Hymnology Bibliography

Paul Westermeyer. With Tongues of Fire: Profiles in 20th Century Hymn Writing. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1995

As an American theologian has suggested, one can tell more about a church body by listening to the songs it sings than by looking at its official documents. If hymn writers are faithful to their own Christian belief, then it follows that an examination of 20th-century hymn writing should reveal a great deal of the state of the church -- its pressures, concerns, and triumphs. Paul Westermeyer leads us on an impressive and thought-provoking journey by examining the distinctive thrusts of hymn writing in the latter part of [the 20th century] and through interviews with some of the poets themselves as well as with others who are influential in this vital part of parish life.

Some of the viewpoints expressed in the interviews as well as within the hymns themselves will not be embraced by all denominations. Indeed, as a church body that regards the Scriptures as the inerrant Word of god and subscribes to the Lutheran Confessions, The Lutheran church -- Missouri Synod "believes, teaches, and confesses" that:

1. Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation
2. terminology describing the triune God should reflect biblical theology, including gender-specific language;
3. Scripture restricts ordination to the pastoral office to men
4. these and other doctrinal issues are of consequence for the ongoing life of the church.

Nevertheless, the resulting profile will be of interest to all those who care deeply about the state of arts in the church in these days and will speak especially to the hearts of those who yearn for an expression of faith that is at once literate substantive, contemporary, comprehensive, unafraid of Truth, and which fervently confesses the Hope which does not disappoint.

(The Publisher)

Chapters from Table of Contents:

1. Twentieth-Century English Hymnody in the United States
2. Carl P. Daw, Jr.
3. Timothy Dudley-Smith
4. Sylvia Dunstan
5. Martin Franzmann
6. Fred Pratt Green
7. Fred Kaan
8. Erik Routley
9. Thomas H. Troeger
10. Jaroslav J. Vajda
11. Brian A. Wren
12. A Round-table Discussion
13. Some concluding Observations