Pentateuch
The biblical books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
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Glossary
An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church
Glossary definitions adapted from An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians, edited by Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, provided courtesy of Church Publishing Incorporated, New York, NY.
Pentecost
A principal feast of the church year, on the seventh Sunday after Easter, when the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus’ followers in “tongues of fire.” Also associated with speaking in tongues.
Perpetua and Felicity
Third-century Christians who were martyred in the arena at Carthage. Feast day: March 7.
Personal Profile
A form used by congregations and institutions seeking new leadership providing personal and professional information of Episcopal clergy and lay professionals open to new positions.
Philadelphia Eleven
The 11 women who were ordained as priests July 29, 1974, before the 1976 General Convention authorized the ordination of women as priests and bishops. Feast day: July 29.
Philip the Apostle
One of the 12 apostles. Feast day: May 1, along with James the Less.
Piscina
A small sink that empties into the earth instead of into a sewer. Used for the reverent disposal of consecrated wine and water used for sacred purposes.
Plainsong
A simple chant, usually based on the psalms, and also used for canticles and other sung liturgical texts.
Pledge
A commitment to give one’s time, talents, and money as an expression of faith and a personal response to God’s generosity.
Polity
The form of government for an organized church. The Episcopal Church has a unitary form of government in which all temporal authority is vested in the General Convention. Authority is distributed among bishops, clergy, and laity.