Glossary of Terms
Rose, Lawrence
(Nov. 2, 1905-Oct. 17, 1987). Priest and educator. He was born in Monterey, Mexico, and received his B.A. from Harvard in 1923 and his S.T.B. from the General Theological Seminary in 1928. He was ordained deacon on June 2, 1926, and priest on May 24, 1927. After ministries in Brooklyn, New York, and Phillipsburg, Montana, […]
Rota
A rotating service schedule that identifies who will serve in a particular ministry (such as acolytes or lectors) at scheduled services throughout a given period.
Round (Musical)
See Canon (5).
Routley, Erik
(1917-1982). A British Reformed Church minister, composer, hymn writer, hymnal editor, and teacher. He was born in Brighton, Sussex, England, and educated at Lancing College and Mansfield College, Oxford. He was one of the most influential hymnodists of his time. He served as minister of Congregational and reformed churches in England and Scotland. At various […]
Rowson, Susanna Haswell
(c. 1762-Mar. 2, 1824). Novelist and educator. She was born in Portsmouth, England. When she was seven her family settled in Nantasket, Massachusetts. Her first novel, published in 1786, was Victoria. It received good reviews. In 1791 she published Charlotte, a Tale of Truth, which was also known as Charlotte Temple. It was the leading […]
Ruach
See Episcopal Women's Caucus.
Rubric
A ceremonial or other direction given in the BCP, now typically printed in italics. Rubrics were printed in red in medieval service books. The term “rubric” is derived from the Latin word for “red.” See Black Rubric, The.
Rule of Faith
A term designating a summary of orthodox faith (regula fidei) in the first Christian centuries. It was a confession of faith in the three divine Persons that included a confession of faith in the Incarnation of the Word. It eventually designated three traditional creeds: the Apostles' Creed, which grew out of the confessions of faith […]
Rule of Life
1) A set of guidelines and commitments directing one's life. The rule usually includes set times of daily prayer and meditation, study (such as reading the Bible), and acts of charity. It can also include regular attendance at the Holy Eucharist, making retreats, placing oneself under a spiritual director or confessor, and fasting or other […]
Rural Messenger, The
See Rural Workers' Fellowship.
Rusch, Paul. See KEEP
(Kiyosato Educational Experiment Project), American Committee for.
S.T.B.
T.B. (The Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree presupposes a first bachelor's degree and was designed to prepare persons for ministry in the church. It is no longer used.
S.T.D.
T.D. (The Doctor of Sacred Theology degree presupposes a first theological degree and is to equip persons for teaching and research in theological seminaries, colleges, and universities.
S.T.M.
T.M. (The Master of Sacred Theology degree presupposes the M. Div. degree and is an academic program stressing fuller mastery of resources in one of the theological disciplines.
Sabbatarian
A person who observes Saturday as the Sabbath, as in Judaism, some Puritan groups, and some sect groups in Christianity such as Seventh Day Adventists. It also means a person who believes in a strict observance of the Sabbath, whether observed on Saturday or Sunday, including the OT prohibitions against work on the Sabbath. See […]
Sabbath
The seventh day of the Jewish week, our Saturday. It was marked by a total prohibition of work (Ex 23:12). In Christian liturgical usage, Holy Saturday is called the Great or Holy Sabbath, the day when Christ rested in the tomb. Early Christians rejected the celebration of the Jewish Sabbath and the restrictions on activity […]
Sabbatical
This term comes from the word “sabbath,” and means seven or seventh. It means a period of rest and an intermission in labor. A sabbatical year is the seventh year. It is a time when persons are relieved from their duties for study and travel. It is now used for a period of leave that […]
Sabellianism
Trinitarian theology of Sabellius, a teacher in Rome before his condemnation by Pope Callistus (217-222). Sabellius believed that the Creator (Father) is not personally distinguished from the Redeemer (Son) or the Sanctifier (Spirit), but rather exists and acts according to three modes of being and action. Already repudiated by the Church Fathers, this theology was […]
Sacerdotal, Sacerdotalism
From the Latin sacerdos, “priest.” It means of or pertaining to the order of priests or the role, identity, or function of priests. A ministry reserved to the ordained priesthood is a sacerdotal ministry. Sacerdotal ministries include celebrating the eucharist and granting absolution in the Reconciliation of a Penitent.
Sacramental Rites
The sacramental rites of the Episcopal Church include Confirmation, Ordination, Holy Matrimony, Reconciliation of a Penitent, and Unction (BCP, pp. 860-861). These rites are distinguished from the sacraments of Baptism and Eucharist, which were given by Christ and are understood to be necessary for the Christian life of all persons. The Roman Catholic Church recognizes […]
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.