The New Century Hymnal - Theological Guidelines

Theological Guidelines

According to "The Making of The New Century Hymnal" by James Crawford and Daniel Johnson, the hymnal committee was guided by the following theological guidelines:

• "The 1995 hymnal of the United Church of Christ enables praise of the One, Sovereign, Triune God, who in infinite mystery is always more than doctrine can describe and whose being calls forth awe, worship, love, faith, and service (Isa. 6:1-8)."
• "We affirm that people of all ages, tongues, races, abilities, and both genders are created in the image and likeness of God (Gen. 1:26, 5:1-2; United Church of Christ Statement of Faith)."
• "We testify to God's call to stewardship of the earth; we are not entitled to hoard, waste or destroy what God has made, but we are called to glorify God with the earth's resources."
• "We rejoice in providing a rich variety of metaphors for singing of God and inclusive words for singing of people—words that all people can sing."