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Terminology of the Episcopal Church
Anglican
As a noun, it refers to members of churches descended from the Church of England, such as the Episcopal Church in the United States, the Anglican Church of Canada, and others. As an adjective, it describes traditions or teachings associated with those churches.
Anglican Communion
Those Churches around the world, including the Episcopal Church, that are in communion with the Church of England, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and that hold the same faith, order and worship.
Anglo-Catholics
Episcopalians who identify with Catholic teaching and liturgical practice and hold a high view of the authority of clergy and tradition. Anglo-Catholics are sometimes called "high church" because of their emphasis on the divine nature of the church as the mystical body of Christ.
Apostolic Succession
The doctrine that the authority and the mission given by Jesus to the Apostles have descended in a direct and unbroken line of bishops to the bishops of today.
Archdeacon
A clergy person, usually a deacon, appointed by the Bishop to provide administrative assistance and other leadership as assigned by the Bishop to congregations and church organizations in the diocese, often having responsibility for ordering the deacon of the diocese.
Assessment, Diocesan
The amount charged to the congregations to fund the annual unified budget of diocesan expenditures.
Baptism (Holy)
Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body the Church. The bond which God establishes in Baptism is indissoluble.
Bishop
From the Greek word meaning overseer, a bishop is the chief pastor of a diocese. All other clergy of the diocese are responsible to the bishop. Anglicans share a belief with Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians that bishops are the successors to the twelve original Apostles appointed by Christ. The ministry of a Bishop is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as apostle, chief priest, and pastor of a diocese; to guard the faith, unity, and discipline of the whole Church; to proclaim the Word of God; to act in Christ's name for the reconciliation of the world and the building up of the Church; and to ordain others to continue Christ's ministry.
Bishop, Assistant
A Bishop appointed by the Diocesan Bishop with the consent of the Standing Committee to assist the Diocesan and to serve under the Diocesan's direction, creation of the post having been approved by the Diocesan Convention.
Bishop, Assisting
A Bishop appointed by the Diocesan Bishop to provide short-term assistance with episcopal duties in the Diocese.
Bishop Coadjutor
A Bishop elected to succeed the Diocesan Bishop.
Bishop, Suffragan
A Bishop elected to assist the Diocesan Bishop and to serve under the Diocesan's direction.
Board of Trustees
A group appointed by the Bishop and confirmed by the diocesan convention to oversee the endowed assets of the diocese.
Body of Christ
The Church.
Candidate
The next step beyond Postulancy for a person who has been recommended by the Bishop and accepted by the Standing Committee as a Candidate for Holy Orders.
Canon
An ecclesiastical rule or law adopted by General Convention or by Diocesan Convention. Also, a member of the clergy on the staff of a cathedral or of a bishop.
Canon to the Ordinary
A canon who is specific to the Bishop's office; a staff officer who performs tasks as assigned by the Ordinary, or Diocesan Bishop.
Chalice
The stemmed cup or other vessel used to hold the Communion Wine.
Cleric
Any member of the clergy.
Communicant
A baptized and confirmed member of the Church in good standing who is eligible to partake of the Holy Eucharist.
Confirmation
The opportunity for those baptized at an early age to make a mature public affirmation of their faith, to commit to the responsibilities of their Baptism, and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop.
Congregation
A parish or a mission. A mission differs from a parish; it is normally headed by a Vicar who is appointed by the Bishop, and has an Advisory Board instead of a Vestry.
Consecration of a Bishop
The liturgy in which a priest becomes a Bishop.
Council of the Diocese
The Council encourages and supports the mission of the Church as it is conducted by the people of the Diocese.
Curate
Assistant clergy serving on the staff of a congregation under the Rector, meaning "cure of souls."
Deacon, or Vocational Deacon.
A cleric ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons or Diaconate, one of the three Holy Orders. Deacons are called to fulfill a vocation, as well as a ministry, in the world under the direction of the Bishop. While in the world, a Deacon interprets the needs of the world, and then communicates such needs to the Bishop and the greater church at large. In turn, a Deacon ministers to the world as directed by the Bishop. Liturgically, a Deacon reads the Gospel, sets the table, leads the Prayers of the People and dismisses the congregation.
Deacon, or Transitional Deacon.
A cleric ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons or Diaconate, one of the three Holy Orders. Transitional Deacons share with Vocational Deacons in the identical sacrament of ordination to the Diaconate, but are ultimately called, and are in transition, to the ministry of priesthood.
Deacon of the Mass or Eucharist.
Either a deacon or priest performing the liturgical function of Deacon at a Mass or Eucharist.
Dean
The priest in charge of a cathedral church, the leader of a seminary, or a designated member of a group of clergy.
Diaconate
A special ministry of servanthood of deacons directly under the Bishop. In the name of Jesus Christ, deacons are to serve all people, particularly the poor, the sick and the lonely.
Diocese
All congregations within a given geographical area under the authority of the same bishop and are organized in accordance with the canons of the Church.
Episcopal
An adjective meaning "of or pertaining to bishops." From the Greek word "episcopoi" (overseers). The "Episcopate" is the office of a bishop, the period of time during which he or she holds the office, or bishops as a group.
Episcopalian
A noun referring to members of the Episcopal Church or to Christians who believe in an episcopal form of church government.
Eucharist, the
The Communion, the Mass or the Lord's Supper. From the Greek word meaning "Thanksgiving."
Evangelicals
Episcopalians who identify with the teachings of Protestantism and the Reformed tradition, emphasizing Scripture and the importance of individual conscience. Evangelicals are sometimes called "low church" because they believe Christ allows great freedom in organizing the church and its liturgical practices. Within Anglicanism, the term does not have the same meaning it has within American Protestantism, where the term usually refers to Christians who emphasize salvation and conversion.
Holy Orders
The sacrament of ordination, which marks the entry of the candidate into the ordained ministry. The orders of bishops, priests and deacons are termed Holy Orders.
Intercession
The Greek root of the word for intercession means to plead or ask on someone else's behalf. The Diocesan Intercession List is a daily reminder to intercede with the Almighty on behalf of the clergy and congregations of our diocese and for our missionary prayer partners in other foreign dioceses.
Interim Pastor
A priest trained for interim ministry to serve either full-time or part-time, who is retained for a specific period of time while a search for a new rector is being conducted, with a written contract specifying responsibilities and compensation. An Interim Pastor is not eligible to become the Rector.
Laity
The baptized people or members of a church, as distinct from the clergy. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation in the world; and to take their place in the life, worship, and governance of the Church.
Liturgy
The ritual, ceremonial, and other activities associated with formal worship.
Minister
All members of the Church: Lay people, bishops, priests and deacons.
Nave
The main body of the church in which the congregation sits during worship services.
Ordination to the Priesthood
The liturgy in which a person is made a priest.
Parish
A local congregation that is in union with the diocese.
Postulant
A person admitted by the Bishop into the formal preparation for the ordained ministry.
Presbyter
See "Priest." The term "priest" is a contraction of the term "presbyter."
Priest
A presbyter. A cleric in one of the three orders of ordained ministry. The ministry of a priest is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as pastor to the people; to share with the Bishop the overseeing of the Church; to proclaim the Gospel; to administer the sacraments; and to bless and declare pardon in the name of God.
Primate
The Bishop with pastoral and administrative responsibility and authority for a group of dioceses that constitute a Church. A primate is sometimes called a metropolitan. The Presiding Bishop in the case of the Episcopal Church, and the Archbishop of Canterbury in the case of the Church of England and the Anglican Communion.
Province
An organizational and geographical unit of the Episcopal Church consisting of several dioceses. The Diocese of Louisiana is in Province IV of the American Episcopal Church.
Rector
A full-time priest elected by a Vestry with the Bishop's approval, thereby having tenure. The responsibility for the conduct of worship and the spiritual jurisdiction of the Parish are vested in the Rector, subject to the Rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer, the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese, the pastoral direction of the Bishop, and the Religious Corporation Laws of the State of Louisiana.
Rectory
The residence provided for the rector.
Sanctuary
The part of a church around the altar.
Seminary
A school or college for the training of ministers.
Standing Committee, the
In addition to serving as a Council of Advice to the Bishop, the functions of the Standing Committee are: to approve or disapprove applications of all persons seeking Candidacy, Diaconate or Priesthood; to approve or disapprove all parish applications to encumber or dispose of property; to approve or disapprove elections in this and other dioceses of all Bishops; in the absence or disability of our Bishop, the Standing Committee acts as the Ecclesiastical Authority of the Diocese.
Subdeacon
Traditionally a secondary order of deacons who assisted diocesan deacons in their duties and carried out certain functions at the altar, including reading the epistle of the day. Today the subdeacon is usually a lay person, often a licensed lay reader and chalice bearer, who reads the epistle and may lead the intercessory prayers in the absence of a deacon. The normal liturgical vestments of a subdeacon are an alb and tunicle.
Synod
A meeting of church authorities.
Vestments
The distinctive clothing worn by leaders of liturgy.
Vestry
The rector, wardens and vestry members of a parish. The Wardens and Vestry are the official representatives of the parish in the absence of a Rector. The Wardens have special roles and need the firm support of their Vestry colleagues.
Vicar
A priest, serving full-time or part-time, with charge and responsibility for a mission or aided parish, appointed by the Bishop for a period of one year, renewable. A Vicar is eligible to become Rector when the mission becomes a parish, or when the parish becomes financially independent of the Diocese for basic expenses. Under the Bishop, a Vicar has the same responsibilities as a Rector, but does not have tenure.
