Glossary of Terms
Presiding Bishop
Chief Pastor and Primate of the Episcopal Church. The office evolved originally from a rule of the House of Bishops in 1789 making its presiding officer the senior member in […]
Presiding Bishop’s Diploma in Church Music Program
The original name of the Leadership Program for Musicians Serving Small Churches. See Leadership Program for Musicians Serving Small Churches.
Prevenient Grace
The aspect of God's grace that is understood to precede the free determination of the will. The term “prevenient” is derived from the Latin meaning “to come before” or “to […]
Price, Charles Philip
(Oct. 4, 1920-Oct. 13, 1999). Priest, theologian, and seminary professor. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Price received his B.A. from Harvard University in 1941, his M.Div. from the Virginia […]
Price, Roger
(Dec. 6, 1696-Dec. 8, 1762). Commissary to New England. He was born in Whitefield, England. Price graduated from Balliol College, Oxford on Feb. 21, 1717. He was ordained deacon and […]
Priest
Derived from the Greek presbyteros, “elder” or “old man”, the term is used as a synonym for presbyter. Presbyters constituted a collegiate ruling body of institutions in Judaism. The Catechism […]
Priesthood of All Believers
Fundamental doctrine which affirms that all baptized Christians share the eternal priesthood of Jesus. Christ's high priesthood is unique and his atoning sacrifice was offered once for all. The royal […]
Primacy
In ecclesiastical terms, primacy is the status of being first, or presiding, among other bishops. In the early church, primacy was often accorded to the bishop of the chief city […]
Primate
The chief bishop in an Anglican Province is called a primate. In the United States, the Presiding Bishop serves as “Chief Pastor and Primate.” The 1978 Lambeth Conference requested that […]
Prime
The second office of the seven canonical hours. It was usually recited at about 6 a.m., which was known as the first hour. Prime along with terce, sext, and none […]
Prior
A man who is head of a religious house known as a priory, or the second person in authority of an abbey. An abbot is a man who is the […]
Prioress
A woman who is head of a religious house known as a priory, or the second person in authority of an abbey. An abbess is a woman who is the […]
Priory
A religious house that has a prior or prioress as superior.
Pro-Cathedral
A church named by a diocesan bishop to serve as a cathedral but which remains under the governance of the vestry and dean. It is used as a cathedral for […]
Process Theology
A theological approach that understands ultimate reality in terms of a dynamic process of becoming and ongoing change. This processive understanding may be contrasted with static notions of being that […]
Procession (Liturgical)
A movement of participants in a liturgy from one place to another. The use of processions at the eucharist followed the legalization od Christianity by Constantine in the fourth century. […]
Processional Cross
A cross or crucifix mounted on a pol that is carried in a procession by an acolyte or server.
Processions (Trinitarian)
The divine processions of the Son and the Spirit in the immanent (internal) life of God are at the heart of the distinctions of the persons of the Trinity. Christian […]
Profane
Expressing contempt or blasphemous disrespect for God or the sacred. For example, vandalism or desecration of a church is a profane act. The BOS provides a form for the Restoration […]
Professed Member of a Monastic Order
A member of a monastic or religious community who has taken vows. This person has a voice in the chapter (legislative gathering) of the community. Some communities distinguish between the […]
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.