Deacons
Clergy below priests
Deacons is the plural of deacon, a church officer ranking below priest or minister.
In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, deacons assist with liturgy and may read scripture or distribute communion.
Protestant churches often use deacon for lay leaders who handle administrative or charitable work: The deacons met to discuss the building fund.
The role varies widely across denominations.
Clergy appointment ceremony
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- ministryClergy's work or state department
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- liturgyFormal worship structure
sacrament · altar · communion · baptism · parish · congregation · diocese · bishop
Voluntary aid for others
- hospitalityGenerous treatment of guests
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
- visitationOfficial or formal visit
caregiving · food pantry · outreach · stewardship · compassion · servant leadership · helping · widows
ordination
Clergy appointment ceremony
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- ministryClergy's work or state department
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
liturgy · sacrament · altar · communion · baptism · parish · congregation · diocese · bishop · priest
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- hospitalityGenerous treatment of guests
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
visitation · caregiving · food pantry · outreach · stewardship · compassion · servant leadership · helping · widows · orphans
- LDS YouthLaurels, youth conference, girls camp, trek, youth dance
- Eastern ChristiansCopts, Maronites, Assyrians, Chaldeans, Armenians
- Community of Christ
Deaconsbishops
High-ranking clergy members
archbishops · cardinals · pope · pontiffs · popes
Deaconslaity
Non-ordained church members
laypeople · laymen · laywomen · congregants · parishioners