wfn.org | Taiwan Church Convenes "Amen Seminar"

["pctpress" <pctpress@ms1.hinet.net>]

Taiwan Church News 2743, 20-26 September 2004
Reported by Yang Shu-hao.  Translated and Rewritten by David Alexander

The Faith and Order Committee joined the Church Music Committee at a meeting
convened by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) to discuss "The Use of
the
Word Amen at the End of Hymns" last week.  Church music scholars and
liturgists joined parish clergy to hear lectures and share input on the
question, which has become contentious in some congregations.

The Rev. Lim Hong-tiong, secretary for Faith and Order at the PCT's General
Assembly, said that the question was put soon after "New Century New Hymns"
became available in 2001. Many of the selections therein lack the "amen."  It
has caused some people to feel strange.

The problem arises from nearly 140 years of use in the PCT's now 1,219
congregations.	A majority of those who attended the event expressed
agreement
with Dr. Loh I-toh, a church music scholar, that "amen" is sometimes
suitable,
and at other times superfluous.

In a paper presented by Hu Chung-ming, an ecumenical liturgist and parish
minister, the "amen" in a PCT congregation often means little more than "the
end." That is about as far as it is understood by many Christians here.

Dr. Loh traced the history of the usage to a erroneous understandings of
"amen" that can be found in the Bible, the early church, Martin Luther and
Protestant churches in the UK in the 1860's. He pointed out that the true
meaning of the word is "True." It should be used to express agreement with
what one says or sings. It is not necessary to say it to God. Dr. Loh pointed
out that in the new millennium, apart from songs of praise, churches in
Europe
and North America have largely eliminated the final "amen" from their
hymnody.

But as for when to use, or when to omit "amen", he suggests that if in song
we
address God in prayer, praise or sing something of a devotional nature, we
should properly add it.  However, if we are singing about a Bible story or a
song of testimony, then the "amen" doesn't fit.

Hu Chung-ming looked at the theological aspects of the word. He said that
neither tradition nor emotion require the use of "amen" at the end of
everything sung in PCT congregations.  He advocates a return to the biblical
foundation of using "amen'' as an expression of agreement with something that
has been spoken in church.  It is "feedback" from the congregation to what
the
preacher has said. But he does not see this as a matter for legislation.

"From a theological standpoint, the Bible does not give a clear word on usage
of "amen" at the end of a hymn that can be applied as a matter of faith. Many
different opinions are existent and welcome on the subject, and none of them
are necessarily erroneous.

Since the practice of ending a hymn with "amen" is deep rooted in the PCT, it
cannot be changed in a short time. Neither should much be made of it.  AMEN.

For More Information: Loh I-toh  ito@globalchurchmusic.org
		   Hu Chung-ming  huchungming@mail2000.com.tw
		   Lim Hong tiong  hontiong@mail.pct.org.tw
Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages.
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