Everything about Clergy totally explained
Clergy is the generic term used to describe the formal religious leadership within a given
religion. The term comes from
Greek κλήρος -
kleros (a lot, that which is assigned by lot (
allotment) or metaphorically, heritage).
Depending on the religion, clergy usually take care of the ritual aspects of the religious life, teach or otherwise help in spreading the religion's
doctrine and practices. They often deal with life-cycle events such as
childbirth,
baptism,
circumcision,
coming of age ceremonies,
marriage, and
death.
A
priesthood is a body of
priests,
shamans, or
oracles who have special religious authority or function. The term
priest is derived from Latin
presbyter, but is often used in the sense of
sacerdos in particular, for example, for clergy performing
ritual within the sphere of the
sacred or
numinous communicating with the
gods on behalf of the community.
There is a significant difference between clergy and
theologians; clergy have the above-mentioned duties while theologians are scholars of religion and theology, and are not necessarily clergy. A lay-person can be a theologian.
In
Christianity there's a wide range of formal and informal clergy positions, including
deacons,
priests,
bishops, and
ministers. In
Islam, religious leaders are usually known as
imams or
ayatollahs.
Historical polytheism
Historical
polytheistic (
pagan) religions typically combine religious authority and political power. The dual function of political leader and high priest in some instances is even sublimed in
deification (
imperial cult), as for example in the case of the Egyptian
Pharaohs. The
sacred king combines the offices of kingship and priesthood. Historical
Vedic priesthood is an early example of a structured body of clergy organized as a separate and hereditary caste.
Christian clergy
In general, Christian clergy are
ordained; that is, they're set apart for specific
ministry in religious rites. Others who have definite roles in worship but who are not ordained (for example
laypeople acting as
acolytes) are generally not considered clergy, even though they may require some sort of official approval to exercise these ministries.
Types of clerics are distinguished from offices, even when the latter are commonly or exclusively occupied by clerics. A Roman Catholic cardinal, for instance, is almost without exception a cleric, but a cardinal isn't a type of cleric. An archbishop isn't a distinct type of cleric, but is simply a bishop who occupies a particular position with special authority. Conversely, a youth minister at a
parish may or may not be a cleric.
Different churches have different systems of clergy, though churches with similar
polity have similar systems.
Catholic clergy
Ordained Catholic clergymen are
deacons,
priests, or bishops, for example, they belong to the diaconate, the presbyterate, or the episcopate. Among bishops, some are
metropolitans,
archbishops, or
patriarchs, and the
Pope is the
Bishop of Rome. With rare exceptions,
cardinals are bishops, although it wasn't always so; formerly, some cardinals were unordained laymen and not clergymen. The
Holy See supports the activity of its clergy by the
Congregation for the Clergy (
(External Link
)), a
dicastery of
Roman curia.
Canon Law indicates (canon 107) that "by divine institution, there are in the Church [Latin:
Ecclesia] clergy [Latin:
clerices] distinguished from laics". This distinction of a separate class was formed in the early times of Christianity; one early source reflecting this distinction is the writings of St.
Ignatius of Antioch. The original clerics were the bishops (the Twelve
Apostles) and the deacons (their seventy appointed assistants); the presbyterate actually developed as a sort of semi-bishop (
cf. the disused
chorepiskopos, "rural bishop"). In the Catholic Church, only men are allowed to be members of the clergy.
Catholic clerical organization is hierarchical in nature: before the reforms after the
Second Vatican Council, the
tonsure admitted a man to the clerical state, after which he could receive the four
minor orders (ostiary, lectorate, order of exorcists, order of acolytes) and then the
major orders of subdiaconate, diaconate, presbyterate, and finally the episcopate, which is defined in Catholic doctrine as "the fullness of
Holy Orders". Today the minor orders and the
subdiaconate have been replaced by
lay ministries and the tonsure no longer takes place, the clerical state being tied to reception of Holy Orders rather than being symbolically part of a bishop's household.
The exceptions are certain papally-approved
Indult Catholic societies as well as Eastern Catholic churches. In the Eastern Churches, clergy status is extended to all holders of minor orders (which are retained in these traditions) and seminarians. Thus, in eastern Churches, deacons, priests, bishops, etc... are all called "Father," while those not in Holy Orders are addressed most often as "Brother," despite the monastic implications of the title (in the Western or Latin Church, only priests are addressed as "Father," deacons usually being addressed as "deacon" or "mister," and bishops bay various titles such as "your excellency," "bishop," or "most reverend father in God"). This distinction can lead to some inter-Ritual issues, such as the wearing of clerical apparel and the signing of one's name, especially if attending, living, or working in a mostly Roman Rite institution.
Monks and other religious are not necessarily part of the clergy, unless they've received Holy Orders. Thus, The unordained monks,
nuns,
friars, and religious brothers and sisters shouldn't be considered part of the clergy. Holy Orders is one of the
Seven Sacraments considered to be of Divine institution in Catholic doctrine.
As many colleges at Medieval universities were restricted to members of the clergy, the term also survives in students' organizations at some ancient universities, such as
Goliardia. These are echoes of the Medieval Goliards, the
clerici vagantes. The term
clerici vagantes, or "wandering clerics," comes from the Medieval phenomenon of clergy who had either abandoned their diocese or otherwise lost their
incardination, and so sometimes took to wandering as bands of entertainers particularly through university towns. The
Council of Trent tried to abolish this use, and only in recent times the rule was restored that a
clericus has a perpetual and absolute obligation to serve the
diocese or the
Order to which he's assigned; only with a special authorization he can be accepted in the jurisdiction of another diocese or of another Order.
Current canon law prescribes that to be ordained a priest, an education is required of two years of
scholastic philosophy study, and 4 years of theology; dogmatic and moral theology, the Holy Scriptures, and canon law have to be studied within a
seminary or an ecclesiastical faculty at a university. This reflects the scholastic and intellectual traditions of the Latin Church.
Promises of
celibacy and obedience are required as a condition for ordination to the diaconate and priesthood in the
Latin Rite (celibacy isn't required, however, for permanent deacons who are already married, but they're forbidden from marrying should their wife die); this is a disciplinary and administrative rule rather than a dogmatic and doctrinal one. Celibacy has taken many forms in different times and places. The
Council in Trullo (Quinisextum Concilium) in
692 barred bishops from marrying, but didn't prevent married men from becoming priests and excommunicated those deacons who divorced their spouses in order to become ordained. This rule is still followed for ordained deacons in the Latin Rite, as well as for priests in the
Eastern Catholic Churches. Married men are not ordained priests in the
Latin Rite, although some married priests do exist who were ordained in the Anglican church and later received into the Roman Catholic Church and re-ordained (as the Catholic Church doesn't recognize the validity of Holy Orders in the Anglican communion). See also
Presbyterorum Ordinis for a modern statement of the nature of the Catholic priesthood.
Clergy have four classical rights:
- Right of Canon: whoever commits real violence on the person of a clergyman, commits a sacrilege. This decree was issued in a Lateran Council of 1097 (requested by Pope Urban II), then renewed in the Lateran Council II (1139).
- Right of Forum: by this right clergy may be judged by ecclesiastical tribunals only. Emperor Constantine I granted this right for bishops, which was subsequently extended to the rest of the clergy by Imperial Decree.
- Right of Immunity: clergy can't be called for military service or for duties or charges not compatible with his role.
- Right of Competence: a certain part of the income of clergy, necessary for sustenance, can't be sequestered by any action of creditors.
The extent to which these rights are recognized under civil law varies dramatically from country to country, with traditionally Catholic countries being more inclined to respect these rights.
Orthodox clergy
The clergy of the Orthodox Church are the bishops, priests, and deacons, the same offices identified in the New Testament and found in the early church. Bishops include archbishops, metropolitans, and patriarchs.
Priests (also called presbyters or elders) include archpriests, protopresbyters, hieromonks (priest-monks) and archimandrites (senior hieromonks). Deacons also include hierodeacons (deacon-monks) archdeacons and protodeacons;
subdeacons, however, are not deacons, and comprise a separate office that isn't to be major clergy, as do readers, acolytes and others. Bishops are usually drawn from the ranks of the monks, and are required to be celibate; however, a non-monastic priest may be ordained to the episcopate if he no longer lives with his wife (following Canon XII of the
Quinisext Council)
(External Link). In contemporary usage such a non-monastic priest is usually tonsured to the monastic state at some point prior to his consecration to the episcopacy.
Anglican clergy
In
Anglicanism clergy consist of the orders of
deacons,
priests (presbyters) and
bishops in ascending order of seniority.
Canon,
archdeacon,
archbishop and the like are specific positions within these orders. Bishops are typically overseers, presiding over a
diocese composed of many
parishes, with an archbishops presiding over a
province, which is a group of dioceses. A
parish (generally a single church) is looked after by one or more priests, although one priest may be responsible for several parishes. New clergy are ordained deacons. Those seeking to become priests are usually ordained priest after a year. Since the
1960s some Anglican churches have reinstituted the diaconate as a permanent, rather than transitional, order of ministry focused on ministry that bridges the church and the world, especially ministry to those on the margins of society.
For the forms of address for Anglican clergy, see
Forms of Address in the United Kingdom.
Before the ordination of women as deacons, priests and bishops began within Anglicanism they could be ordained as 'deaconesses'. Although they were usually considered having a ministry distinct from deacons they often had similar ministerial responsibilities.
In Anglican churches all clergy are permitted to marry. In most national churches women may become deacons or priests, but while fifteen out of 38 national churches allow for women bishops, only three have ordained any. Celebration of the
Eucharist is reserved for priests and bishops.
National Anglican churches are presided over by one or more
primates or
metropolitans (archbishops or presiding bishops). The senior archbishop of the
Anglican Communion is the
Archbishop of Canterbury, who acts as leader of the
Church of England and 'first among equals' of the primates of all Anglican churches.
Being a deacon, priest or bishop is considered a function of the person and not a job. When priests retire they're still priests even if they no longer have any active ministry.
Protestant clergy
Clergy in
Protestantism fill a wide variety of roles and functions. In many
denominations, such as
Methodism,
Presbyterianism, and
Lutheranism, the roles of clergy are similar to Roman Catholic or Anglican clergy, in that they hold an
ordained pastoral or priestly office, administer the sacraments, proclaim the word, lead a local church or parish, and so forth. The
Baptist tradition only recognizes two ordained positions in the church as being the Elders (Pastors) and Deacons as outlined in the third chapter of I Timothy in the Bible.
The process of being designated as a member of the Protestant clergy, as well as that of being assigned to a particular office, varies with the denomination or faith group. Some Protestant denominations, such as
Methodism,
Presbyterianism, and
Lutheranism, are hierarchical in nature; and ordination and assignment to individual pastorates or other ministries are made by the parent denominations. In other traditions, such as the
Baptist and other
Congregational groups, local churches are free to hire (and often ordain) their own clergy, although the parent denominations typically maintain lists of suitable candidates seeking appointment to local church ministries and encourage local churches to consider these individuals when filling available positions.
Some Protestant denominations require that candidates for ordination be "licensed" to the ministry for a period of time (typically one to three years) prior to being ordained. This period typically is spent performing the duties of ministry under the guidance, supervision, and evaluation of a more senior, ordained minister. In some denominations, however, licensure is a permanent, rather than a transitional state for ministers assigned to certain specialized ministries, such as music ministry or youth ministry.
All Protestant denominations reject the idea (following
Luther) that the clergy are a separate category of people, but rather stress the
priesthood of all believers. Based on this theological approach, Protestants don't have a
sacrament of
Ordination like the pre-
Reformation Churches. Protestant ordination, therefore, can be viewed more as a public statement by the ordaining body that an individual possesses the theological knowledge, moral fitness, and practical skills required for service in that faith group's ministry.
Some Protestant denominations dislike the word
clergy and don't use it of their own leaders. Often they refer to their leaders as
pastors or
ministers, titles that, if used, sometimes apply to the person only as long as he or she holds a particular office.
Latter-day Saints
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has a lay clergy of
priesthood holders. Generally, all worthy males above the age of 12 are ordained to the
Aaronic Priesthood, authorizing them to perform certain ordinances and sacraments, and adult males are ordained to the
Melchizedek Priesthood, which is concerned with spiritual leadership of the church. Individual congregations ("wards") are led by unpaid
Bishops or Branch Presidents who have been called to their position by the Church's hierarchical leadership, and they serve until released from the position. No formal theological training is required.
Judaism
Judaism doesn't have clergy as such, although in ancient
Judaism there was a formal priestly tribe known as the
Kohanim; each member of the tribe, a
Kohen had priestly duties, many of which centered around the
Temple in Jerusalem. Since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE, their role has been significantly reduced. Today, Kohanim know their status only by family tradition, and they still offer the priestly blessing during certain services in the synagogue and perform the Pidyon Ha-ben (redemption of the first-born son) ceremony. Otherwise, they exercise no particular leadership role.
Since the time of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, the religious leaders of Judaism have been the
rabbis, who are technically scholars in Jewish law empowered to act as judges in a rabbinical court. The leadership of a Jewish congregation is, in fact, in the hands of the laity: the president of a synagogue is its actual leader and any adult Jew (or at least any male in Orthodox congregations) can lead prayer services. Rabbis are not intermediaries between
God and man: the word "rabbi" means "teacher", and the rabbi functions as advisor to the congregation and counselor. The rabbi isn't an occupation found in the
Torah (Five books of Moses); the first time this word is mentioned is in the
Mishnah. The modern form of the rabbi developed in the
Talmudic era. Rabbis are given authority to make interpretations of
Jewish law and custom. Traditionally, a man obtains one of three levels of
Semicha (rabbinic ordination) after the completion of an arduous learning program in Torah,
Tanakh (Hebrew Bible), Mishnah and
Talmud,
Midrash, Jewish ethics and lore, the codes of
Jewish law and
responsa,
theology and
philosophy.
Since the early medieval era an additional communal role, the
Hazzan (cantor) has existed as well. Cantors have sometimes been the only functionaries of a synagogue, empowered to undertake religio-civil functions like witnessing marriages. Cantors do provide leadership of actual services, primarily because of their training and expertise in the music and prayer rituals pertaining to them, rather than because of any spiritual or "sacramental" distinction between them and the laity. Cantors as much as rabbis have been recognized by civil authorities in the United States as clergy for legal purposes, mostly for awarding education degrees and their ability to perform weddings, and certify births and deaths.
Additionally, Jewish authorities license mohels, men specially trained by experts in Jewish law and usually also by medical professionals to perform the ritual of circumcision. In many places, mohels are also licensed by civil authorities, as circumcision is technically a surgical procedure. Kohanim, who must avoid contact with blood for ritual purity, can't act as mohels, but some mohels are also either rabbis or cantors.
Only
Orthodox Judaism maintains all of these traditional, fundamental requirements. Women are forbidden from becoming rabbis or cantors in the Orthodox world largely for
halakhic reasons, primarily because this would affect many aspects of communal observances and practices. Most Orthodox rabbinical seminaries or Yeshiva's also require dedication of many years to education, but few require a formal degree from a civil education institutions that often define Christian clergy. The training in Jewish Law can be rigorous and extensive depending on the Teacher and School quality which varies widely, but critical thinking is encouraged. Some Orthodox Yeshiva's forbid secular education diue to the perceived negative influence on the individual, though professional education isn't discouraged. However, there are many schools (yeshivas) that call themselves "modern" that function as colleges or universities, and which do offer formal, accredited degrees, including master's degrees in Music, Mathematics, Science, History in Religious Education, in Hebrew Letters and similar studies for cantors and rabbis. An example of this would be the
Yeshiva University.
Conservative Judaism maintains all of these traditional requirements. Yet, women are allowed to become rabbis and cantors in the Conservative movement, and, as of late, homosexuals if they're celibate. Conservative Judaism differs with Orthodoxy in that it believes in Halakha Jewish Law as evolving with History and binding. However, the academic requirements are rigorous, as Conservative Judaism adds the following subjects as requirements for rabbinic ordination: one must first earn a bachelor's degree before entering the rabbinate. In addition studies are mandated in pastoral care and psychology, the historical development of Judaism and most importantly academic biblical and Talmudic criticism.
Reconstructionist Judaism and
Reform Judaism don't maintain the traditional requirements for study as rooted in Jewish Law and traditionalist text. Both men and women may be rabbis or cantors. The level of Jewish law, Talmud and responsa studied in five years of these denominations is similar to that learned in the first year of the more traditional Jewish seminaries. The rabbinical seminaries of these movements hold that one must first earn a bachelor's degree before entering the rabbinate. In addition studies are mandated in pastoral care and psychology, the historical development of Judaism; and academic biblical criticism. Emphasis is placed not on Jewish law, but rather on sociology, modern Jewish philosophy, Theology and Pastoral Care.
Buddhism
» see also Bhikkhu
The
Buddhist clergy is often referred to as the
Sangha, and consists of the order of monks and nuns founded by
Gautama Buddha during the
5th century BC. According to scriptural records, these monks and nuns lived an austere life of meditation, living as wandering beggars for nine months out of the year. In modern times, however, the role of Buddhist clergy can vary greatly across different countries. For instance, in
Korea,
Japan, and one of the four
Tibetan schools, Buddhist monks may marry, which is forbidden under the traditional Buddhist monastic codes. On the other hand, countries practicing
Theravada Buddhism, such as
Thailand,
Burma, and
Sri Lanka, tend to take a much more conservative view of monastic life, and continue to observe precepts that forbid monks from touching women or working in certain secular roles.
While female monastic (
bhikkhuni) lineages existed in most Buddhist countries at one time, the
Theravada lineages of Southeast Asia and Sri Lanka died out during the 14th-15th Century AD. The status and future of female Buddhist clergy in these countries continues to be a subject of debate. In countries without a formal female monastic lineage, women may take other religious roles, but they're generally not granted the same rights and privileges as recognized male monastics.
The diversity of Buddhist traditions makes it difficult to generalize about Buddhist clergy. In the United States,
Pure Land priests of the Japanese diaspora serve a role very similar to Protestant ministers of the Christian tradition. Meanwhile, reclusive Theravada forest monks in Thailand live a life devoted to meditation and the practice of austerities in small communities in rural Thailand- a very different life from even their city-dwelling counterparts, who may be involved primarily in teaching, the study of scripture, and the administration of the nationally organized (and government sponsored) Sangha. In the Zen tradition, manual labor is an important part of religious discipline; meanwhile, in the Theravada tradition, prohibitions against monks working as laborers and farmers continue to be generally observed.
Islam
Sunni Islam is non-clerical. The term "
imam" is generically used to refer to various forms of religious leadership, ranging from the leader of a small group prayer to a scholar of religion, none of which involve any sort of religious ordination.
In
Shia Islam, the term "
imam" has more specific meanings. The word literally means "in front of" in Arabic and harkens to the Imam's role of leading prayer by standing
in front of the congregation. The
Ulema are the class of Muslim scholars primarily devoted to the study of and, in some governments, the implementation of the
Shari'a, or Islamic Law.
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