clergymen
Men of cloth
Clergymen is the plural of clergyman—men who are ordained ministers, priests, or other religious officials.
The term appears in historical and formal contexts: Three clergymen spoke at the interfaith service.
In contemporary usage, the gender-neutral clergy or members of the clergy often replaces it.
Diocesan clergy head
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- cardinalOf foremost importance
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
- prelateSenior church official
dean · vicar · rector · parson · chaplain · pastor · minister · elder
Trust without proof
- pietySincere religious devotion
- holinessSacred spiritual purity
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
prayer · salvation · redemption · grace · blessing · vocation · calling · sanctity
Formal worship structure
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
- altarSacred ritual table
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
sacrament · communion · baptism · mass · sermon · homily · procession · ordination
One who advises
- guideLeader or instruction book
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
- advisorOne who gives guidance
shepherd · comforter · confessor · spiritual director · caregiver · listener · mediator · consoler
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
- conscienceInternal moral sense
probity · rectitude · honesty · compassion · temperance · humility · celibacy · vows
bishop
Diocesan clergy head
- archbishopSenior prelate over province
- cardinalOf foremost importance
- popeCatholic Church's supreme leader
prelate · dean · vicar · rector · parson · chaplain · pastor · minister · elder · abbot
faith
Trust without proof
worship · prayer · salvation · redemption · grace · blessing · vocation · calling · sanctity · ministry
liturgy
Formal worship structure
chalice · sacrament · communion · baptism · mass · sermon · homily · procession · ordination · benediction
counselor
One who advises
- guideLeader or instruction book
- mentorTrusted wisdom-giving advisor
- confidantTrusted keeper of secrets
advisor · shepherd · comforter · confessor · spiritual director · caregiver · listener · mediator · consoler · elder
ethics
Study of right conduct
- virtueMoral goodness or merit
- righteousnessMoral correctness or virtue
- integrityMoral soundness and consistency
conscience · probity · rectitude · honesty · compassion · temperance · humility · celibacy · vows · chastity
- Sailor Superstitionsalbatross, whistling, bananas, Davy Jones, Flying Dutchman
clergymenlaity
Non-ordained church members
laymen · laypeople · parishioners · congregants · churchgoers
clergymenpoliticians
Elected government representatives
government officials · statesmen · magistrates · bureaucrats · technocrats
clergymenatheists
Those without religious faith
secularists · nonbelievers · agnostics · freethinkers · materialists