FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What are the rules for copying music?

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?

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

Q. Where can I find salary guidelines and information?

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.

Q. As an employee of a Presbyterian Church, am I eligible for medical insurance?

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.

Q. Why does the Presbyterian Hymnal omit Amens from hymns?

Amen

Q. Is there a volume of hymn instrumentations for the Presbyterian Hymnal?

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.

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?

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?

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?

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?

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.