from the churches were declared admissible.
  • Grounds re Supplement 2 – Psalms and Hymns – late submission
  • 2a  The sheer volume of work required to process feedback from the churches was too great a task for the committee to complete six months prior to GS 2022.
  • 2b  It is wise to treat proposed additions to the Book of Praise as one project, rather than a number of different projects at different stages. The Supplements 1 and 2 are part of the report as a whole.

3.   Decisions

Synod decided:

  • 3.1    To provisionally approve the songs as updated and recommended by the SCBP in the Supplements 1 and 2 of the Report for testing in the churches (optional use in the worship services) for final consideration and decision by GS 2025.
    • 3.1.1   Psalms: 4, 5 (Recommendation 1), 8, 11, 13, 19, 22, 23, 32, 39, 41, 46, 51, 57, 59, 64, 69, 84, 90, 95, 98, 100, 103, 104, 106, 110, 111, 112, 113, 117, 120, 130, 149, 150.
    • 3.1.2   Hymns: A Shoot Will Spring, Abide With Me, All Creatures of Our God and King, Amazing Grace, Angels From the Realms of Glory, Before the Throne of God Above, Christians Awake, Come Thou Almighty King, Come O Fount of Every Blessing (with updated language), Come Thou Long Expected Jesus, Come You Faithful Raise the Strain, Crown Him with Many Crowns, For Your Gift of God the Spirit, God Moves in a Mysterious Way, Guide Me O My Great Redeemer, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, How Bright Appears the Morning Star, How Deep the Father’s Love for Us, How Great Thou Art, In Christ Alone, Joy to World! The Lord is Come, Let All Things Now Living, Man of Sorrows! What a Name, May the Mind of Christ My Saviour, My Lord I Did Not Choose You, O Christ Our Hope Our Desire, O Come All Ye Faithful, O Sacred Head Now Wounded, Sing and Praise to God Who Reigns Above, Speak O Lord, Take My Life and Let It Be, Threefold Amen, When I Survey the Wondrous Cross, When Peace Like a River, Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me, Your Law O Lord is Our Delight            
  • 3.2    To approve the recommendations of the SCBP to remove certain psalms and hymns from the original submission, being:
    • 3.2.1   Psalms: 30, 55, 60, 63, 145
    • 3.2.2   Hymns: A Hymn of Glory Let Us Sing, Come Behold the Wondrous Mystery, Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise, How Shall They Hear the Word of God, Praise the Saviour Now and Ever, Worship Christ the Risen King
    • 3.2.3   Churches which would like to interact further with the rationale of the SCBP concerning these songs may make these submissions to the SCBP for their further consideration.
  • 3.3    To mandate the SCBP re Proposed Psalms and Hymns 2022:
    • 3.3.1   To provide the churches with a single file of the updated and recommended songs;
    • 3.3.2   To receive for evaluation the above submissions from the churches;
    • 3.3.3   To encourage the churches to send responses directly to the committee before March 1, 2024. Individual church members are asked to send their submissions through their consistories or councils;
    • 3.3.4   To review the suitability of individual hymns which we already have in our Book of Praise, for possible change, deletion, or improvement;
    • 3.3.5   To evaluate additional input from the churches and prepare a report for the churches with recommendations no less than six months prior to the next General Synod.

4.   Grounds

  • 4.1    Many churches express concerns about the lack of time available for giving feedback. This was made more challenging by the restrictions on public worship as a result of COVID-19.
  • 4.2    Waiting for a final decision from GS 2025 provides the churches ample time to give additional feedback, and the committee to take the time to consider further its recommendations.
  • 4.3    None of the churches which interacted with specific songs flagged any of them for Scriptural error. Concerns regarding versification, language, and melody can be considered through the testing process.