The Singing People

As a denomination, we've always been known as a "singing people" -- and never more so than at our Annual Conference sessions. To attend the full schedule of either Indiana Annual Conference session, means singing at least 10 to 12 times or more.

The first one I attended was in 1990 (North Indiana Conference at Purdue). A rainstorm raged outside as we sweltered, packed shoulder to shoulder, in the corridor of Union Hall, waiting for doors to open for the All-Conference Dinner. Miserable! Amazingly, I thought at the time, not a single complaint was heard; instead, the group spontaneously broke into song, an old familiar Methodist hymn -- in four-part harmony! And having a good time of it, I might add.

It was a sign of the spirit of our sometimes contentious Church. We wrangle over certain social and political issues. Just which point of view is the more righteous, which "leading" represents the true path? You'll see that in the discourse of our various denominational gatherings; see it here in the HUM News and in undercurrents of our local churches.

We lack harmony as a church when it comes to our feelings about our nation's "war on terrorism." We're stubborn and hard of hearing when we argue about issues relating to homosexuality or capital punishment, or abortion. Our struggle as a Christian family is evident in the wording of the Social Principles, part of our United Methodist Book of Discipline (church law).

This earnest fractiousness has always been part of our human heritage as children of Abraham. Jesus' coming helped us to focus on what's really important; however, and as Christians, it's one area where we are united. And even though we sometimes lose that focus, we always seem to find it again when we sing together.

"Meet and right it is to sing.

At every time and place

Glory to our heavenly King,

The God of truth and grace."

--Charles Wesley, 1749

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Last updated on 01/14/2004

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