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| Q.
What are the rules for copying music? |
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See
© The Church
Musician and The Copyright Law
(See our Links page for information on copyright licenses.) |
| Q.
Can I copy hymns from the Presbyterian Hymnal? |
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You
need to contact Presbyterian Publishing Co. for permission.
Kelly L. Vandergriff
Rights and Permissions
Westminster John Knox Press
Phone: 502-569-5060
Fax: 502-569-5113
E-Mail:
kvanderg@ctr.pcusa.org
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| Q.
Where can I find salary guidelines and information? |
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PAM's
booklet Guidelines
for the Employment of Church Musicians in Presbyterian Churches
includes a salary chart. This chart is to be adjusted locally based
on cost-of-living differences.
The
American Guild of Organists has salary guidelines published on their
website www.agohq.org.
Many local AGO chapters have salary charts which have already been
adjusted to meet local cost-of-living. AGO Headquarters can connect
you with a local contact person.
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|
Q.
As an employee of a Presbyterian Church, am I eligible for
medical
insurance?
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Insurance
is available through the PCUSA's Board of Pensions for all employees
working 20 hours per week or more. For more information contact the
Board of Pensions, www.pensions.org.
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| Q.
Why does the Presbyterian Hymnal omit Amens from hymns? |
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Amen
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| Q.
Is there a volume of hymn instrumentations for the Presbyterian Hymnal? |
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Not
specifically, however there are several general collections including
one by PAM member Hal H. Hopson, The Creative Church Musician
Series, the instrumental volume is The Creative Use of Instruments
in Worship and is volume 5 in the series. Published by Hope Publishing
Company, Carol Stream, IL 60188, No. 8071. |
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| Q.
Is there an "Organ Accompaniment for Hymns" CD, i.e. hymns
that can be used in the worship service when an organist
is not available? |
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The
only one we are aware of is published by the Methodist publishing
house for their hymnal. Most publishing houses, National
Worship Offices and Church musicians groups tend to discourage
piped in accompaniment for a number of reasons, and some very
strong theological reasons tied to a congregation eminating
its own praise and prayer. The use of such tapes also tends
to discourage a congregation from nurturing and forming musicians
in their midst. Many musicians would want to be compared
to a professional tape, especially younger less experienced musicians.
There are also large and expensive copyright issues involved
which is another reason why the Presbyterians have not produced
such a thing. |
| Q.
My wife and I frequently attend the Worship & Music conferences as
lay delegates from our church. Is any of our conference fees,
lodging, travel, or meals tax deductible? |
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You
can not use these expenses as charitable gifts since you are
obtaining product or services in return, but you can personally
deduct them as continuing your education provided that your job
relates to the conference. Here is a document that goes into
great detail regarding expensing traveling and attending educational
activities.
www.traveltax.com/Articles/Tele%20Seminar%202.16.05.pdf |
| Q.
Is there a Braille Edition for The Presbyterian Hymnal available? |
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A
Braille edition of The Presbyterian Hymnal should call the National
Braille Association at 716-473-0900. The address is 1290 University
Avenue, Rochester, NY 14607.
The price of the Braille edition is approximately $470.00. The National
Braille Association does provide grants for individuals to purchase Braille
editions. It does not, however, provide grants for churches, which they
treat as businesses.
The Braille edition is 1,341 pages and 18 volumes. |
| Q.
Should our church perform a patriotic hymn for our Independence
Day Sunday worship service? |
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Christians
gather to worship to offer praise and thanksgiving to God (Father,
Son and Holy Spirit). Worship's primary purpose is to place
God in the center of the lives of the community of faith. When
we begin singing hymns about nation, family, political causes,
mother's day, father's day, etc., we have replaced God with
these other things and begin to worship gods (and patriotism
does become a god) other than our Triune God.
Patriotic
songs have absolutely no place in Christian worship. National
boundries are not God's boundries. They are human boundries
that are by their very nature intended to divide humanity,
rather than unite it.
The
church must never so align itself with nationalism or patriotism,
that it can no longer be critical of any country or culture
in which it finds itself. Just as national flags have no
place in a Christian house of worship, patriotic or national
hymns have no place in Christian worship.
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