Glossary of Terms

Platte, Missionary District of The

The 1889 General Convention voted to divide the Diocese of Nebraska and create the Missionary District of The Platte. This Missionary District, under several different names, existed until 1946. It was known as the Missionary District of The Platte from Oct. 23, 1889, until Oct. 13, 1898.

Pledge

A commitment to give one's time, talents, and money as an expression of faith and a personal response to God's generosity. Parish members are encouraged to make an annual stewardship pledge. This pledge represents their specific Christian commitment to “work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God” (BCP, p. 856). Parish […]

Plenary Inspiration

The belief that the entire Bible comes from authors whose hearts and minds were inspired by God. Their mental processes were sharpened and elevated for the task. Although all were inspired, the writers had different personalities and literary styles which are reflected in the various biblical books. The stress, therefore, is on the writers rather […]

Plene esse

See Esse, Bene Esse, Plene Esse.

Plumbline

Quarterly journal of the Episcopal Society for Ministry in Higher Education (ESMHE). The journal and its title are inspired by the image of Amos and other prophets who confronted Israel as a religious community and a nation. It first appeared in Mar. 1973.

Pneumatology

From the Greek pneuma (wind, breath, spirit) and logia (doctrine), indicating that branch of Christian theology which deals with the Holy Spirit. Three aspects of the received doctrine are especially important: 1) The recognition by the Council of Constantinople in 381 that God is one Being in three Persons. This recognition acknowledges the full divinity […]

Pocahontas

(c. 1595-1617). Daughter of the powerful Indian chief Powhatan. While being held hostage at Jamestown, Virginia, in 1613, she was converted to Christianity and baptized as Rebecca by Alexander Whitaker. In 1614 she married John Rolfe. She may have saved the life of Captain John Smith in 1607.

Pohick Church, Lorton, Virginia

George Washington's parish church. A place of worship was first established near Lewis Heights, Fort Belvoir, in the seventeenth century. Some time prior to 1730 it was relocated near the Occoquan River. This second church was about two miles southeast of the present church. In 1732 this second church became the parish church of Truro […]

Pointing

A method of marking the syllables of a psalm for chanting. It is used for Anglican Chant and Plainchant. See Anglican Chant; see Plainsong.

Polity

The term is derived from the Greek word for “city.” In general English usage, polity refers to the form of government in a city or nation and the body of laws which govern a political entity. In ecclesiastical use polity has come to refer also to the form of government for an organized church. In […]

Polk, Leonidas

(Apr. 10, 1806-June 14, 1864). Bishop and Confederate general. He was born in Raleigh, North Carolina. In 1821 he matriculated at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. In 1823 he received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point and graduated in 1827. He then studied at Virginia Theological Seminary and […]

Polly Bond Awards

Awards established in the mid-1970s by the Episcopal Communicators to acknowledge excellence and achievement in the ministry of church communications. They are named in honor of Polly Bond (1914-1979), one-time director of communications in the Diocese of Ohio. Bond was a skilled writer and a pioneer in the use of electronic media in the church.

Polycarp

(d. Feb. 23, 156). Bishop and martyr. He was born in the second half of the first century and became the Bishop of Smyrna in Asia Minor (Turkey). Polycarp is listed among the “Apostolic Fathers.” Writings related to him include a letter of Polycarp to the Philippians and the Martyrdom of Polycarp. The letter reveals […]

Polyphony, Choral

Contrapuntal, or “many voiced,” choral compositions in which the vocal lines are conceived as independent melodies that are woven together into a complex whole. This style of music is “linear” in contrast to vocal settings (including hymns) which are conceived chordally with a melody in the upper voice and with an accompaniment provided by the […]

Pope, Clarence Cullam, Jr.

(b. Oct. 26, 1929). Leading traditionalist bishop. He was born in Lafayette, Louisiana. Pope received his B.A. from Centenary College in 1950, and his B.D. from the University of the South in 1954. He was ordained deacon on June 29, 1954, and priest on May 9, 1955. Pope began his ordained ministry as curate at […]

Porter

See Minor Orders.

Porter, Harry Boone

(Jan. 10, 1923-June 5, 1999). Priest, liturgical scholar, professor, editor, and missioner. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He received his B.A. from Yale University in 1947 and his S.T.B. from the Berkeley Divinity School in 1950. From 1950 until 1952 Porter was a fellow/tutor at the General Theological Seminary, and in 1952 he received […]

Position Paper

A paper issued by the House of Bishops which expresses the position of the House on any given subject or issue. The House of Bishops may require the dissemination of a position paper on the same basis as a pastoral letter.

Post-modernism

A relativistic movement that denies the existence of absolute meaning and the possibility of objective knowledge of reality. It contradicts the attempt of the Enlightenment to reach absolute truth through pure human reason. Post-modernism denies the possibility of objective theological truth. Faith is reduced to a way of speaking used by a given community rather […]

Postcommunion Prayer

A prayer of thanksgiving after communion that also seeks God's help for Christian service. The eucharistic community is sent “into the world in peace” to love and serve God as witnesses of Christ (BCP, pp. 365-366). This prayer expresses the transition of the Christian's attention from the mystery of sacramental participation to the engagement of […]

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Glossary of Terms