Sectional: "The Unholy Act of Singing: The Hymnal of National Socialism" - Andreas Teich

The Unholy Act of Singing - "Grosser Gott Wir Loben Dich": The Hymnal of National Socialism Our 2025 conference theme, “We Believe: Faith, Community, and the Holy Act of Singing” seeks to explore the core values of The Hymn Society. We believe that congregational song shapes faith, heals brokenness, transforms lives, and renews peace. But what if someone didn’t? What if a committee sought to create a hymnal which supported a dangerous political ideology? Such is the case with Grosser Gott Wir Loben Dich, the 1941 hymnal of the German Christians, the Lutherans who aligned themselves with the policies of the National Socialist Party under Adolf Hitler. In this sectional, I will discuss the underlying theology behind the hymnal and the layout of the hymnal which drives that theology. Then, I will evaluate how the hymnal treats the hymns of Paul Gerhardt. I chose Gerhardt because he is the foremost hymn writer for German Lutherans. This historical overview will serve to remind us that not every act of congregational singing is a holy act. This sectional was presented by Andreas Teich during our 2025 Annual Conference "We Believe: Faith, Community, and the Holy Act of Singing" in Detroit, Michigan. All copyrighted materials in this sectional are licensed and reported by The Hymn Society through OneLicense.net, CCLI, or by direct permission from the copyright holders.