Benediction
A blessing pronounced by a bishop or priest at the conclusion of a worship service.
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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.
Berkeley Divinity School
An Episcopal seminary within Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1854 and became a full partner with Yale in 1971.
Bernard of Clairvaux
A 12th-century influential monk who was called the “pope maker” and the uncrowned emperor of Europe. Feast day: Aug. 20.
Bexley Hall Seminary
Two Episcopal seminaries, Bexley Hall and Seabury-Western, federated in 2012, relocating in 2016 to the campus of Chicago Theological Seminary.
Biretta
Stiff, brimless, three- or four-sided cap worn by some clergy on ceremonial occasions.
Bishop
One of the three orders of ordained ministers in the church, the others being deacon and priest. Bishops in The Episcopal Church are elected by laypeople and clergy, and may be any gender.
Bishop Coadjutor
An elected bishop with the right of succession upon the resignation of the diocesan bishop.
Bishop Diocesan
A bishop elected by a diocese holding ecclesiastical authority and jurisdiction in that diocese, serving as chief pastor and providing oversight to congregations, clergy, and diocesan institutions.
Bishop Provisional
A bishop elected by a diocese holding provisional charge of that diocese and providing temporary episcopal leadership until a bishop diocesan is elected.
Bishop Suffragan
A bishop elected by a diocesan convention to assist the bishop diocesan without right of succession but eligible to be elected if a nominee. From the Latin suffraganeus, meaning assisting or supporting.