Rev. Canon

[Maid Marie]

I attend an Episcopal church along with the one I am a member of. Today we had a Rev. Canon speak. I have never seen him before and didn't know what his standing/duties/calling is supposed to be. After 18 months of going there, I can explain what a Rector is and what a Vicar is. I know that the Presiding Bishop is the top leader in TEC for the USA but beyond that I don't know the different titles and what they mean, and where a Rev. Canon would fall.

 

[mark46]

Wiki offers this. I believe that it is accurate in TEC. Obviously, other Anglican groups can use the terms as they wish.

Our priest in charge is our rector. His assistant is an assistant priest. I do find it useful for a priest in charge of a mission to be called a vicar, since he has no responsibility for a parish, but "priest" would also be appropriate. Our rector is also has the title of reverand and is in addition is also called "father" and "padre".

In the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, the "rector" is the priest elected to head a self-supporting parish. A priest who is appointed by the bishop to head a parish in the absence of a rector is termed a "priest-in-charge", as is a priest leading a mission (that is, a congregation which is not self-supporting). "Associate priests" are priests hired by the parish to supplement the rector in his or her duties while "assistant priests" are priests resident in the congregation who help on a volunteer basis. The positions of "vicar" and "curate" are not recognized in the canons of the entire church. However, some diocesan canons do define "vicar" as the priest-in-charge of a mission; and "curate" is often used for assistants, being entirely analogous to the English situation.[8]
In schools affiliated with the Anglican church the title "rector" is sometimes used in secondary schools and boarding schools, where the headmaster is often a priest.

I attend an Episcopal church along with the one I am a member of. Today we had a Rev. Canon speak. I have never seen him before and didn't know what his standing/duties/calling is supposed to be. After 18 months of going there, I can explain what a Rector is and what a Vicar is. I know that the Presiding Bishop is the top leader in TEC for the USA but beyond that I don't know the different titles and what they mean, and where a Rev. Canon would fall.

 

[PaladinValer]

A canon is a priest in the bishop's staff or a priest in the staff of the cathedral. In addition, it can be a priest who has shown distinguished and exemplary service in the diocese.

 

[Begonias]

A canon is attached to the cathedral.

 

[Polycarp1]

A canon is attached to the cathedral.

"...and just as in times of war, when the cathedral is besieged by controversy, a canon is fired."

Seriously, 'canon' is the title for clergy attached to a cathedral other thn the dean or provost who runs it, and for priests other than the archdeacon serving directly under the bishop as a sort of diocesan staff. The polite form of written salutation is "The Rev. Canon John Smith"; the polite verbal salutation is "Canon Smith," unless directed otherwise.

 

[Maid Marie]

"...and just as in times of war, when the cathedral is besieged by controversy, a canon is fired."

Seriously, 'canon' is the title for clergy attached to a cathedral other thn the dean or provost who runs it, and for priests other than the archdeacon serving directly under the bishop as a sort of diocesan staff. The polite form of written salutation is "The Rev. Canon John Smith"; the polite verbal salutation is "Canon Smith," unless directed otherwise.

Thanks. So what is a dean, provost and archdeacon?

Btw, I couldn't get into his homily much at all but he had the most beautiful green tunic on. I know that tunic has a name but for the life of me can't recall its name.

 

[wayseer]

Seriously, 'canon' is the title for clergy attached to a cathedral other thn the dean or provost who runs it, and for priests other than the archdeacon serving directly under the bishop as a sort of diocesan staff. The polite form of written salutation is "The Rev. Canon John Smith"; the polite verbal salutation is "Canon Smith," unless directed otherwise.

I guess there may some slight differences across the communion.

In Australia, a Canon is appointed by the Archbishop, particularly in some advisory capacity. In general, once the term of service has passed, the individual is allowed to keep the title. Our local priest is a Rev. Canon ...

 

[TomUK]

Though there's a long and complicated history to it, in the vast majority of cases 'canon' is a long service award.

 

[PaladinValer]

Thanks. So what is a dean, provost and archdeacon?

A dean could be one of three things:

1. While the cathedral of the diocese is the seat of the Diocesan Bishop (the word cathedral comes from cathedra, or thrown. Literally, where the bishop sits), when away (as a bishop often is), his/her vicor is a priest who is the Dean of the Cathedral. The Dean is a Canon as well since he or she is on the clerical staff of the cathedral.
2. In a seminary, the dean of the seminary is essentially the president of the school. It is the dean's responsibility to administer to the fiscal, academic, and spiritual needs of the campus.
3. Within a diocese, it can be subdivided into groups of parishes and missions which are called a deanery. A rector of one of the parishes is either elected or appointed by the Diocesan to be the dean, which has administrative roles within the deanery.

A dean is essentially an Archpriest, to use the Eastern term.

A provost has three uses.

1. If the Diocesan Bishop elects to retain full dean capacity in his or her cathedral, the priest-in-charge assumes the title of provost.
2. In a monestary, the provost is the monastic directly below the abbot.
3. The provost is a senior clerical administrator in a seminary, university, or college run by the Church

An archdeacon is one of these.

1. A priest who has real administrative authority under the Diocesan, under the blessing and authority of the Diocesan, within the diocese. This is especially true if there isn't another bishop to assist the Diocesan within his or her diocese.
2. Historically, an archdeacon is actually a deacon who is the head deacon within the diocese. (As a side note, I'd like to see the return of this, especially with the rise of the permanent diaconate. In such a case, the the priest in the first example could assume what would be the title of Protopriest).

Btw, I couldn't get into his homily much at all but he had the most beautiful green tunic on. I know that tunic has a name but for the life of me can't recall its name.

If it was the priest or a bishop giving the homily, it was a chasuble. If a deacon, a dalmatic. If a subdeacon, a tunicle.

 

[MKJ]

I guess there may some slight differences across the communion.

In Australia, a Canon is appointed by the Archbishop, particularly in some advisory capacity. In general, once the term of service has passed, the individual is allowed to keep the title. Our local priest is a Rev. Canon ...

This is the use I see the most around here.

 

[Maid Marie]

If it was the priest or a bishop giving the homily, it was a chasuble. If a deacon, a dalmatic. If a subdeacon, a tunicle.

It was the canon, so I guess it was a chasuble.

thanks for the other info!

 

[PaladinValer]

Liturgy

This is Holy Cross!

Trinity Episcopal Church - Glossary - A

Some good 1-Z resources.

 

[Maid Marie]

Liturgy

This is Holy Cross!

Trinity Episcopal Church - Glossary - A

Some good 1-Z resources.

Thanks!