We were looking through the pictures at the Evangelical Library recently and we cam eacross a portrait of one John Langford VDM. What is VDM?
VDM is apparently a religious initialism variously derived from the similar Latin expressions verbi dei minister or verbum dei minister or verbi divini minister or even verbi divini magister, typically appended as a name suffix to a person's full name to denote his status (sometimes self-determined) as a "minister of the divine word". The typically informal designation emphasises the holder's acceptance of responsibility toward the Bible and preaching it.
The appellation can be used practically, by a person who acts as a minister or a lay minister despite not having an actual university degree or situationally, to momentarily emphasise that a minister holding a DD or something similar is or was not distracted by a wish for prominence or by merely esoteric concerns or conscientiously, as an alternative for those who sincerely believe terms such as "Reverend" are unwise or immodest (!).
2 comments:
Hi Gary,
I've recently been reading the little Day One book by David Campbell, 'Handle that New Call with Care', and he references this VDM phenomenon in his first chapter. Tracing his reference to Simon Kistemaker's commentary on Acts.
Really fascinating idea isn't it? I wonder if it was used in our non-Latinate world today what people would think it stands for?
I use it to sign my blog. I am an ordained minister in the Christian Churches/Churches of Christ or as some Lutherans are wont to call us, "Filthy Campbellites." I found that Alexander Campbell used it, annoyed at all the Presbyterians who fancied their doctoral degrees. Campbell, with his father Thomas & Barton W. Stone were "renegade" Presbyterian ministers who started the "Restoration Movement" on the U.S. in the 1800's. Anyway, thanks. God be with you. Scott Zielsdorf, Kansas City, U.S.A. bit.ly/provocations
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