We want the language we use throughout Baptized for Life to be accessible and helpful. We have created this glossary to support your journey with us.
As human beings, language and symbols are the primary vehicles for communication. We use this complex dynamic to construct meaning. Yet, the relationship between language and meaning is never straightforward. Like any institution or organization, the Episcopal Church has language that contributes to our meaning-making. Given the significance of culture and context to imbue meaning, language in the form of words can lead to misunderstanding or even prove to be a barrier to communication when not explained.
Catechumenate –
an intentional process of preparing individuals for baptism based on practices from the early church that include regular participation in communal worship, study, and service. The catechumenate is an immersive experience in Christianity that includes sponsors (mentors) and regular liturgical rites to mark an individual’s deepening levels of commitment to the Way of Jesus.
Diocese –
a geographical jurisdiction of the Church under the pastoral care of a bishop
Discernment –
the spiritual practice of deep listening for God’s will and your own in the unfolding decisions and actions of one’s life
Liturgy –
Shorthand term for the service of worship called by many, the Holy Eucharist or Lord’s Supper. It is participation of the People of God in the work of God, a time of enacting in ritualized ways the actions and attitudes befitting those who are followers of the God of Jesus of Nazareth. (For more, see: The Liturgy Explained, New Edition by James W. Farwell, 2013.)
Vocation –
Christian vocation is about being called by God for service in the world. Vocation is connecting our stories with God’s story (For more, see: The Stories We Live: Finding God’s Calling All Around Us by Kathleen A. Cahalan, 2017)