"Through the Church the Song Goes On": Ecumenical Implications of Singing Together

precis:

From early times to the present, Christian communities have borrowed, received and reworked, and/or intentionally shared sung expressions of the faith across ecclesiastical and linguistic lines. Such lyrical and harmonic exchanges may indicate some level of Christian unity, particularly in cases where Christian song or hymn texts have a common textual ancestor. Texts and tunes used in common for special days and seasons (such as Christmas and Easter) may provide a point of connection to enable conversations toward greater unity. Even the action of singing together in an ecumenical assembly may itself hold the prospect for recognition.