[8][9] The idea for a congress originated with the Reverend Canon Albert J. duBois in 1973 in preparation for the Louisville General Convention of the Episcopal Church.
[10] Canon duBois and the group called "Anglicans United" toured parishes in advance of the Congress to garner support.
[16] On September 14, 1977, Holy Cross Day, after Evening Prayer, Perry Laukhuff, President of the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen, called the Congress to session.
"[19] On September 15, the day opened with Morning Prayer and Sung Eucharist, with the Albert Chambers presiding, accompanied by the Charles F. Boynton and the Clarence R. Haden.
Later in the day, representatives from the Diocese of the Holy Trinity, which was under Albert Chambers as Episcopal Visitor, elected James O. Mote as the first bishop of the new movement.
"[24] As a result of the Anglican – Roman Catholic dialogue, Cardinal Seper was aware of the impending split early in 1977, and presented a proposal for consideration of what later became the Pastoral Provision to the Rt.
Only the Pro-Diocese of St. Augustine of Canterbury, which contained parishes that left the Diocese of the Holy Trinity to seek union with Rome, made use of the Pastoral Provision.
Dr. Harold Weatherby, of the Society for the Preservation of the Book of Common Prayer, concurred that the principles on which a Continuing Church would be based needed to be formed.
At the final pre-Congress meeting of the Fellowship of Concerned Churchmen, less than twenty-four hours before the Congress opened, a complete draft of the Affirmation of St. Louis was presented.
The ecumenical goal of seeking full sacramental communion and visible unity with other Christians who hold the Catholic and Apostolic Faith is declared.
Chapter 2, Principles of Morality, covers original sin, sanctity of human life, and marriage as a sacrament between one man and one woman.