Sadly, the Methodist Church seems to be turning its back on much of its rich musical tradition. Some of America's greatest hymn writers, including James M. Black (When the Roll is Called Up Yonder), Leila Morris (Sweet Will of God, The Fight is On, Oh Christian Soldier), Charles H Gabriel (He is So Precious to Me), Phillip Bliss (Let the Lower Lights Be Burning, It Is Well With My Soul), and William Kirkpatrick (Jesus Saves) were Methodists.
Few of their works can be found in the current United Methodist hymnal. However, the book does include the civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome and the pacifistic Oh, Young and Fearless Prophet ("forbid false love of country..."). Some old favorites have also been altered to conform to standards of political correctness. God of Our Fathers is now God of the Ages, and Good Christian Men Rejoice is now Good Christian Friends Rejoice. And in This Is My Father's World, the phrase "the battle's not yet done" must have seemed too militaristic, so it has been replaced with "why should my heart be sad."