The Macalester Plymouth United Church Hymn Contest is an annual global competition for new hymns. Hosted by a Saint Paul, Minnesota, congregation that is part of both the United Church of Christ and the Presbyterian Church (USA), the competition focuses on generating new hymns on religiously liberal themes for Mainline Protestant churches. The head of the Hymn Society in the United States and Canada has referred to it as "one of the most respected competitions" in hymnwriting.

History

The contest was founded in 1996 by the Rev. Roger Grussing, senior pastor of Macalester Plymouth United Church (MPUC), and Curt Oliver, MPUC's music director. It is funded by an endowment from A.A. "Al" Heckman, a Minnesota foundation executive who died in 1994. The purpose of the contest was to generate new hymn texts that "can motivate the church to be more actively involved in social reform." The contest describes itself as the longest-running hymn contest in the English language and attracts entries from across the United States, as well as from Great Britain, Canada, and Australia. According to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, "the social justice hymn contest has acquired an 'American Idol' or Sundance Film Festival or Oprah's Book Club sort of clout, capable of elevating a previously unknown artist to national prominence."

Format

The contest focuses on new and unpublished texts for hymns, with a different theme announced each year. While it welcomes new tunes, it "strongly encourage[s] the use of familiar meters which may be sung to familiar tunes." As of 2006, the contest offered a $500 cash prize for the winner or winners, should multiple hymns be recognized. An anonymous panel judges the contest. The hymnwriters retain the copyright to their texts, although MPUC retains a perpetual license to use the winning hymn or hymns in worship. Describing itself as a "a liberal and inclusive church with a history of active involvement in contemporary social issues," MPUC advises entrants to avoid the use of archaic language such as "thee" and "thou" and to use inclusive language (for example, "siblings" instead of "brothers").

Table of contests and winners