Glossary of Terms
Missal Mass
” The use of a missal has never been required in the Anglican liturgical tradition. However, unofficial missals have been privately published. These missals combine liturgical texts from the Prayer Book with supplementary materials such as prayers, ceremonial directions, and scripture lessons for various occasions that may not be included in the Prayer Book. Although […]
Mission
From the Latin “to send.” Christian mission is the sending forth to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. The authority for Christian mission is based in Christ and known through the power of the Holy Spirit. Christian mission is understood to be a response to Jesus' command for his disciples to “go and make disciples […]
Mission and Ministry
Journal published by Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry, formerly Kerygma. Mission and Ministry began publication in Advent 1982. It combines “theological reflection and pastoral instruction on issues important to biblical Christians.”
Mission Services or Third Services
” Simplified forms of the Daily Offices of the BCP. These simplified forms, also known as “Third Services,” began to be used in the mid-nineteenth century in pastoral contexts that were not considered appropriate for the BCP forms of the Daily Offices. For example, the Protestant Episcopal Society for the Promotion of Evangelical Knowledge was […]
Missionary
One sent to proclaim the good news of Christ. The term is from the Latin “to send.” All Christians by baptism are called to “proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ” (BCP, p. 305). The church seeks to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. […]
Missionary Bishops
A bishop sent by the church to lead the organization and development of the church in a new mission field. The 1835 General Convention, the Missionary Convention, passed the canon, “of Missionary Bishops.” This canon provided that the House of Deputies may, on nomination by the House of Bishops, elect a person to be a […]
Missionary College of St
Augustine, Benicia, California. See St. Augustine, Missionary College of, Benicia, California.
Missionary, The
This periodical was published at Burlington, New Jersey, under the patronage and editorship of Bishop George Washington Doane. The first issue was dated Sept. 20, 1835, and it ceased publication in Dec. 1837. It called itself a “Soldier of the Cross.” It is very valuable for the information it provides about the 1835 General Convention, […]
Mississippi, Diocese of
This diocese was organized at Trinity Church, Natchez, on May 17-18, 1826. It includes the entire state of Mississippi. On Jan. 19, 1966, St. Andrew's Church, Jackson, became the Cathedral Parish of St. Andrew.
Missouri, Diocese of
Jackson Kemper was consecrated the Missionary Bishop of Missouri and Indiana on Sept. 1, 1835. On Nov. 16, 1840, the Diocese of Missouri was organized at Christ Church, St. Louis, which became Christ Church Cathedral on May 22, 1888. The General Convention of 1889 voted to divide the Diocese of Missouri. The Diocese of Missouri […]
Mite Box
” See Blue Box (UTO).
Miter, or Mitre
Liturgical headgear and insignia of bishops and other prelates. It is typically worn by bishops in procession and when pronouncing episcopal blessings. It is removed during prayer, including the eucharistic canon. The term is from the Greek for “turban.” The miter is shield-shaped and pointed at the top. It may be made of silk or […]
Mixed Chalice
The practice of mixing a little water with the wine that will be consecrated at the eucharist. The BCP states that this practice “is customary” (p. 407). It probably is derived from ancient Jewish custom. It was likely observed by Jesus at the Last Supper. It was the invariable practice of the early church, and […]
Mizeki, Bernard
(c. 1861-June 1896). Catechist and martyr in Rhodesia. He was born on the coast of Mozambique, and moved to Capetown, South Africa, in search of employment when he was a teenager. In Capetown he met Frederick Puller, a member of the Society of St. John the Evangelist. Puller baptized Mizeki on Mar. 9, 1886, and […]
Modalism
Modalism, or modalistic monarchianism, is a pre-Nicene teaching about the relation of Christ to God. First taught by Noetus of Smyrna at the end of the second century, modalism was also taught at Rome by Praxeas, Sabellius, and others. Modalism took several forms. Praxeas taught that Word and Spirit were simply names (or modes) of […]
Modernism
The term for the thought of some late nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Roman Catholic scholars who sought to embrace the results of recent advances in history, science, and philosophy. They trusted catholic tradition but mistrusted scholastic theology. They insisted on the complete freedom of scholarly research from ecclesiastical interference. Extreme modernists asserted that it was […]
Modeste, Leon Edgar
(b. Aug. 19, 1926). Director of General Convention Special Program. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. Modeste received his B.A. in 1950 from Long Island University and his M.S.W. in 1953 from the Columbia University School of Social Work. He also studied at the Graduate School of Business at Columbia University. Modeste taught at […]
Mollegen, Albert Theodore
(Feb. 17, 1906-Jan. 22, 1984). Seminary professor and theologian. He held the chair of New Testament Language and Literature and later the Clinton S. Quin Chair of Christian Ethics at Virginia Theological Seminary from 1936 until his retirement in 1974. As one of Paul Tillich's first American students, Mollegen became one of Tillich's most sympathetic […]
Monarchianism
From the Greek monos, “one,” and arche, “source” or “principle,” monarchianism is a teaching about God which flourished in the second and third centuries. It stressed the unity (or monarchy) of God rather than the three persons, Father, Son, and Spirit. Monarchianism occurred in two forms. Dynamic monarchianism, more properly called adoptionism, held that God […]
Monastery
A place where members of religious orders live in community, usually under the monastic vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The orderly life of prayer, work, and study is carried out in the context of the “hours of the day” or “divine offices” and the daily eucharist. The brothers in a monastery or sisters in […]
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.