The Rt. Rev. Walter Decoster Dennis

On a rainy April day in which there were as many tears inside the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine as there were raindrops outside, hundreds gathered to pay their deepest respects to the Rt. Rev. Walter Dennis, Retired Suffragan Bishop of New York. Bishop Dennis died March 30 at his home in Virginia from an embolism, following a long illness.

Fifteen bishops of the Episcopal Church plus the Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold joined the procession in Bishop Dennis’ honor, which included priests and members of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and of religious orders. The congregation was comprised of young and old of all races and ethnic backgrounds, those who knew him, and those who were there to honor the memory of the man who did so much to pave the way for them. People came from across the country to pay tribute to Bishop Dennis.

A Service of Honor
Even in death, Bishop Dennis was surrounded by his friends. Bishop Sisk talked of “his great gifts of passion he brought to his work, the passion with which he sought justice and the passion for the care of the people of God.” Many chuckled when he talked about Bishop Dennis’ “gift of laughter. For the laughter you brought into our lives in the face of all, in the face of death.”

THE EPISCOPAL NEW YORKER		Two Princes of the Diocese A Farewell to Both BISHOP DENNIS: His Life The Funeral Photos BISHOP MOORE: His Life The Funeral A Vigil Photos BACK
The Diocese Bids Farewell to a Friend By Neva Rae Fox
Attending the funeral of Bishop Walter Dennis were, left, the Rev. Canon George Brandt, St. Michael's, Manhattan, and the Rev. Canon Fred Williams of the Church of the Intercession, Manhattan, who also delivered the sermon. Photo by MARY BETH DISS	On a rainy April day in which there were as many tears inside the Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine as there were raindrops outside, hundreds gathered to pay their deepest respects to the Rt. Rev. Walter Dennis, Retired Suffragan Bishop of New York. Bishop Dennis died March 30 at his home in Virginia from an embolism, following a long illness. Fifteen bishops of the Episcopal Church plus the Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold joined the procession in Bishop Dennis’ honor, which included priests and members of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem and of religious orders. The congregation was comprised of young and old of all races and ethnic backgrounds, those who knew him, and those who were there to honor the memory of the man who did so much to pave the way for them. People came from across the country to pay tribute to Bishop Dennis. A Service of Honor Even in death, Bishop Dennis was surrounded by his friends. Bishop Sisk talked of “his great gifts of passion he brought to his work, the passion with which he sought justice and the passion for the care of the people of God.” Many chuckled when he talked about Bishop Dennis’ “gift of laughter. For the laughter you brought into our lives in the face of all, in the face of death.”
A friend of Bishop Dennis’ for over 40 years, the Rev. Canon Frederick Williams preached a sermon that held the close attention of everyone in the cathedral. Williams, rector of Intercession in Manhattan, said of Bishop Dennis, whom he met 42 years ago, “In the time that has elapsed, he has been for me a supervisor, mentor, colleague, prayer partner, soulmate and friend.” Williams continued, “He was an individual of personal substance, one with style and content, one able to move with ease and grace in all situations from Harlem to Sutton Place, from Tivoli to Tottenville, from Bridgetown to Cape Town, and all in between.” In the spirit of the man he was honoring, Williams inserted a bit of levity. “Walter, as a person, was available to all, whenever and wherever, especially in times of crisis and uncertainty.” Williams joked, “I have to make a confession — I often wondered about the size of his long distance telephone bill.” Williams described Bishop Dennis as “a person of theology and depth,” recalling “his record and his vision, his focus on basic fundamental issues, his collegial style of administration and operation, his understanding of the primacy of Baptism and his nurture of the ministry of the laity. He was a person who kept his mouth shut. Sometimes Walter’s tongue didn’t know what his index finger was doing. Walter held no grudges, was not vindictive or duplicitous. He was a person with a broad view in the best Anglican sense.” He addressed Bishop Dennis as a man of action and not words. “In place of hysteria about drug use, Walter was in Albany framing rational drug laws. Instead of coat hangers in back rooms, Walter was in Washington shaping caring abortion reform. Rather than stand mute in the face of rabid homophobia, Walter was in Virginia and New York promoting sensitive and inclusive care of gays and lesbians, and Bishop Dennis was doing this with the highest profile and level of effectiveness in the Church long before others brought their gifts to these struggles.” The Very Rev. James Kowalski, dean of the cathedral, spoke of the honor of meeting Bishop Dennis, and pointed to the new portrait, unveiled less than six months ago, situated in the cathedral for the funeral to greet all “who advanced to the steps of the Great Choir.” At the commendation, Presiding Bishop Griswold said, “Bishop Dennis’ vision of the Church was a Church catholic in every sense, especially whole and complete,” with “all divisions broken down. May Bishop Dennis’ witness in the full Christ where there is no east or west, north or south, strengthen and inspire us to our journey to become the church we are called to be. The church that is catholic, whole and complete.”