Glossary of Terms
Open Pulpit, Canon on
From as early as 1792, members of the Episcopal Church were concerned about clergy from other Christian traditions speaking in Episcopal churches. The canon, “Of persons Not Ministers in this Church Officiating in any Congregation Thereof,” forbade this. The 1907 General Convention amended this canon to allow Episcopal clergy to invite clergy from other churches […]
Opening Acclamation
In the Holy Eucharist the opening acclamation is the greeting of the people by the presider and their response, which begins the service (BCP, pp. 323, 355). Its purpose is to bring the congregation corporately into dialogue with the presider and set a tone for the celebration.
Opening Preces
These versicles and responses occur at the beginning of the Daily Offices: “Lord open our lips” at Morning Prayer (BCP, pp. 42, 80; The Hymnal 1982, S 1, S 33) and “O God make speed to save us” at the other offices (BCP, pp. 63, 103, 117, 128; The Hymnal 1982, S 26, S 33). […]
Opening Sentences
See Sentences (Opening).
Orans Position
The traditional posture of early Christian prayer involved one standing with the arms raised and extended like the letter “Y” with the palms uplifted. In the early church the entire congregation prayed in this position. Today, except among charismatics, it is usually only the presider who uses the orans position for prayer. The position is […]
Oratory
A place of worship other than a parish church or cathedral. The term is from Latin, “place of prayer.” It is a place of prayer set apart for the use of a particular group or individual or for worship in a specific context or situation. For example, the term may be applied to a cemetery […]
Order
1) Concerning the form or structure of a liturgical service. The BCP provides “orders” for services at noonday (pp. 103-107) and in the evening (pp. 109-114). The BCP also provides orders for eucharist (pp. 400-405), marriage (pp. 435-436), and burial (pp. 506-507). These “orders” are often used as alternate services for pastoral reasons or special […]
Order of Service for Noonday, An
See Noonday, An Order of Service for.
Order of Worship for the Evening, An
A form of evening service or vespers for use in the late afternoon or evening. It may be used as a complete rite instead of Evening Prayer, or as the introduction to Evening Prayer or another service, or as the prelude to an evening meal or other activity. It may also be used in private […]
Orders, Holy
See Order (2).
Ordinal, The
Since the sixteenth century the word “Ordinal” has been used in Anglicanism to refer to the texts of the rites for ordination. The 1549 BCP did not include the ordination rites. These were printed separately in 1550 with the title “The Form and Manner of Making and Consecrating of Archbishops, Bishops, Priests, and Deacons.” These […]
Ordinand
One who is ordained at the ordination of a bishop, priest, or deacon.
Ordinary (of a diocese)
A diocesan bishop, as distinct from a suffragan, assistant, or coadjutor bishop. The term apparently springs from the understanding of “ordinary jurisdiction” which is held in canon law to be the jurisdiction “permanently and irremovably annexed to” the office of bishop.
Ordinary Time
This term is used in the Roman Catholic Church to indicate the parts of the liturgical year that are not included in the major seasons of the church calendar. Ordinary time includes the Monday after the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord through the Tuesday before Ash Wednesday, and the Monday after Pentecost through […]
Ordination
A sacramental rite of the church by which God gives authority and the grace of the Holy Spirit through prayer and the laying on of hands by bishops to those being made bishops, priests, and deacons (BCP, pp. 860-861). The three distinct orders of bishops, priests, and deacons have been characteristic of Christ’s holy catholic […]
Ordination of Women
In 1976 the General Convention approved the ordination of women to the priesthood and the episcopate in the Episcopal Church and stated that such ordinations might begin on Jan. 1, 1977. Similar resolutions had been narrowly defeated at the 1970 and 1973 General Conventions. A 1967 General Convention resolution had opened the diaconate to women […]
Oregon and Washington, Missionary District of
The 1853 General Convention created the Missionary District of Oregon and Washington Territory. The 1880 General Convention divided this Missionary District into the Missionary District of Oregon and the Missionary District of Washington. See Oregon, Diocese of; see Olympia, Diocese of; see Spokane, Diocese of.
Oregon, Diocese of
On Oct. 13, 1853, the General Convention created the Missionary District of Oregon and Washington Territory. On Oct. 15, 1880, the General Convention divided it into the Missionary District of Washington and the Missionary District of Oregon. The primary convention of the Diocese of Oregon met at Trinity Church, Portland, Sept. 11-13, 1889. The General […]
Original Sin
The shared sinful condition of all humanity. This Christian doctrine is drawn from the Pauline writings, such as Rom 5:12-19 and 1 Cor 15:21-22, which suggest that humanity shares by nature in the fall of Adam described in Gn 3. Paul likewise urges that the consequences for humanity of Adam’s fall are to be reversed […]
Orison
A prayer, an address to God. The term is from the Latin, “oration.”
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.