Virtual Hymnal A New UU Virtual Hymnal Is Under Construction
Virtual Hymnal
Our Vision: to build a living collection of song resources through an accessible, equitable, online platform grounded in UU values. This virtual hymnal will help Unitarian Universalism live into our prophetic calling as a joyful, liberatory, and anti-oppressive faith.
Our Virtual Hymnal Task Force (members listed below) is actively designing our new platform and creating licensing agreements with musicians. These are two significant projects that are taking our time and attention.
Please note that due to the intensity of our work on technology and licensing frameworks, the Task Force is not accepting music submissions, suggestions, or contributions. The thought of new hymns and chants is exciting, and so we understand the joyful impulse to write in with hymn submissions or suggestions. However, we do not anticipate being ready for new music submissions until 2025, when there will be a public invitation here and through other channels.
That timeline reflects our current beta testing process. Our team has received 136 applications from congregations who want to test our prototype, and we'll select our testers by the second half of September 2024. The UUA Virtual Hymnal Task Force will require all feedback by the end of November 2024.
In December, our team will announce two more exciting developments: a Song Selection team will be preparing to receive music submissions, and a separate team will request proposals for artwork and logos for the hymnal.
If you'd like to receive future updates about the virtual hymnal, please visit this page to subscribe to WorshipWeb's newsletter.
Spring 2024: A Virtual Hymnal Sneak Peek
In May and June, Rev. Erika Hewitt and Camille Hatton held several enthusiastic public gatherings in which we revealed our virtual hymnal prototype; explained its licensing system; presented our tentative plans for beta testing our model; and presented financial details that are emerging.
January 2024: Our Q & A Summary
Our Task Force held helpful and exciting Zoom Q & A sessions in January 2024. That informative video—with a compilation of all questions asked—is now available (Vimeo).
Imagine web access to hundreds of UU hymns that you can search for and confidently use in a range of events—from worship to social justice vigils! In close consultation with the Association for Unitarian Universalist Music Ministries (AUUMM), the UUA has begun exploring what the next hymnal might include—and its Virtual Hymnal Task Force has been at work since March 2023.
The Virtual Hymnal Task Force is comprised of at least six members:
Camille Hatton, Consulting Project Manager
Mary Benard, UUA Publications Director
Rev. Erika Hewitt, UUA Minister of Worship Arts
Beverly Horton, musician and Lay Chaplain, First Unitarian Church of Hamilton, Ontario
Carey McDonald, UUA Executive Vice President
Susanne Maziarz, Music Director, Neighbourhood UU Congregation of Toronto, Ontario.
The Task Force is currently designing the robust technology platform required for this unprecedented hymn collection, and researching the licensing agreements that will also be required.
We anticipate spending the 2023-2024 congregational year to develop a pilot so that we can invite feedback on that technology and its capacities. The Task Force is not engaged in selecting or soliciting hymns at this time; it will be late 2024 or even early 2025 before we're able to shift our focus to developing guidelines and priorities for choosing songs for the Virtual Hymnal.
To receive periodic updates about our Task Force's work—including Zoom gatherings to talk about it—please subscribe to the WorshipWeb newsletter, "From the Muse to the Pews."
