Kevin Snyman rescues hymns from empire

Recent news has sparked discussions on the political nature of worship: is it or isn’t it? If we truly walk with Jesus, we will take sides in debates of a political or economic nature. The opinions we hold – as individuals, congregations and Church – reveal how closely we cling to Jesus.
Where we stand – our alignment with empire or Jesus, our lifestyle choices, our finances – impacts the words we choose in our worship and our singing.

Kevin Snyman, United Reformed Church Programme Officer for Global Justice and Partnerships, boldly steps into the political nature of Christianity, relentlessly speaking truth to power in his prophetic ministry. He perseveres, giving voice to the oppressed and poor in the UK and our partner areas: Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory. His hymn, ‘I dream of the Church’, when sung in your congregation, will challenge and convict ‘your band of peculiar people’ to genuine discipleship, ‘without counting the cost’…

‘Songs of faith’ is edited by Ana Gobledale, a retired URC minster and editor of worshipwords.co.uk

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This is an extract from an article published in the Issue 5 – 2025 edition of Reform

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Image: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain