Glossary of Terms
Ministration to the Sick
A pastoral office of the church. In its basic form the service is an abbreviated eucharist, including a rite for laying on of hands and anointing. The priest may suggest […]
Ministry
From the Latin mini, “lesser.” The term has the same form as the Latin magister, from magis, “greater,” meaning “master” or “teacher.” Ministry appears in the Vulgate translation of Mt […]
Ministry for Tomorrow
The title of the Report of the Special Committee on Theological Education which was chaired by Nathan M. Pusey. Ministry for Tomorrow was published by the Episcopal Church Foundation. It […]
Ministry in Higher Education
A program area of the Episcopal Church on the national level. It coordinates the ministries of the church in university and college settings.
Ministry of the Word
See Liturgy of the Word.
Minnesota, Diocese of
The Diocese of Minnesota was organized on Sept. 16, 1857, at Christ Church, St. Paul. On July 16, 1862, Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple laid the cornerstone of the Cathedral of […]
Minor Orders
Ministries such as porter (doorkeeper), lector, exorcist, and acolyte which were transitory steps that led to the major orders of deacon, priest, and bishop. The minor orders date from at […]
Miracles
Described in the NT as powers, signs, portents, and strange things. A miracle is an event in time that is perceived by the senses of those who witness it. Miracles […]
Miriam, Song of
One of the oldest fragments of Hebrew poetry. Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron (Nm 26:59), was a prophetess who celebrated the deliverance of Israel from the Egyptians with […]
Misericord
A ledge or rest on the underside of a hinged seat in a choir stall. It was designed to provide “merciful” support for monks or others needing help to stand […]
Missal
An altar book that provides all the textual materials needed for celebration of the Holy Eucharist. It includes liturgical texts and directions, readings, additional prayers, hymns, and musical notations. This […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.