DICTIONARY OF
EPISCOPAL TERMINOLOGY

Early service

in Sewanee this refers to the eight o'clock a.m. Sunday service in All Saints' Chapel; since 1981 this service has been generally a 1928 prayerbook service or a Rite One service. Sometimes the congregation of this service is derisively spoken of as "the eight o'clock crowd."

Ecce Quam Bonum

"Behold How Good"; the first words of the Latin motto of the University; in its abbreviation EQB it refers to the old faculty club and now community club located in the EQB building behind the Supply Store.

EFM

Education For Ministry; the popular extension program of the School of Theology.

Epiphany

January 6; a feast celebrating the visit of the Wisemen to the infant Jesus; the end of the Christmas season.

Episcopal

the name of a form of church organization which means government by an overseer

episcopos

Episcopos is the Greek word from which we derive the English word 'bishop'.

Episcopalian, The

the general newspaper of the Episcopal Church; usually sent to each communicant or family of a church; news of the moves of clergy from one church to another is often published in this paper.

Epistle, The

a reading from the New Testament other than from the Gospels; also any reading from the Bible other than the Gospels or Psalms.

Epistle Side

the right side of a church when facing the altar; this older usage is now no longer accurate in churches reading the gospel from the right side pulpit. See Gospel Side.

Eucharist

a "good gift" or thanksgiving; the current usage in the Episcopal Church to refer to communion or the Lord's Supper.

Eulogy

a speech or homily in praise of a deceased person; brief remarks about the deceased at a funeral.

Evensong

an evening worship service; evening prayer; and evening prayer service featuring a choir.

Executive Committee

a type of diocesan government in which a committee advises the bishop; the executive committee is smaller and usually less representative than the Bishop-and-Council type of government.

Father

a familiar or direct way of referring to some ordained clergy: the Reverend John F. Marks, but--in personal conversation or in the salutation of a letter--Father Marks, Dear Father Marks. Typically used of all Roman Catholic clergy and of some Episcopal clergy. Be careful in using or not using this term: some clergy do not like it; others are offended if it is not used. Usually the people who prefer the term assume that you know they prefer it. There is no easy way to tell what the clergy preference is except by paying attention to letters, conversations, etc.

Folk Mass

communion in which the music is often guitars or other instruments instead of organ music; a term for a less formal communion service which incorporates new songs, spirituals, folk songs, and contemporary poetry as part of the worship service.

Font

a basin of water used in baptism. The Episcopal Church practices baptism by "sprinkling" rather than by "full imersion".

General Convention

the national triennial meeting of the Episcopal Church; parishes send "deputies" or official representatives to General Convention.

GOE's

General Ordination Exams; a set of uniform tests required of most seminarians before their graduation from seminary.

Gospel, The

any reading from Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John in the New Testament; also a general reference to the essential message of the Christian faith.

Gospel Side

an older usage for designating the interior of a church; originally, the Gospel Side was the north side [the left side facing the altar]. See Epistle Side.

High Church

a designation of a church emphasizing theological or liturgical formality; a church with several vested assistants and many fine utensils used in the service; a church that sings or chants its service rather than reading or speaking it; a church that celebrates the Eucharist every Sunday [though most Episcopal Churches do this now]. Such churches sometimes appear to be more "catholic".

Holy Orders

a way of referring to ordination among Roman Catholics, Episcopalians and others: an ordained person is spoken of as "being in holy orders"--meaning that the person has made priestly vows and has been admitted by a bishop into one of the several levels of ordination.

Holy Week

the period from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday; most important period of the church year with many special services.

Homily

a short sermon often on a single topic of devotion or morality.

Honorary Degree

a kind of degree awarded by a university to honor worthy candidates; honorary degrees are awarded in recognition of work done by the recipient, but not for academic work; academic work is recognized by what are called "earned" degrees or degrees-in-course.

Honorary Trustee

any retired bishop of an owning diocese of the University of the South; only retired bishops become Honorary Trustees.

House of Bishops

all the bishops of the Episcopal church sitting as a legislative and judiciary body of the church.

House of Deputies

as the lay and presbyter delegates to a general convention sitting as a legislative body.

Hymn

sacred words set to music; church vocal music involving the congregation and distinguished from the Psalm or anthem.

Incense

the "smell" element in Smells & Bells; a fragrant [and now usually hpyo-allergenic] powder burned in a small dish or pot; used during the service or in the processions in recollection of one of the three gifts of the Wisemen to the Christ Child.

Inclusive Language

the attempt to find forms of religious expression which are not biased in favor of a particualr gender group. Some churches favor an Inclusive Lectionary, and some have altered prayers and hymns so that gender-restrictive images and pronouns are removed: "Our God who art in heaven..."

Installation

a service in which a person is made the official bearer of a clerical or academic office: the Installation of the Dean or Vice-Chancellor; a service at which an already consecrated bishop is installed as bishop of a diocese.

Junior Warden

the assistant to the Senior Warden; usually becomes Senior Warden after the Senior Warden's term is up.

Kanuga Conference Center

an Episcopal educational retreat and conference center in western North Carolina near Hendersonville; it offers classes, programs, and notable speakers throughout the year. Often used as a place for special meetings of bishops: "The bishop will be in Kanuga next week." Or, "The Fourth Province bishops will meet in Kanuga next year."

Laity

the non-ordained members of a church; all lay persons together; "the people" as distinguished from "the clergy".

Lay Chaplain

a lay person whose vocation is to work in a chapel or as a minister to a non-congregational group such as a college undergraduates or the visitors at a hospital or campground.

Lay minister

a person who is not ordained, but who works closely with a church or religious program. Some lay ministers are un-paid volunteers; some are paid staff members of a church.

Lay person

any non-ordained person; in the Episcopal church today, lay person is often used instead of the older protestant usage "layman".

Lay Reader

any non-ordained person who participates in reading part of a church service. In some churches Lay Readers are officially recognized as a special group assisting in church services.

Lay

from laios, a Greek word meaning the people.

Lectern

a raised platform with railing used for reading prayers or scripture; usually located at the front of the nave opposite the pulpit.

Lectionary, Inclusive

the use of Biblical texts which are not biased in favor or male or female images and which avoid male or female pronouns such as Him or Her. Texts which avoid the use of images of God as Father. See Inclusive Language.

Lectionary

the complex series of Biblical readings used in the Episcopal Church throughout the year.

Lent

the period of fasting, sobriety and meditation following Ash Wednesday; in the past Lent was widely associated with denial or "giving something up for Lent.": "I gave up smoking for Lent." Or, "I gave up desserts for Lent." The season recalls the period of Christ's fasting and meditation in the wilderness, so traditionally is for a period of forty days--from Ash Wednesday to Palm Sunday. The term is derived from an old word for 'lengthen' which referred to the lengthening days of early sping.

Lesson and Carols

popular name of the Festival of Lessons and Carols held in All Saints' Chapel the first Saturday and Sunday of December; now in its fourth decade, the Festival has been featured on television and in magazines and is widely popular across the South; the three services each more than 1200 people.

Lesson

also the Epistle; any reading from the Bible except the Gospels or Psalms; usually read on the opposite side of the church from where the Gospel is read; in older practice the Lesson was read from the "Epistle Side"--the right side facing the altar, while the Gospel was read from the "Gospel Side"--the left side facing the altar. Current practice in many Episcopal churches does not conform to this older pattern.

Licentiate

Licentiate in Theology; an earned degree for persons who complete a theological degree but who do not hold a bachelor's degree; if a person holds a bachelor's degree and completes the basic theology program, that person is normally awarded a Master of Divinity [M.Div.] degree; without a bachelor's degree that person, taking the same courses, would be awarded a Licentiate in Theology.

Liturgy

literally the word means the work of the people; generally used to refer to the full text of the words of a worship service; any ritual order for holding a church service.

 

Living Church, The

a monthly magazine of the Episcopal Church often discussing current issues in the life of the Church.

Low Church

a church that is less formal; a church that does not chant or sing its service; a church that alternates Morning Prayer with Eucharist; such churches sometimes appear to be more "protestant".

M. A. Program [Theology]

a new degree program of the School of Theology; a theological degree more oriented to academic study than to parish ministry.

M. Div.

Master of Divinity; the basic American theological degree; in earlier years, the first theological degree was the B.D. [Bachelor of Divinity], but in the late 1960's many American divinity schools began to allow their earlier graduates to exchange their B.D. degrees for the newer M.Div. degree. Graduates of the School of Theology receive the M.Div. degree at Commencement.

Mace

a staff or baton usually embellished with metal used as an insignia of office; the Mace preceeds the Vice-Chancellor in academic processions; the Mace is traditionally carried by the President of the Order of Gownsmen.

Mardi Gras

literally "fat Tuesday"; a festival day ending a period of celebration and excess; usually occurs mid to late February, sometimes early March. Immediately followed by Ash Wednesday and Lent. Traditional Mardi Gras celebrations are held in Mobile and New Orleans, and many Sewanee students go to Mardi Gras.

Marshal

an official of universities and some religious organizations who organizes processions, seatings, etc.

Mass

the Roman Catholic name for the Christian sacramental meal but sometimes used by conservative Episcopalians to refer to communion or eucharist.

Maundy Thursday

the Thursday of Holy Week; the name is from Latin `mandatum' referring to Christ's commandment concerning foot-washing; also the day on which the first Lord's Supper was celebrated.

Mission

a local Episcopal congregation that has not yet attained the status of a church with a full-time priest; also a church that has lost its church status and reverted to mission status. St. James' in Midway was a mission; when it became able to support a full-time priest, it became a church: St. James' Episcopal Church. Usually a mission does not have a full-time minister and does not have the full complement of daily or weekly services: Epiphany Mission in Sherwood.

Miter/mitre

the liturgical hat or head dress of a bishop; not often used in Episcopal churches.

Morning Prayer

a morning worship service without communion; now this service has generally been replaced by a eucharistic or communion service.

Mr./Mrs./Ms.

used in referring to clergy when the full name is not used: The Reverend John F. Marks, but: The Reverend Mr. Marks; the Very Reverend Guy F. Lytle, but: the Very Reverend Mr. Lytle.