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UM Renewal Group Urges UM's To Vote "No" For Goddess Worship In New Church Hymnal

UM Board of Discipleship Survey on Favorite Methodist Hymns

September 27 2007

Dear United Methodist Supporter:

Our United Methodist General Board of Discipleship is currently conducting a very brief online survey of the views of grassroots United Methodist like YOU on the hymns we do and do not endorse for our churches: www.gbod.org/favoritehymns.html.

This is a wonderful opportunity for United Methodists to make their voices heard.

The relatively new The Faith We Sing hymnal was never approved by a General Conference, and has some hymns with serious theological problems.

For instance the following direct their praise toward a female deity:

#2046: Womb of Life

#2047: Bring Many Names (praises a "Strong mother God" in verse 2)*

#2050: Mothering God, You Gave Me Birth

#2122: She Comes Sailing on the Wind

Also, #2059, entitled "I am Your Mother (Earth Prayer)" is not a song of praise to the triune God but rather focuses on a life-giving Mother Earth.

Remember back 20 years ago when some attempted to remove some favorite old hymns from the Hymnal because they were supposedly militaristic? Fortunately, they were unsuccessful. Such politically incorrect hymns include #511 ("Am I a Soldier of the Cross"), #575 ("Onward Christian Soldiers"), and #717 ("The Battle Hymn of the Republic").

The GBOD survey asks you to both list hymns that you would like to see removed along with your favorite hymns (that you would presumably not like to see removed): www.gbod.org/favoritehymns.html. Be sure to compose your list before starting the survey; this will save you trouble.

This coming December marks the 300th birthday of Charles Wesley, author of such favorites as "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" and "O For A Thousand Tongues to Sing." With his brother John, he understood the critical importance that songs of praise can have in the theological and spiritual formation of church members. Our hymns can deeply affect our worship and spiritual life. At a recent UM church meeting I attended, a bishop reported how many residents at a nursing home who did not even remember their own names would still remember favorite hymns.

So please participate in the hymn survey!



Yours in Christ,
John Lomperis
Research Associate, UMAction