Episcopal Glossary

- D -
D. Min. - Doctor of Ministry; a special graduate program for clergy offered by many seminaries; courses are often scheduled in the summer so that parish clergy may attend.

D.D. - common abbreviation of the honorary degree Doctor of Divinity; an honorary degree reserved exclusively for ordained persons, especially bishops. The abbreviation is used after the bishop's full name: The Rt. Rev. John C. Doe, D.D.

Daily Offices - Morning Prayer, Noonday Prayer, Evening Prayer, and Compline (see BCP, 35ff.). An Order of Worship for the Evening is also considered an Office (see BCP, 108ff.).

Dalmatic - Similar to the tunic and worn by the deacon.

(Photo courtesy - Robert Gaspard Co.)

De-consecration - a ritual or service for returning a former sacred building or site to a non-sacred status; church buildings no longer in use as churches are de-consecrated before being sold or destroyed.

Deacon - An ordained assisting minister whose main functions at the Eucharist are to read the Gospel, (in some churches to lead the Prayers of the People), prepare the gifts at the Offertory, assist with the administration of Communion, help with the ablutions, and dismiss the people. In the absence of a bishop or priest, a deacon may administer Communion from the Reserved Sacrament (BCP, 408-409). The initial level of ordination in the Episcopal Church. Unlike protestant churches where Deacon is a lay order, in the Episcopal Church Deacon is a clerical order. Deacons often have special clerical duties.

Dean - title used for the resident clergyman of a cathedral; also used for the chief academic officer of a college or seminary. If the dean is ordained, the title "The Very Reverend" is appropriate; if the dean is a lay person, this title is not used.

Deputy - an official church or diocesan delegate to a meeting; a deputy may be clerical or lay.

Diaconate - the state of being a deacon; also, the life of deacon-like service in the church.

Diocesan Seals - heraldic insignia of a diocese. Diocesan Seals are sometimes cut into rings or dies for impressing wax on official diocesan documents.

Diocese - a unit of church organization; the spiritual domain under a bishop. A diocese may contain many parishes and churches.

Dismissal - The words said or sung by the deacon (or celebrant) at the conclusion of the Eucharist (see BCP, 339 or 366). The response to the dismissal is "Thanks be to God" (during the Fifty Days of Easter, "Thanks be to God, alleluia, alleluia.").

Divine Liturgy, The - See Liturgy; also, Eucharist.

DOCC - Disciples of Christ in Community; an extension program of the School of Theology.

Doxology - Words said or sung in praise of the Holy Trinity (see Gloria Patri; also, the conclusion of each Eucharistic Prayer in BCP).

Dust-Cover - A cloth placed over the altar cloth at times when the altar is not in use.