GC-02-R0129 Committee on the Observance of the Nation's Bicentennial. Records The Archives of the Episcopal Church 2022-08-31 Generated by Access to Memory (AtoM) 2.10.1 2026-07-22 23:49 UTC English Committee on the Observance of the Nation's Bicentennial. Records GC-02-R0129 1973-1976 1.5 cu.ft. (2 boxes and 2 phonograph records) The Archives of the Episcopal Church English Committee on Observance of the Nation's Bicentennial

The Committee on the Observance of the Nation's Bicentennial was appointed by Presiding Bishop John E. Hines in May 1973. The Committee was established by Executive Council and funded by an appropriation from Trust Fund 779, the Julia A. Gallaher Memorial Fund.The Bicentennial Committee, as it was often called, was formed to assist the Church in its participation in nationwide activities commemorating the bicentennial anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, and more broadly of the founding of the United States of America as a nation and state. It directly initiated or cooperatively sponsored special issues of Anglican Theological Review and the Historical Magazine of the Protestant Episcopal Church; a Church Bicentennial newsletter; a liturgy that was specially designed for the three phases of celebration; a curriculum aid for religious education; a filmstrip set; and a 16 mm moving picture film. In addition, the Committee was responsible for special programming for the General Convention 1976.

Published

The committee’s records reflect the work done to create a vehicle for crafting projects and resources for parishes to celebrate the role of religion in marking the country’s bicentennial of independence. Records were also generated by two subcommittees of the Bicentennial Committee: Budget and “Forward Look”, to define future directions for the Church, especially in relation to the Bicentennial theme, "liberty and justice for all.” The latter committee met in 1975 and was chaired by Hodding Carter III. The committee’s records show their full engagement in a planning agenda. Emphasis was given to a special issue Anglican Theological Review (55:1) and the plans for the General Convention program and exhibit. Other publications relating to the Bicentennial are present, including writings on the topic by Presiding Bishop John Allin.

Administrative Records of the Bicentennial Committee, 1973-1976Subcommittee Records of the Bicentennial Committee, 1974-1976Project Files of the Bicentennial Committee, 1972-1976Bicentennial Committee Relations with Non-Episcopal Groups, 1972-1976Collected Publications in re: the Bicentennial, 1975-1977General Correspondence, 1972-1977Bicentennial Exhibit from the Archives of the Episcopal Church, 1976

Executive Council United States Bicentennial of Independence

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