Lay Ministries Office. Records

MP-05-R0176

The Archives of the Episcopal Church

Fonds

Lay Ministries Office. Records

• 1968-1979 (Creation)

1.4 cu.ft. (2 boxes)

Lay Ministries work developed during the late 1960s as the Episcopal Church attempted to integrate women into the total life, planning, and work of the Church. In 1968, the Executive Council created the Ad Hoc Committee on Lay Ministries, and in 1969 the Committee was reappointed as the Special Committee on Lay Ministries. The 1970 General Convention created a Program Group of the Executive Council with members from the Special Committee on Lay Ministries, the Committee for Women, and the Executive Council. From the beginning, Lay Ministries has had a close relationship with the women of the Episcopal Church, which may explain why the lay ministry office disappeared shortly after women were ordained in 1979.

Records of the Lay Ministry Office consist of the work product of staff officer Barry Menuez from 1973 to 1980. The records consist mainly of correspondence with some minutes, reports, conference materials and publications. These records document the changing status of women in the Episcopal Church and the Church's effort to involve part of the laity in the ministry of the Church. The topical files provide little supporting evidence of the range of activities of the office, but the serial newsletter called The 99% is a good resource.

Three series constitute the Records of the Lay Ministry Office:
Correspondence, 1972-1978
Memoranda, 1973-1978
Subject Files, 1968-1979

Access to Episcopal Church records is governed by the Archives Public Access Policy. Research requests must be submitted in writing.

The Archives is able to respond to limited requests for reproductions subject to copyright restrictions, internal policy, and the condition of the source documents.

• English

Coordinator for Lay Ministries. Records

• Women
• Laity

• Menuez, D. Barry (Subject)