I am especially grateful for the review of this manuscript by Rev. Dr. A. Vaughan Abercrombie, Rev. Dr. John Alexander, the Rev. Dr. Donald Bentley, Rev. Dr. D. Elizabeth Audette, the Rev. Robert H. Fleischmann, Hannah Wing Hall, the Rev. Martin W. Hall, Anne Kuester, Rev. Dr. Steven A. Peay, the Rev. Karl D. Schimpf, and Rev. Dr. Walter J. Vernon. Each has read the text and many made helpful and constructive comments. In some instances these have resulted in what I hope is clarification and in others an expansion of the original ideas. While several of my colleagues indicated that their style would differ from mine - no doubt - there was no fundamental divergence on what these matters mean for the Congregational Churches or how we ought to do things. The final result, of course, is entirely my responsibility. I am also indebted to Rev. Dr. Douglas L. Lobb and the Rev. Phil Jackson of the executive staff of the NACCC who asked me to undertake this task.

I would be seriously remiss, too, if I did not acknowledge the contribution made by my ministerial colleagues at Plymouth Church (Hannah Wing Hall and John E. Canter) who made the time available to me for this pursuit; and to the Church itself which shares with me the conviction that fellowship includes service to one another.