Background
Dennis, Walter Decoster was born on August 23, 1932 in Washington, Bachelor of Arts, Virginia State College, 1952.
Dennis, Walter Decoster was born on August 23, 1932 in Washington, Bachelor of Arts, Virginia State College, 1952.
Bachelor, Virginia State College, 1952. Master of Arts, New York University, 1953. Master of Divinity, General Theological Seminary, 1958.
Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa), General Theological Seminary, 1980. Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa), Interdenominational Theological Center-Absalom Jones Theological Institute, 1977. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Virginia State University, 1983.
Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Episcopal Seminary of Southwest, 1983.
Ordained deacon Protestant Episcopal Church, 1956, ordained priest, 1958, ordained suffragan bishop, 1979. Curate Saint Phillip"s Church, Brooklyn, 1956. Assistant minister Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine, New York City, 1956-1960, canon residentiary, 1965-1979.
Vicar Saint Cyprian"s Church, Hampton, Virginia, 1960-1965.
Suffragan bishop of New York, 1979. Adjunct assistant professor American history and constitutional law Hampton Institute, 1961-1965.
Adjunct Professor Christian ethics General Theological Seminary, 1975-1979. Lecturer University of South Division School, Sewanee, Tennessee, 1974-1975.
Member National Task Force onHunger, Episcopalian Church, 1975-1976.
Member of advisory board Episcopalian Church"s Teaching Series: Ethics, 1975. Convenor Black Caucus Diocese of New York, 1976-1977. Served as Diocese examining chaplain.
Member religious liberty committee National.Council Churches.
Research fellow Episcopalian Theological Seminary of Southwest, 1978. New York deputy General Convention, 1979.
Member numerous commission Diocese of New New York Administrator numerous programs for Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine.
Chairman standing commission Constitution and Canons.
Member Joint nominating committee for election of presiding bishop. Member Standing Commision on Structure of the Church, 1995. Vice president Province II, 1996, member county of advice to presiding bishop, 1996.
Board directors Manhattanville Community Center, Inc., Abortion Repeal Association, Association For Study of Abortion, Institute for Study of Human Resources, Homosexual Community Counselling Center, National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws, New York Training School for Deaconesses, Society Juvenile Justice and Sex Information and Education Counsel of the United States, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Lenox Hill Hospital. Member Union Black Episcopalians, Guild of St. Ives (founder, secretary).