Concern Over Sexist, Racist, Militaristic Words : Panel Takes On Thankless Job of Updating Hymnals

Hymnal revision can be a thankless task.

A committee of 25 United Methodists is finding out just how sensitive and anger-generating the job can be as they consider changing some favorite hymns to eliminate language that some find sexist, racist or inconsistent with the contemporary church.

“Get lost and stay there” is how one committee member summed up the initial reaction of some church members to the effort.

Last month, the committee pored over the texts of about 85 of the most popular hymns in the church’s tradition and generally tried to take a cautious and moderate approach to change. But members agreed that some hymns should be eliminated altogether.

Fighting for Jesus

One hymn dropped in this “first round” consideration is the popular “Am I a Soldier of the Cross,” which draws on military images of blood and battles as a metaphor for the Christian life.

Such imagery was considered inconsistent with the denomination’s stand against war, said the Rev. Carlton Young, committee chairman. He said wholesale changes were impractical because too many alterations would be required and the author’s original intention would be obliterated.

“Some hymns draw on historic imagery that may not apply to Christians today, but in respecting the authors we cannot change the text,” he said. “You either keep it as it is or drop it. Some we had to drop.”

Always a Favorite

Others, however, such as “Faith of Our Fathers,” which some people consider sexist and non-inclusive, are being retained because of their overwhelming familiarity and popularity. The committee will provide footnotes with alternate texts for such hymns if a congregation wants to use different language. The footnote for “Faith of Our Fathers,” for example, will offer “martyrs,” “mothers” or “ancestors” as alternatives to “fathers.”

Another footnoted hymn is the Christmas classic, “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen,” with the committee offering “God Rest Ye Merry, Christians All” as a substitute.

A second traditional Christmas hymn, “Good Christian Men Rejoice,” will be changed to “Good Christian Friends Rejoice.” That change has been made by a number of other denominations in recent hymnal revisions, including the Episcopal Church and the joint hymnal produced by the nation’s major Lutheran denominations.

Many Are Minor

Many of the changes, according to Methodist committee members, will be minor and will not be noticed by most people. In the second verse of “Joy to the World,” for example, the committee changes the line “let men their songs employ” to “let all their songs employ.”

And such phrases as “His truth” and “His might” become “God’s truth” and “God’s might,” while the popular “God of Our Fathers” becomes “God of the Ages.”

The committee will continue to review and test its work and is to present its final recommendations to the 9.2-million-member denomination’s 1988 General Conference.