Walter DeCoster Dennis

An introduction to a priest, bishop, and legal scholar who was a prophetic voice in the fight for equality.

Walter Decoster Dennis (1936-2003), suffragan bishop in the Episcopal Diocese of New York, played a key role in many of the civil rights battles of his time. In this book, historian Rosemary Gooden introduces Dennis and chronicles how his training as a legal scholar informed his ministry.

Dennis was deeply involved in many social justice issues that are still with us today, including battles over racial equality, abortion rights, and the legalization of marijuana. As she examines Dennis's often controversial involvement in the public square, Gooden offers reflections on ways that his prophetic vision can still be influential.