Glossary of Terms
Reverend, The
An adjective used in formally addressing a member of the clergy. It is from the Latin reverendus, “worthy of reverence.” It is intended to be descriptive. The term is incorrectly […]
Revised English Bible
A 1989 revision of the New English Bible (1970) that was intended to make it more suitable for public worship. “You” is used instead of “thou” in addressing God. The […]
Revised Standard Version Bible (RSV)
The RSV is a revision of the American Standard Version (ASV) of the Holy Scriptures (1901), which was an American modification of the British revised version of 1881-1885. In 1937 […]
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, an Ecumenical Edition, The (“RSV Common Bible”)
A 1973 revision of the Revised Standard Version that was completed with the cooperation of members of the Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Eastern Orthodox churches. The inclusion of the Apocrypha […]
Revised Version of the Bible, The
In 1870 the Convocation of Canterbury appointed a commission to revise the King James Version of the Bible. The intention was not to make a new translation but to make […]
Revival
Christian worship characterized by intense and personal emotional experiences, fervent preaching, and extemporaneous prayer. It has served as a primary technique for evangelism in much of American Protestant Christianity. Several […]
Rhode Island, Diocese of
Organized at Newport on Nov. 18, 1790, it voted to declare Bishop Samuel Seabury of Connecticut “Bishop of the Church in this State.” From July 20, 1798, until Sept. 10, […]
Richard, Bishop of Chichester
(c. 1197-Apr. 2 or 3, 1253). Bishop and clerical reformer. He studied at Oxford, Paris, and Bologna. Richard became university chancellor at Oxford around 1235. He was later appointed chancellor […]
Ridley, Nicholas
(c. 1500-Oct. 16, 1555). Bishop and Protestant martyr. He was born in Willimoteswick, Northumberland. Ridley attended Pembroke Hall, Cambridge, where he later became a fellow. In 1527 he was ordained […]
Right of Sanctuary
See Sanctuary (2).
Right Reverend, The
See Reverend, The.
Righteousness
Living in right relationship with God and others. Unrighteous behavior would tend to undermine right relationship with God. For example, the disobedience of Adam and Eve in the Garden of […]
Righter, Walter Cameron
(b. Oct. 23, 1923). Bishop brought to trial for ordaining a homosexual. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Righter received his B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh in 1948 and […]
Rightmyer, Nelson Waite
(July 19, 1911-Sept. 29, 1983). Historian and seminary professor. He was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. Rightmyer received his M.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1935, his Th.B. from the […]
Rikkyo University
See St. Paul's University, Tokyo.
Rings
Christians have apparently worn finger-rings with Christian symbols since the third or fourth centuries. Rings have been associated with fidelity. There are several specific Christian uses of rings. Wedding Rings. […]
Rio Grande, Diocese of
The 1892 General Convention established the Missionary District of New Mexico. The 1895 General Convention voted to take the counties of El Paso, Reeves, Culberson, Jeff Davis, Presidio, Brewster, Terrell, […]
Ritchie, Arthur
(June 22, 1849-July 9, 1921). Anglo-catholic leader. He was born in Philadelphia, and received his B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1867. After teaching at the Episcopal Academy, Philadelphia, […]
Rite
A form for religious ceremony. It includes both what is said and what is done in the religious observance. Rite expresses the church's relationship with God through words, actions, and […]
Rite 1, Rite 2
The 1979 BCP provides the services of Morning and Evening Prayer, the Holy Eucharist, and the Burial Office in both traditional language and contemporary language rites. The traditional language rites […]
Glossary definitions provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY,(All Rights reserved) from “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,” Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.