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EnglishWhat Are the Benefits of Becoming a Member of The Hymn Society?
Updated
Membership in The Hymn Society gives you free access to the latest issues of the Journal of Congregational Song and The Stanza, along with special pricing for the Society's Annual Conferences. It also supports the organization's mission to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational singing. These are the benefits the Society itself lists on its membership page, so they are the concrete, verifiable reasons to join.
The Benefits at a Glance
| Benefit | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Free access to the latest issues of the Journal of Congregational Song | You receive current scholarship and writing on congregational song without buying issues separately. |
| Free access to the latest issues of The Stanza | You get the Society's news and shorter-form publication as part of your membership. |
| Special pricing for Annual Conferences | You pay a reduced rate to attend the Society's yearly gathering rather than the non-member price. |
| Support for the Society's mission | Your dues fund work to encourage, promote, and enliven congregational singing. |
The membership page states these benefits directly: "Benefits include free access to the latest issues of the Journal of Congregational Song and The Stanza, as well as special pricing for our Annual Conferences, and more." The "and more" is left open, so treat the four items above as the confirmed core rather than an exhaustive list.
Who Gets the Most Out of Membership
Membership fits people whose work or interest centers on congregational song:
- Song leaders and worship planners who want ongoing resources and a network of peers. The Society's own site highlights "Song Leaders At Their Best" and "Resources for Song Leaders."
- Hymn writers, including beginners and intermediates. The Society runs Writing the Church's Song, a three-day writing retreat for those skill levels.
- Students and emerging scholars, who can look into the Society's scholarships and grants.
- Anyone who wants to support the mission of shaping faith, healing brokenness, transforming lives, and renewing peace through singing together.
If you only want to attend one conference and have no interest in the publications or the wider network, the special conference pricing alone may not be worth it. If you expect to attend regularly or want the journals, the bundled access makes membership the more economical route.
How to Join and Manage Your Account
- Go to the Society's website and open the membership section.
- Choose your membership option and complete the sign-up.
- Use the Member Login link in the site header to access your account afterward.
- Once logged in, you can manage your membership details and reach member-only content.
The site also has a Donate option and an Online Store if you want to support the Society or buy resources beyond your dues.
What Membership Does Not Automatically Include
The membership page does not state that dues cover conference registration itself — only that members get special pricing. So budget for the conference fee separately. It also does not list every possible benefit, so if a specific resource matters to you, check the Resources section or contact the Society before joining.