Venerable
An honorific signifying respect. In The Episcopal Church, generally used as a title of address for an archdeacon, abbreviated as “The Ven.”
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Glossary
An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church
Glossary definitions adapted from An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians, edited by Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY.
Veneration
Reverence or honor paid by Christians to saints, sacred places and texts, crosses, altars, images, and icons. Stronger than respect and distinguished from absolute worship, which is due to God alone.
Verger
A verger exercises a ministry of service, organization, and welcome by assisting the clergy and congregation in the ceremonial aspects of worship.
Very Reverend, The
An honorific for a priest who is a dean of a cathedral, deanery, or seminary. Often abbreviated as the Very Rev.
Vespers
An evening prayer service that is part of the Daily Office offered at the close of the day.
Vestibule
See Narthex.
Vestments
The distinctive garments worn by leaders during a worship service.
Vestry
The elected lay governing body of a congregation that, together with clergy, is responsible for temporal, financial, and administrative affairs as well as support of mission and ministry.
Via Media
Latin for “the middle way.” A term popularized in the 19th century that characterizes Anglicanism as a middle way between Roman Catholicism and Puritanism. Used in The Episcopal Church to describe a theological and practical approach that seeks balance between polarities.
Vicar
A priest appointed by and accountable to the bishop to lead a mission congregation, a congregation under the authority of the bishop.