Environmental Action in Philippine United Methodist Church Songs: Ecological Discourse in Selected Hymnody of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal

Abstract

The Methodist tradition utilizes hymns as a pathway to reinforce theology and doctrine. Within the context of the Philippine United Methodist Church, its hymnody is a product of Methodist Episcopal missions during the 20^th century American settlement. Such vestige of colonial imprint is evident on the use of the 1989 United Methodist Hymnal which is central in Philippine Methodist worship. The study gears on identifying the ecological discourse in selected “social action” hymns of the 1989 Hymnal. The study is limited on evaluating hymns which are of Methodist authorship. Using document and literary analysis of selected Methodist hymns, it was observed how Methodist spirituality departs on the binary traditional Evangelical Protestant view where the Christian is welcomed to heaven and the sinner to eternal punishment; instead, there is an emphasis to build heaven on earth and challenge systems of abuse. Pursuing the ecological gospel, United Methodists affirm the interconnectedness on issues concerning race, gender, and class with the environment. A salient theme in selected Methodist hymns is the task given to the United Methodist Christian to strive for peace, justice, and turning darkness into light. The virtue of perseverance is celebrated. Since its beginnings in 18^th century England, Methodism has been deemed as a radical movement--- from challenging the social apathy of the Anglican establishment to its criticisms on how the market economy operates. United Methodism has contested the traditional Christian view on subjugating the earth for the exploitation of humanity rather the Christian is construed as an individual having a covenant relationship with the Divine to act as stewards.