The Hymns We Sing

The votes are in and the United Methodists have decided on their favorite hymns. In the United Methodist Hymnal, the top three favorites are “Amazing Grace,” “Here I Am, Lord” and “How Great Thou Art.” In “The Faith We Sing,” a supplement to the hymnal published in 2000, the top favorites are “The Summons,” “I’ll […]

The votes are in and the United Methodists have decided on their favorite hymns.

In the United Methodist Hymnal, the top three favorites are “Amazing Grace,” “Here I Am, Lord” and “How Great Thou Art.”

In “The Faith We Sing,” a supplement to the hymnal published in 2000, the top favorites are “The Summons,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “As the Deer.”


The findings, announced Friday by the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship, were based on 19,091 responses to a series of six online surveys of pastors, lay people, musicians and worship leaders.

Other findings:

– 75 percent would like to have healing services in the hymnal.

– 43 percent would like more praise choruses; 34 percent would not.

– 70 percent are comfortable with male-only language for God; 25 percent are comfortable with female language for God; 42 percent are comfortable using female or male language for God.

– 70 percent prefer using a songbook or hymnal; 28 percent prefer to sing lyrics on a screen.

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