Glossary

Terms beginning with O

Offices

1)     The Divine Offices of the Church are the daily prayers said in religious communities or by parish clergy. At the Reformation the eight daily offices were reduced to two (Morning and Evening Prayer) which were obligatory on the parish clergy who were expected to ring the bell and so invite the parishioners to join them. This still happens in many parish churches today and lay people often take part in the saying of the offices as well as the clergy.

Ordination

1)     Ordination is the setting apart of men and women for the work of the threefold ministry of bishops, priests and deacons. At present ordination to the Diaconate (order of deacons) and the Priesthood is open to both men and women in the Church of England. In some parts of the Anglican Communion women can be consecrated bishops as well as men. In the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches ordination is still restricted to men. Ordination to the three fold ministry dates back to early church and some scholars trace it to New Testament times.

2 Terms with 2 Definitions