catechumen
Pre-baptism religious student
A catechumen is a person receiving instruction in the basics of Christianity before baptism.
The term belongs to churches with formal initiation processes—Catholic, Orthodox, some mainline Protestant denominations.
The catechumenate period can last months or years: The catechumens will be baptized at the Easter Vigil.
By extension, any novice learning the fundamentals of a discipline.
Inexperienced beginner
- convertChange in form or faith
- proselyteReligious convert, especially Jewish
- postulantReligious order applicant
- novitiateReligious training period
candidate · inquirer · seeker · believer · disciple · acolyte · communicant · confirmand
Ritual water purification ceremony
- christeningCeremony naming a child
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- riteCeremonial act or practice
- sacramentSacred ritual conveying grace
ceremony · ritual · RCIA · immersion · anointing · chrism · font · Easter Vigil
Established body of teachings
- creedStatement of belief
- dogmaUnchallengeable official beliefs
- theologyStudy of the divine
- scriptureSacred religious writings
gospel · liturgy · sacraments · precepts · homily · sermon · apologetics · lectionary
neophyte
Inexperienced beginner
- convertChange in form or faith
- proselyteReligious convert, especially Jewish
- postulantReligious order applicant
novitiate · candidate · inquirer · seeker · believer · disciple · acolyte · communicant · confirmand · elect
baptism
Ritual water purification ceremony
- christeningCeremony naming a child
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- riteCeremonial act or practice
sacrament · ceremony · ritual · RCIA · immersion · anointing · chrism · font · Easter Vigil · profession
doctrine
Established body of teachings
scripture · gospel · liturgy · sacraments · precepts · homily · sermon · apologetics · lectionary · prayer
church
Place of Christian worship
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- parishLocal church community
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
priest · pastor · bishop · deacon · sponsor · godparent · altar · sanctuary · basilica · cathedral
- Catholicsparishioners, parishioner, communicant, archbishops, lapsed Catholic
- church memberscongregant, parishioner, member, active member, founding member
- Convertsproselyte, neophyte, new convert, born-again Christian, born again
- early churchapostles, early church, Church Fathers, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles
- religious peoplebeliever, devotee, faithful, worshiper, worshipper
- baptism rolesgodfather, godmother, godparent, godparents, candidate
catechumenfull member
One with complete standing
communicant · catechist · clergy · priest · bishop