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 the making of a special confession if the sick person's conscience is troubled. The form for the Reconciliation of a Penitent is used. The BCP […]

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 20:26, “he who would be great [Latin, maior] among you, let him be your minister,” translating the underlying Greek diakonos, “servant,” as “minister.” Thus ministry […]

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 was informally referred to as “the Pusey Report.” The 1967 General Convention of the Episcopal Church accepted this report which recommended a consolidation of the […]

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 Our Merciful Saviour at Faribault. This was the first Episcopal cathedral built in the United States. It was consecrated on June 24, 1869. The 1895 […]

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 least the third century. Ordination to minor orders in the early church included a commission to exercise the office and the handing over of instruments […]

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 reflect the direct activity of God which transcends the usual order of nature for a religious purpose. In NT times, miracles were not considered to […]

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 a victory dance (Ex 15:20-21). She sang, “Sing to the Lord, for he has/ triumphed gloriously;/ horse and rider he has thrown into/ the sea.” […]

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 during long periods of worship. The term is from the Latin for “mercy.” A misericord may be carved or decorated. The term is also used […]

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 single volume is used by the celebrant who presides at the eucharist. Use of the missal dates from the tenth century. The Roman Missal was […]

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.

An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church

Glossary of Terms