Changing the Church Constitution: a Forgotten History

Those who try to argue that the Episcopal Church (USA) is "hierarchical" are ignorant of its history, and the links on this page will show you why. Starting with its hundredth anniversary in 1889, General Convention began to consider revisions to the Church's Constitution. It would take twelve years and four sessions to complete the task. Along the way, there were a number of proposals to make General Convention the supreme legislative authority over the entire Church, but they were each decisively rejected. The story resulting from tracing the course of these proposals, and the changes which eventually resulted, has been forgotten by the Church's leaders, and ignored in all the ensuing litigation.

Constitutional Changes (1889-1901)

Constitutional Changes: a Look Back at the Church That Never Was

Constitutional Changes: More on the Church That Never Was

Constitutional Changes: Opposing the Centrist Model

Changing the Constitution: Final Approval in 1901

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