Glossary of Terms
Open Pulpit, Canon on
From as early as 1792, members of the Episcopal Church were concerned about clergy from other Christian traditions speaking in Episcopal churches. The canon, “Of persons Not Ministers in this […]
Opening Acclamation
In the Holy Eucharist the opening acclamation is the greeting of the people by the presider and their response, which begins the service (BCP, pp. 323, 355). Its purpose is […]
Opening Preces
These versicles and responses occur at the beginning of the Daily Offices: “Lord open our lips” at Morning Prayer (BCP, pp. 42, 80; The Hymnal 1982, S 1, S 33) […]
Opening Sentences
See Sentences (Opening).
Orans Position
The traditional posture of early Christian prayer involved one standing with the arms raised and extended like the letter “Y” with the palms uplifted. In the early church the entire […]
Oratory
A place of worship other than a parish church or cathedral. The term is from Latin, “place of prayer.” It is a place of prayer set apart for the use […]
Order
1) Concerning the form or structure of a liturgical service. The BCP provides “orders” for services at noonday (pp. 103-107) and in the evening (pp. 109-114). The BCP also provides […]
Order of Service for Noonday, An
See Noonday, An Order of Service for.
Order of Worship for the Evening, An
A form of evening service or vespers for use in the late afternoon or evening. It may be used as a complete rite instead of Evening Prayer, or as the […]
Orders, Holy
See Order (2).
Ordinal, The
Since the sixteenth century the word “Ordinal” has been used in Anglicanism to refer to the texts of the rites for ordination. The 1549 BCP did not include the ordination […]
Ordinand
One who is ordained at the ordination of a bishop, priest, or deacon.
Ordinary (of a diocese)
A diocesan bishop, as distinct from a suffragan, assistant, or coadjutor bishop. The term apparently springs from the understanding of “ordinary jurisdiction” which is held in canon law to be […]
Ordinary Time
This term is used in the Roman Catholic Church to indicate the parts of the liturgical year that are not included in the major seasons of the church calendar. Ordinary […]
Ordination
A sacramental rite of the church by which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops to those […]
Ordination of Women
In 1976 the General Convention approved the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate in the Episcopal Church and stated that such ordinations might begin on Jan. 1, […]
Oregon and Washington, Missionary District of
The 1853 General Convention created the Missionary District of Oregon and Washington Territory. The 1880 General Convention divided this Missionary District into the Missionary District of Oregon and the Missionary […]
Oregon, Diocese of
On Oct. 13, 1853, the General Convention created the Missionary District of Oregon and Washington Territory. On Oct. 15, 1880, the General Convention divided it into the Missionary District of […]
Original Sin
The shared sinful condition of all humanity. This Christian doctrine is drawn from the Pauline writings, such as Rom 5:12-19 and 1 Cor 15:21-22, which suggest that humanity shares by […]
Orison
A prayer, an address to God. The term is from the Latin, “oration.”
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.