complexities of church law in the context of American legislation. The opening of the text begins with a brief context on the necessity for clergymen to be informed about legal principles that affect religious organizations. Scanlan emphasizes the historical connection between law and religion, highlighting how ancient legal systems were interwoven with religious norms. In his preface, he outlines the scope of the handbook, indicating that it will cover diverse topics such as the understanding of what constitutes a church, membership laws, heresies, and excommunication, and he commits to presenting the information in a clear and accessible format rather than through overwhelming legal technicalities. This pragmatic approach reflects his intention to support clergymen who may lack formal legal training but who require a foundational understanding of relevant laws to effectively serve their congregations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)