The following acronyms and abbreviations may be encountered in Presbyterian publications, including General Assembly minutes. Those with more than one meaning have multiple entries. We update the list periodically to keep it as current as possible.

If you would like to make suggestions for this list, please contact PresbyTel at (800) 872-3283 or send us a note with your comments.

- D -

DCE: Director of Christian Education

DEAR: Department of Ecumenical and Agency Relationships (OGA)

DECC: Disciples Ecumenical Consultative Council

DEDO: Deputy Executive Director's Office (GAC)

DFW: Directory for Worship (see BOO)

DMS: Directed Mission Support (GAC, Mission Funding)

DMS: Distribution Management Service (MSS, Presbyterian Distribution Services - PDS)

DOH: Department of History/Presbyterian Historical Society (PHS) - Based in Philadelphia with additional facility in Montreat, N.C., houses the archives of historical artifacts and papers of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), publishes historical journals and papers and provides historical information to the church and historical researchers. (OGA)

DOV: Decade to Overcome Violence

DPRK: Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea

DPS: Diversified Pharmaceutical Services (see BOP)

DRMC: Dutch Reformed Mission Church

DU: Depleted Uranium (CONA, PPP, PWO)

- E -

EC: European Community

ECA: Economic Commission for Africa

ECCN: Ecumenical Child-Care Network

ECD: Education, Communication, and Discipleship Unit (of the NCCC)

ECD: Evangelism and Church Development (NMD)

ECEE: Ecumenical Church Educators Event

ECFA: Evangelical Council on Financial Accountability

ECLOF: Ecumenical Church Loan Fund (Switzerland)

ECO: Extra Commitment Opportunities (GAC - Mission Funding)

ECOSOC: Economic and Social Council (United Nations)

ECSS: Ecumenical Center for Stewardship Studies

ECPAT: End Child Prostitution in Asian Tourism (NMD - Women, Child Advocacy)

ECUSA: Episcopal Church in the United States of America

ECVAC: Endorsers Council for Veterans Affairs Chaplaincy

EDCS: Ecumenical Development Cooperative Society

EDI: Ecumenical Development Initiative

EDO: GAC Executive Director's Office - Headed by the Executive Director of the General Assembly Council, provides executive leadership to the Council and directs the programmatic work of the General Assembly; responsible for churchwide planning for General Assembly Council operations.

EEO: Equal Employment Opportunity (HR)

EEO/AA: Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action (HR)

EFMA: Evangelical Foreign Missions Association

EGA: Electronic Great Awakening (GAC/OC)

ELCA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

ELLC: English Language Liturgical Consultation

EME: Ecumenical Ministries in Education

ENI: Ecumenical News International

EP: Ecumenical Partners

EP: Executive Presbyter

EPA: Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. Gov. - The mission of the Environmental Protection Agency Human health and the environment. Since 1970, the EPA has been working for a cleaner, healthier environment for the American people. (NMD)

ESL: English as a Second Language

ESLT: Expanded Staff Leadership Team

EST: Ecumenical Staff Team

EU: European Union

- F -

FAO: Food and Agriculture Organization (United Nations)

FAS: Financial Aid for Studies Office (NMD)

FDN: Presbyterian Foundation - Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Foundation (the Foundation) - A Jeffersonville, Indiana- based corporation related to the General Assembly that holds in trust for the purposes designated such funds, bequests, endowments and gifts as are placed in its care and solicits additional permanent funds for the benefit of the church and its entities.

FEETS: Evangelical Faculty of Theological Studies

FERDE: Spanish Federation of Evangelical Churches

FGM: Female Genital Mutilation - The 210th General Assembly (1998) addressed the issue of female genital mutilation by the adoption of a resolution which declares the total and absolute disapproval of the practice in the United States and throughout the world. The assembly urged the PCUSA to "work through its existing structures and partnerships toward the abolition of female mutilation in this and other countries," and directed the Stated Clerk "to communicate this resolution to appropriate United States and United Nations authorities." Further, the assembly, called on "state legislatures in the United States...to enact legislation which imposes penalties on health professionals who performed female genital mutilation," and called on "the United States Government to ratify the convention on the rights of the child and the convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, in order to provide a universal legal sanction regarding FGM." (PC(USA), 1998, P.681) (NMD, Women)

FICA: Federal Insurance Contributions Act (HR)

FIEC: Fraternity of Costa Rican Evangelical Churches

FLC: Fellowship of the Least Coin - Since 1956, Christian women on all continents have responded by praying for reconciliation in the home, community, nation and the world and to work for peace and justice. The "LEAST COIN" of each country is set aside as the token of each prayer prayed and is sent to a common fund where the identity of the donor is lost and the oneness of women in their common quest is realized. (NMD - Women)

FOCA: Freedom of Choice Act (PWO, NMD)

FOG: Form of Government (see BOO)

FPL: Federal Poverty Level (PHP, WMD)

FTAA: Free Trade Area of the Americas (PWO, NMD, WMD)

FWCF: Fourth World Conference on Women (NMD)

fYROM: former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (WMD, PPP)