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What are the theological presuppositions of the hymnal? Treatment of baptism and communion will deserve special attention. Overall, is the hymnal designed for churches with worship and theological positions that are similar to yours? If not, the hymnal probably will not work well for your congregation. Denominational hymnals are designed to support, and not be contrary to, their denominational beliefs while other hymnals are meant to accommodate many perspectives.

Textual and Musical Content

Are the texts in the hymnal truthful according to your church's theological positions? Is there a balance between the songs your congregation knows and ones that you perceive they would like to learn? Are enough of your congregation's favorite texts included? Are most of the tunes ones that your church already knows? Are familiar texts set to tunes that your congregation knows? Are newer texts and music compatible? Are the vocal ranges of the hymns acceptable? Does this hymnal reflect the diversity of current congregational material?

Companion Products

Does the hymnal have the companion products that your church needs, such as accompanist editions, orchestrations, and other support materials? Is there a hymnal companion that provides information about the hymnal?

Congregational Match

If you purchase this hymnal, will it be a good match? Is it one that will both respect and reflect the church's past and also challenge it in the future? How much of this hymnal do you believe the congregation will use?

Practical Considerations

How attractive is the page layout? What is the overall organization of the hymnal? Does it have good indices? Are the worship aids useable for your congregation? Is the hymnal securely bound? Is the price reasonable? How does the price compare with other hymnals currently on the market?