deacon
Clergy below priest
A deacon is a clergy member ranking below a priest in Christian churches.
In some traditions, it's an ordained office with liturgical duties; in others, a lay position handling church administration or charitable work.
The role varies widely across denominations—from a stepping stone to priesthood to a permanent ministry focused on service to the congregation.
Sacred ritual table
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- GospelChristian salvation teaching
- processionFormal moving line
- cruciferMustard family member
acolyte · lector · cantor · sacristan · Eucharist · communion · baptism · liturgy
Diocesan clergy head
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- ministerReligious leader or serve
- rectorParish clergy chief
vicar · curate · chaplain · canon · subdeacon · presbyter · elder · ordained
Local church community
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- churchPlace of Christian worship
- flockAnimals gathered together
- parishionerMember of a congregation
laity · community · faithful · elder · usher · churchwarden · verger · sexton
Immersion-practicing Protestant
- MethodistProtestant denomination member
- PresbyterianElder-governed Protestant denomination
- LutheranReformation-era Protestant denomination
- AnglicanChurch of England member
Episcopal · Catholic · Protestant · Pentecostal · evangelical · mainline · synod · diocese
Voluntary aid for others
- outreachProactive community assistance
- ministryClergy's work or state department
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- almsgivingGiving to the needy
welfare · visitation · hospitality · care · service · aid · assistance · poor
altar
Sacred ritual table
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- GospelChristian salvation teaching
- processionFormal moving line
crucifer · acolyte · lector · cantor · sacristan · Eucharist · communion · baptism · liturgy · vestment
bishop
Diocesan clergy head
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- ministerReligious leader or serve
rector · vicar · curate · chaplain · canon · subdeacon · presbyter · elder · ordained · vestments
parish
Local church community
- congregationAssembled group of worshippers
- churchPlace of Christian worship
- flockAnimals gathered together
parishioner · laity · community · faithful · elder · usher · churchwarden · verger · sexton · beadle
Baptist
Immersion-practicing Protestant
- MethodistProtestant denomination member
- PresbyterianElder-governed Protestant denomination
- LutheranReformation-era Protestant denomination
Anglican · Episcopal · Catholic · Protestant · Pentecostal · evangelical · mainline · synod · diocese · polity
charity
Voluntary aid for others
- outreachProactive community assistance
- ministryClergy's work or state department
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
almsgiving · welfare · visitation · hospitality · care · service · aid · assistance · poor · sick
- Catholic Clergypope, pontiff, cardinal, bishop, monsignor
- church leaderspastor, rector, vicar, parson, preacher
- church titlesabbot, abbess, bishop, priest, vicar
- clergypriest, bishop, pope, nun, monk
- officiantsofficiant, wedding officiant, ordained minister, justice of the peace, wedding celebrant
- Anglican Clergybishop, priest, vicar, curate, rector
deaconlayperson
Non-specialist or unordained person
layman · laywoman · secular · congregant · parishioner