Richard P. Howard

Richard P. Howard
Name	Richard P. Howard
Birth date	1929
Death date	2020
Occupation	Historian, Clergyman, Editor
Known for	Scholarship on Community of Christ, studies of Joseph Smith III, editorial work on Doctrine and Covenants

Richard P. Howard was an American historian and clergyman noted for his scholarship on the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and its successor, the Community of Christ. He served as an archivist, curator, and historian, and played a central role in editing denominational texts and interpreting doctrine during periods of institutional change. His work intersected with figures and institutions across Mormonism, Latter Day Saint movement, and American religious historiography.

Early life and education

Howard was born in the United States in 1929 and raised amid influences from mid-20th century American religious environments including contact with communities tied to Joseph Smith Jr. and Brigham Young. He pursued higher education at institutions associated with heritage studies such as Graceland University and engaged with archival traditions found at places like the Library of Congress, the Smithsonian Institution, and university repositories modeled on collections at Harvard University, Yale University, and Princeton Theological Seminary. His academic background included work shaped by scholars connected to the American Academy of Religion and the Historical Society of the Latter Day Saint movement.

Religious career and roles

Howard's vocational life centered on the institutional life of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (later Community of Christ), where he served in capacities paralleling roles at organizations such as the Czech National Museum, the National Archives and Records Administration, and ecclesiastical offices akin to those in the World Council of Churches. He was appointed as an official historian and archivist, a role comparable to positions at the Vatican Secret Archives and the United Methodist Church archives. Howard collaborated with church leaders including presidents of the denomination comparable to W. Wallace Smith, Israel A. Smith, and later administrations, engaging in governance debates similar to controversies addressed in bodies like the World Methodist Council.

Contributions to Community of Christ history and doctrine

Howard advanced historical methods within the Community of Christ by applying documentary criticism and contextual analysis similar to approaches used in studies of Martin Luther, John Wesley, and Joseph Smith Jr.. He examined foundational texts related to the Book of Mormon, the Doctrine and Covenants, and writings attributed to Emma Smith and Hyrum Smith, situating them alongside broader American religious developments including movements associated with Second Great Awakening leaders and reformers like Charles Grandison Finney. His work influenced denominational understanding of revelation and institutional continuity in ways comparable to scholarship on Vatican II reforms and Anglican Communion debates.

Publications and editorial work

Howard edited and contributed to critical editions and compilations comparable to projects such as the Joseph Smith Papers and historical series published by university presses like Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press. He produced articles, monographs, and annotated documents about figures such as Joseph Smith III, Zenas H. Gurley Sr., and Emma Hale Smith. His editorial influence extended to hymnody and liturgical texts in the tradition of compilers involved with the Hymnal revisions seen in bodies like the Episcopal Church and Presbyterian Church (USA). Howard's work interfaced with international scholarship exemplified by associations including the American Historical Association and the Association for Mormon Letters.

Views on succession and priesthood

Howard wrote on themes of succession and priestly authority within the Movement, analyzing concepts related to hereditary leadership associated with Joseph Smith Jr. and contested models comparable to succession disputes in traditions such as those involving Pope selection and Presbyterian polity debates. He explored gender and priesthood questions resonant with controversies addressed by bodies like the World Council of Churches and reform movements including the Ordination of Women debates within denominations such as the Anglican Communion and United Methodist Church. His interpretations influenced policy conversations within Community of Christ leadership analogous to synodal deliberations in other faith traditions.

Legacy and honors

Howard's legacy includes recognition by scholarly and religious organizations similar to acknowledgments from the American Historical Association, the Association for Mormon Letters, and regional historical societies. His archival and editorial labors shaped institutional memory for the Community of Christ and informed comparative studies involving the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Strangite communities, and other branches of the Latter Day Saint movement. Honors reflecting his impact mirror awards given by universities and learned societies such as fellowships associated with the National Endowment for the Humanities and citations akin to lifetime achievement awards from denominational historical associations.

Category:Historians of the Latter Day Saint movement Category:American religious historians