As part of The Hymn Society’s ongoing engagement with the American Academy of Religion (AAR), we invite you to a weekend of events in Boston exploring the theme of freedom through music, liturgy, and theological reflection.
On Friday, November 21, at 7:00 PM, join us at the historic Old South Church (645 Boylston St.) for Freedom: A Hymn Festival, co-sponsored with the Boston chapter of the American Guild of Organists. This free public event will feature congregational singing led by Boston-based organists Peter Edwin Krasinski, Katie Alsua, Brian “Wolfie” Edwards, and Jennifer Hsiao, alongside nationally recognized song leaders. The program will include global hymnody, contemporary texts, and musical expressions of lament, resistance, and hope, drawing on Isaiah 61 and featuring works by David Bjorlin, Hannah Brown, Carl P. Daw, Jr., FHS, Jeanette Lindholm, as well as songs from Taiwan and South Africa.
A freewill offering will support scholarship programs of the local AGO chapter and The Hymn Society in the United States and Canada.
On Saturday, November 22, at 10:00 AM, Dr. Stephanie Budwey, Director of Research for The Hymn Society, will present on the history and current hymnody of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. This session explores how Christian sacred music has supported the movement for equal rights, examining collections such as the Metropolitan Community Church’s Trial Hymnal and Hymnal Project, The Hymn Society’s Songs for the Holy Other, and the work of contemporary artists like Flamy Grant, Jennifer Knapp, and Semler.
Later that day, from 12:30 to 2:30 PM, the Liturgy, Song, and Theology exploratory unit will host a roundtable at the AAR Annual Meeting, in partnership with the Hymn Society. This session brings together scholars and practitioners, including Dr. Néstor Medina, Dr. Becca Whitla, Dr. Cory Hunter, Dr. David Bjorlin, and Fernando Berwig Silva, to explore the intersections of liturgical theology, music, and liberation movements across diverse contexts.