Data source: Gina A. Zurlo and Todd M. Johnson, eds., World Christian Database (Leiden/Boston: Brill, 2024).
| Glossary item | Definition |
|---|---|
| ecclesiastical type | A descriptive typology combining ecclesiastico-cultural major tradition and its minor traditions. |
| ecclesiastico-cultural major traditions | A global typology of 6 basic types of Christianity: Anglican, Marginal Christian, Independent, Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic. |
| ecclesiography | Descriptive analyses of churches and denominations. |
| ecclesiola | A ‘church within the church’, or small group of Christians living a distinct and nearly separate existence, yet remaining within the institutional church without open schism. |
| ecclesiology | The science or study of the doctrine of the church, or church policy, or the study of ecclesiastical art and antiquities. |
| ecology | The study of the relation of social organization and culture to physical environment and technology. |
| ecumenical | Worldwide, general, universal, catholic; relating to the whole of a body of churches. |
| ecumenical centers | Centers operated by the churches primarily to sponsor ecumenical or interdenominational contacts and understanding. Total centers significant at national or wider levels number over 400. |
| ecumenical commission | (1) A Catholic committee set up to deal with other separated churches in a particular diocese or country. (2) An organization serving the major denominations in an area. In this field some 200 significant commissions or agencies exist. |
| ecumenical council | Assemblies of bishops and other ecclesiastical representatives of the whole world’s churches, whose decisions on doctrine, liturgy discipline, et alia, are binding on all Christians in those churches. Eastern Orthodox accept only the first 7 ecumenical councils, up to Nicea II (AD 787); Catholics accept 21 councils including Vatican I and Vatican II (1962-5). |
| ecumenical Evangelicals | Conciliar Evangelicals (qv). |
| ecumenical movement | The movement to bring together all denominations and Christian bodies for fellowship, consultation, joint action, and eventually organic union. |
| ecumenical patriarch | The patriarch of Constantinople, the acknowledged highest ecclesiastical office in the Eastern Orthodox Church by virtue of a primacy of honor. |
| Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople | Leading patriarchate of the Eastern Orthodox world, since AD 451; New Rome, the ‘Second Rome’. |
| ecumenicity | The quality or state of being ecumenical. |
| ecumenics | The study of the nature, mission, problems and strategy of the Christian church from the perspective of its ecumenical character as a worldwide Christian fellowship. |
| ecumenism | Ecumenical principles and practices as exemplified in the ecumenical movement. |
| ecumenist | An advocate of ecumenism. |
| education rate | The percentage of the school-age population (aged 5-24) who are enrolled in schools. |
| education rate | Percentage of the school-age population (aged 5-24) who are enrolled in schools. |
| ekistics | The science, art, study, and development of human habitation and dwellings. |
| electronic data processing | (EDP). The manipulation of data by means of a computer (qv). |
| electronic mail (e-mail) | The regular sending and receiving of mail, letters, memos, and reports, over a computer network locally or worldwide. |
| eligible communicant | A church member in good standing who is eligible to partake of the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, whether in fact he does so or not. |
| Electronic mail (qv). |
Data on 18 categories of religion, including non-religious, by country, province, and people.
Data on all religions, Christian activities, and trends.
Membership data, year begun, and rates of change.
Population and religion data on all major cities & provinces.
Detailed information covering religion, culture, and geography.
A repository of historical data, including a chronology of Christianity from the 1st to 21st centuries.