Singing our way to justice: A conversation with Dan Damon—hymn writer, composer, and pastor

Abstract

Hymnody has long reflected both the theology and the changing concerns of the Christian church. Dan Damon, a leading practitioner with more than a hundred published hymns, has conducted large-scale research into the representation of social justice issues in contemporary hymnals. Damon is interviewed about his creative process as hymn text writer and as composer (a process deeply intertwined with his work as pastor of a United Methodist church), shedding additional light on the questions that motivate his research: “What are we already singing about justice?” and “What justice issues have our hymn writers not yet addressed?” Several hymn texts illustrate Damon’s responses to the omissions implied by the latter question. Reflections on the role of this new hymnody, both in the congregation’s spiritual formation and as call to action, suggest the vitality to be gained by including hymn texts on social justice in our worship.