The Nation - News from May 4, 1988

A new hymnbook, whose sensitivity to concerns of women, ethnic minorities and the physically disabled is expected to be a model for other Christian churches, won approval of the United Methodist General Conference. Delegates to the church’s policy-setting quadrennial meeting in St. Louis approved the hymnal by an 893-69 vote. One example of the changes is that an entire verse from Methodist co-founder Charles Wesley’s “O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing” was deleted because its references to the “dumb” and “lame” was deemed offensive to handicapped persons. United Methodist carolers now will urge “good Christian friends,” instead of “good Christian men,” to rejoice.