"Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. True friendship is a plant of slow growth, and must undergo & withstand the shocks of adversity before it is entitled to the appellation." – President George Washington to Bushrod Washington, January 15th, 1783
Dedications
To Dr. Sandy Gregory and Dr. Sherrie Lee—First in their family academic doctorates who paved the way for my doctoral work and paved the way for generations in their respective fields.
To Stephanie Lee, you have been my hope and stay for this journey—my muse and my compatriot. You deserve this degree as much as I do.
To my daughters: Athena and Phoenix, your birthright as a citizen of these United States should be a privilege and a burden—a privilege to be acknowledge and a burden to ensure others are afforded in like kind. May you never stop learning the history of this land.
To Scott Lee, my brother, fellow sojourner, and co-host. Thank you for showing up for me. I hope to return the favor.
To Rusty Lee, Frank, Maggie, Lizzie, and the late Little Man Lee—who in their fastidious support essentially earned a doctoral degree. Theirs is the kingdom of Heaven.
To Barbara Lee—few have fostered and instilled more capacity for knowledge in me than you.
To Mr. Gordon Palmer, my high school social studies teacher who reminded me again and again of my love of history despite my own trappings and misgivings. Thanks for giving me a chance and many chances after that.
To two friends, Mindy and Dan Grassel: You have shown me the heart of God and assured me that Heaven is a long, long table. I am grateful.
To this country, in whom I believe our best days are ahead if we only learn to love wastefully now.
Acknowledgements
A project such as this could not be undertaken without serious reinforcements and backup. Permit me to acknowledge a few people and institutions beyond the dedication page for their contributions to this work, this effort, and my life.
-To the Pacific School of Religion: you gave me a chance when the going was tough for me. I’m grateful you gave me an opportunity to prove that I can achieve such great heights. To Keaton Andreas for conversations on admissions and at the Wild Goose Festival. To Professor Bernie Schlager, thank you for opening a new world of learning to me with my first course of study in the DMin program. Finally, to the Rev. Jim Lawrence, PhD, DMin: your advising and encouragement saw me over the finish line. I am forever in your debt.
-To the Rev. Michael J. Gehring, PhD, DMin: who has served as my pastor, friend, and second reader on this portfolio. I am so grateful and encouraged by your friendship and witness to me.
-To Gary S. Smith, you have taught me so much and I aspire to be like you. I am grateful you served as a reader on this project.
-To the Rev. Dr. Laceye Warner, Dr. Stephen Angell, Fr. James Martin, SJ, and Dr. Dan McKanan for providing valuable context, insight, and willingness to serve as resource for my denominational research.
-To Broad Street United Methodist Church, Statesville, North Carolina—I am grateful for the persistence we show one another, and for your generous support through the scholarships provided during my time at PSR.
-To the Hilton Garden Inn of Statesville—My overnight shifts are where this portfolio and dissertation were honed and forged. Thanks for giving me the space to do that.
