Chapter 51 : The Singing of Psalms and Hymns

Paragraph 5 :

51-5. The proportion of the time of public worship given to praise is left to the judgment of the minister, and the singing of psalms and hymns by the congregation should be encouraged.

[DIGEST: The current PCA text, in place since 1973, dates to the PCUS revision of 1929.]

ANTECEDENT TEXTS:
PCA 1973, Adopted text, DfW 4-5 [M1GA, Appendix, p. 156]
The proportion of the time of public worship given to praise is left to the judgment of the minister, and the singing of psalms and hymns by the congregation should be encouraged.

Continuing Presbyterian Church 1973, Proposed text,


PCUS 1933, IV, § 316.
The proportion of the time of public worship given to praise is left to the judgment of the minister; and the singing of psalms and hymns by the congregation should be encouraged.

PCUS 1925, IV-3 [§ 316]
and
PCUS 1894, IV-3
The proportion of the time of public worship to be spent in singing is left to the prudence of every minister; and it is recommended that this part of divine service be conducted in such a manner as to encourage congregational singing.