Documents of Witness

This volume is a documentary history of the Episcopal Church from 1782 to 1985. The documents selected illustrate what the Episcopal Church believes and what it has done. They also show how the Episcopal Church has developed in the context of American culture. The documents are arranged chronologically in thematic chapters. Care has been taken to see that the documents are widely representative of various positions in the church.

The editors hope that the reader can hear the history and drama of the Episcopal Church through the many voices assembled here. The goal has been to let these witnesses speak for themselves, with few editorial inter­ruptions. These documents have much to say about the Episcopal Church: what it has been, what it is, and what it needs to be.

Robert Boak Slocum is an Episcopal priest, author, and editor most known for An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church: A User-Friendly Reference for Episcopalians. He serves as Priest-in-Partnership at the Church of Ascension and the Canon for Virtual and Online Learning at All Saints’ Cathedral. Robert has served on the board of the Anglican Theological Review and is now on the Executive Council for the Diocese of Lexington. He received his doctorate in theology at Marquette University. He lives in Danville, Kentucky.

Don S. Armentrout (1939–2013) was a professor of church history and historical theology, the Charles Quintard Professor of Dogmatic Theology at the University of the South School of Theology, where he also served as director of the Advanced Degrees Program. He was the author of many books, including The Theology of William Porcher Dubose and Prophet of Justice, Prophet of Life: Essays on William Stringfellow.