Walter Dennis
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Walter Decoster Dennis, Jr. (August 23, 1932 – March 30, 2003) was a
suffragan bishop A suffragan bishop is a type of bishop in some Christian denominations. In the Anglican Communion, a suffragan bishop is a bishop who is subordinate to a metropolitan bishop or diocesan bishop (bishop ordinary) and so is not normally jurisdiction ...
of the
Episcopal Diocese of New York The Episcopal Diocese of New York is a diocese of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, encompassing three New York City boroughs and seven New York state counties.
, from 1979 to 1998.


Early life and education

Dennis was born on August 23, 1932, in
Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...
, the son of Walter Decoster Dennis Sr. and Helen Maddux. He studied at the
Virginia State College Virginia State University (VSU or Virginia State) is a public historically Black land-grant university in Ettrick, Virginia. Founded on , Virginia State developed as the United States's first fully state-supported four-year institution of high ...
, from were he graduated with a
Bachelor of Arts Bachelor of arts (BA or AB; from the Latin ', ', or ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate program in the arts, or, in some cases, other disciplines. A Bachelor of Arts degree course is generally completed in three or four years ...
in 1952. He then studied at the
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...
and graduated with a
Master of Arts A Master of Arts ( la, Magister Artium or ''Artium Magister''; abbreviated MA, M.A., AM, or A.M.) is the holder of a master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is usually contrasted with that of Master of Science. Tho ...
in North American history and constitutional law in 1953. Later on, he enrolled at the
General Theological Seminary The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (GTS) is an Episcopal seminary in New York City. Founded in 1817, GTS is the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church and the longest continuously operating Seminary in the Anglican Communi ...
and earned his
Bachelor of Sacred Theology The Baccalaureate in Sacred Theology ( la, Sacrae Theologiae Baccalaureus; abbreviated STB), not to be confused with a Bachelor of Arts in Theology, is the first of three ecclesiastical degrees in theology (the second being the Licentiate in Sacred ...
in 1956. In 1972 he also earned a postgraduate diploma from
New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then-Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, the ...
.


Priest

Dennis was ordained deacon on June 15, 1956, at Grace Church in
Norfolk, Virginia Norfolk ( ) is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. Incorporated in 1705, it had a population of 238,005 at the 2020 census, making it the third-most populous city in Virginia after neighboring Virginia Be ...
, by Bishop George P. Gunn of Southern Virginia. He then became curate at St Philip's Church in
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
,
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
, and in September of that year became curate at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. During his time at the cathedral, he was ordained priest in June 1958 by Bishop Horace W. B. Donegan of New York. In 1960 he became vicar of St Cyprian's Church in
Hampton, Virginia Hampton () is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 137,148. It is the List ...
, and between 1961 and 1965, he also served as assistant professor of history and constitutional law at the
Hampton Institute Hampton University is a private, historically black, research university in Hampton, Virginia. Founded in 1868 as Hampton Agricultural and Industrial School, it was established by Black and White leaders of the American Missionary Association af ...
. In 1965, he returned to
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
and became residentiary canon of the cathedral chapter of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. During that time he became well known for his involvement in social issues and civil rights. He also taught Christian Ethics at the
General Theological Seminary The General Theological Seminary of the Episcopal Church (GTS) is an Episcopal seminary in New York City. Founded in 1817, GTS is the oldest seminary of the Episcopal Church and the longest continuously operating Seminary in the Anglican Communi ...
.


Bishop

Dennis was elected on the third ballot as Suffragan Bishop of New York, during a special convention of the Diocese of New York in 1979. He was consecrated at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on October 6, 1979, by Bishop
Paul Moore Jr. Paul Moore Jr. (November 15, 1919 – May 1, 2003) was a bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, Episcopal Church and former United States Marine Corps officer. He served as the 13th Episcopal Diocese of New York, Bishop o ...
of New York. Dennis was favored by many to be elected as diocesan bishop during the 1989 election, however he withdrew the nomination citing medical reasons. He retained the post till his retirement in 1998. He died on March 30, 2003, in
Hampton, Virginia Hampton () is an independent city (United States), independent city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 137,148. It is the List ...
."The Right Reverend Walter Dennis, 1932-2003"
''Episcopal Archives''. Retrieved on 2 May 2020.


Dennis Canon

He drafted the "
Dennis Canon The Dennis Canon is a common (though unofficial and unfavored) name used for Title I.7.4 (as presently numbered) of the Canons of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (also called The Episcopal Church, or TEC). The Canon seeks t ...
" which seeks to impose a trust, in favor of the Episcopal Church, on property held by a local group of Episcopal adherents. Its intended effect is to discourage a local group from withdrawing from the Episcopal Church, as under the Dennis Canon such property would revert to the Episcopal Church.


See also

*
Dennis Canon The Dennis Canon is a common (though unofficial and unfavored) name used for Title I.7.4 (as presently numbered) of the Canons of the Episcopal Church in the United States of America (also called The Episcopal Church, or TEC). The Canon seeks t ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dennis, Walter 1932 births 2003 deaths African-American Episcopalians 20th-century American Episcopalians Religious leaders from Washington, D.C. Virginia State University alumni New York University alumni General Theological Seminary alumni Episcopal bishops of New York 20th-century American clergy 20th-century African-American people