Glossary of Terms
Dogma
Definitive teaching of the church which is to be believed by the members of the church. The term is from the Greek dokein, “to seem.” It designates doctrine which has […]
Dom
An abbreviated form of Dominus, which means “master.” This title is given to some professed Benedictine monks and to some monks in other monastic orders.
Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society
The missionary organization and corporate body of the Episcopal Church. The constitution of the missionary society was first adopted by the special General Convention of 1821 and incorporated by the […]
Dominic
(c. 1170-Aug. 6, 1221). Dominic de Guzman was born in Calaruega, Castile, Spain. He studied at the University of Palencia, in the Kingdom of Leon. In 1216 Pope Honorius III […]
Dominical Letter
See Sunday Letter.
Dominical Sacraments
Sacraments associated with the Lord Jesus Christ. The two great sacraments given by Christ to his church are Baptism and Eucharist (BCP, p. 858). The term “dominical” is from Latin […]
Dominican Republic, Diocese of the
Anglicanism was brought to the Dominican Republic in 1897 when Benjamin Isaac Wilson migrated from the Virgin Islands. Wilson was a teacher of the Christian faith, and was ordained priest […]
Don
This term comes from “Dominus.” In Spain it was a title given to a nobleman. It is now used for the head of a college and for fellows in English […]
Donatism
Rigorist schism. Donatists were the followers of Donatus Magnus, a schismatic bishop of Carthage in the mid-fourth century, who believed that the validity of a sacrament depended on the personal […]
Donne, John
(1572-Mar. 31, 1631). Noted preacher and poet. He was born in London, sometime between Jan. 24 and June 19, 1572. Donne studied at Hart Hall, Oxford. In 1592 he was […]
Door Keeper
See Minor Orders.
Dort, Synod of
Assembly of the Dutch Reformed Church convened at Dordrecht, near Rotterdam, from Nov. 1618 to May 1619, to deal with the Arminian Controversy. The Arminians (Remonstrants) opposed the Calvinist doctrine […]
Dossal
A large cloth or piece of fabric that is hung on the wall behind the altar. Its color may match the liturgical color of the day, and it may be […]
Double Procession
See Processions (Trinitarian).
Douglas, Charles Winfred
(Feb. 15, 1867-Jan. 18, 1944). Church musician and editor. He was born in Oswego, New York, and received his Bachelor in Music degree from Syracuse University in 1891. He also […]
Doxology
Words of glory (from the Greek doxa logos) or praise to God, usually in a trinitarian form. Christian tradition contains three main forms of doxology: 1) the Greater Doxology, the […]
Dozier, Verna J.
(1917-2006). Leading African American female lay theologian. She was born in Washington, D.C. Dozier received her B.A. and M.A. from Howard University. She taught English in the Washington public schools […]
Drake, Sir Francis
(c. 1540-Jan. 28, 1596). Celebrated navigator. He was born near Tavistock, Devonshire, England. He probably anchored at San Francisco Bay on June 17, 1579. On June 21, 1579, Francis Fletcher, […]
Dublin Agreed Statement
A statement issued in Aug. 1984 by the Anglican-Orthodox Joint Doctrinal Commission after the Episcopal Church began to ordain women to the priesthood. The Orthodox opposed the ordination of women, […]
duBois, Albert Julius
(June 9, 1906-June 6, 1980). Influential opponent of the ordination of women and a leader of splinter groups. He was born in Neenah, Wisconsin. DuBois received his B.A. from Lawrence […]
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.