The response to the Hartford Appeal has far exceeded the expectations of those who initiated it and of those who participated in drafting the final document. Whatever its faults, it shows every sign of becoming a point of reference that can enliven the kind of debate both its critics and admirers say, they hoped for.

The two most frequent misunderstandings of the Appeal are: (1) that it is aimed mainly, if not exclusively, against the left; and (2) that it is supposed to be some new kind of ecumenical statement of faith. To the second misunderstanding it should be enough to note that the Hartford group had no intention of saying all we believe about God, nature, the Church, the Christ, and human history. We did intend to say some things we thought needed saying about the current state of theology and religion in America.