Editorial Integrity
Affirmations: A Pastor’s Reflections on Faith, Meaning, and Hope
Preservation of Authorial Voice
The manuscript Affirmations has been preserved with deliberate care. The voice of
Rev. Robert Lewis Foley, Sr., remains intact — intellectually rigorous, pastorally grounded, and theologically disciplined.
No stylistic modernization has been imposed. The language reflects the author’s original cadence, vocabulary, and rhetorical posture. Where necessary, minimal proofreading was conducted to correct typographical errors, but the structure and substance remain the author’s own.
The goal has not been revision, but faithful stewardship.
Structural Sequencing
While the voice remains unchanged, the manuscript underwent a holistic structural sequencing pass to ensure:
- Thematic coherence
- Logical progression of ideas
- Conceptual escalation from foundational reflection to advanced theological and philosophical inquiry
- Consistent pastoral and intellectual throughline
Sections are intentionally arranged to move from:
- Foundations of faith
- Christological reflection
- Ethical responsibility
- Philosophical inquiry
- Call to action
This ordering strengthens clarity without altering content.
Proofreading Without Copyediting
A deliberate editorial decision was made to limit intervention to proofreading only.
Copyediting — which often reshapes phrasing, syntax, and rhetorical style — was intentionally avoided in order to preserve:
- Authorial tone
- Theological nuance
- Intellectual temperament
- Historical integrity
The result is a manuscript that reflects the author’s authentic voice rather than a contemporary stylistic overlay.
Theological Posture
The reflections in Affirmations are marked by:
- Scriptural engagement
- Disciplined reasoning
- Moral seriousness
- Resistance to sentimentality
Some pieces invite reflection and even disagreement. They are included not as provocation, but as evidence of a lifelong commitment to responsible faith.
Central to the author’s posture was a conviction that faith requires engagement — with God, with neighbor, and with the moral demands of the moment.
Stewardship and Responsibility
The work is presented under curatorial stewardship, not reinterpretation. Editorial decisions were guided by one principle:
To preserve the integrity of the author’s thought while ensuring structural clarity for contemporary readers.
The Foreword and the sermon “Standing in Need of the Ultimate Affirmation” remain entirely unchanged.
This page serves as a public declaration of that commitment.