Glossary of Terms
Papal Infallibility
See Infallibility, Papal.
Parable
The term is from the Greek for “something placed by the side of something else.” NT parables are sayings of Jesus in which he uses metaphors or similes, brief or […]
Paraeschatology
The study of what happens between death and the ultimate state of a person.
Paraments
Cloth or tapestry hangings used to adorn the space for worship, especially those hangings at the altar, pulpit, and lectern. The term is derived from the Latin, “to decorate” or […]
Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary, The
( See Anne and Joachim.)
Parish
The term is used in the 1979 BCP and earlier editions, and means a self-supporting congregation under a rector, as opposed to a mission or other congregation under a vicar. […]
Parish House
A church building or house that may provide space for the parish office, clergy and staff offices, classrooms, choir rehearsal room, and meeting rooms. It may also include a chapel, […]
Parish Meeting
A meeting of the members of a parish. The by-laws of the parish generally require an annual parish meeting and state the qualifications to be a voting member of the […]
Parish Nurse
A registered nurse (RN) who provides health care in a pastoral setting. The program was founded in 1983 by the Rev. Granger Westberg, a Lutheran pastor and chaplain at Lutheran […]
Parish Profile
An instrument that provides important information concerning a parish, including information about the parish's services and programs, budget, parish life and goals, and previous clergy. The standardized form that is […]
Parish Register
The formal record of the various official acts in a parish church. Canon 15 of the Constitution and Canons of 1789 required every minister of the church to keep a […]
Parker, Matthew
(Aug. 6, 1504-May 17, 1575). The first Archbishop of Canterbury under Queen Elizabeth. Parker was responsible for enacting and enforcing the Elizabethan Settlement. He studied at St. Mary's Hostel, Cambridge […]
Parochial
Concerning a parish. For example, parochial clergy serve in parishes.
Parochial Mission
A mission that is supported by a parish. The supporting parish may provide the aided congregation with staff and program assistance in addition to financial support.
Parochial Report (Annual Report)
This report is the official data-gathering instrument of the Episcopal Church. Each parish or congregation files this report annually with the diocesan bishop. A copy of each Parochial Report is […]
Parousia
A Greek word meaning “presence” or “arrival,” parousia is often translated as “second coming.” It is part of the area of theology called eschatology, the study of the last things […]
Parson
The member of the clergy, typically a priest or presbyter, with pastoral responsibility for a parish. In medieval times, the rector of a parish was the parson, or legal “person” […]
Parsons, Edward Lambe
(May 18, 1868-July 19, 1960). Bishop and liturgist. He was born in New York City. Parsons received his B.A. in 1889 from Yale, and graduated from Union Theological Seminary, New […]
Pasch
This term for Easter is from the Latin and Greek Pascha, which transliterated the Hebrew pesach, “Passover.” It was used both for the Jewish Passover and the Christian Easter. The […]
Pascha nostrum (Christ our Passover)
The term literally means “our passover” in Latin. It has two distinguishable meanings in the BCP. 1) Canticle based on 1 Cor 5:7-8, Rom 6:9-11, and 1 Cor 15:20-22. It […]
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.