In the June 2013 issue of Reformed Worship magazine, John D. Witvliet explores reasons why he believes hymnals have a future. Witvliet is director of the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship and professor of worship, theology, & congregational and ministry studies at Calvin College and Calvin Theological Seminary.
Witvliet offers 10 reasons why hymnals have a future, including:
- hymnals are especially well suited to good group singing of many kinds of songs (though not all),
- hymnals are portable, and
- hymnals are an efficient one-stop worship planning resource.
So What?
While I have multiple hymnals here in the office where I am typing this post, I don’t share Witvliet’s optimism for their future. In reviewing the full list and especially with regard to the three items from it I noted above, it appears that many things can perform these tasks (if the tasks are deemed important to do in the future). Blogger Todd Rhoades expresses his feelings about the matter when he writes:
I can’t remember the last time I used a hymnal. And I can’t say that I miss them. I don’t think my teenagers know what a hymnal is. So it’s hard for me to think that hymnals have any kind of a future.
For the next few decades I imagine the overall future for hymnals in America is somewhere between the rather wide embrace and usage within and beyond the parish envisioned by Witvliet and being relegated to memories shared by older parishioners with younger ones. This seems especially likely if hymnal is defined primarily as a hardcover printed book.
- How would you explain the role of hymnals in your journey of faith?
- Does your congregation have hymnals? If so, how are they used?
- Do you foresee significant reduction in use, minimal change in use, or significant increase in use over the next decade? Why?