deacons
Ministers' ordained helpers
Deacons is the plural of deacon, a rank of clergy in Christian churches.
In Catholic and Orthodox traditions, deacons assist priests and bishops, performing baptisms and reading scripture but not consecrating the Eucharist.
Protestant churches vary widely—some ordain deacons as clergy, others treat them as lay leaders handling church administration and charitable work: The deacons voted to expand the food pantry.
Local church community
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- rectorParish clergy chief
- pastorChristian congregation leader
vicar · curate · chaplain · synod · canon · prelate · episcopate · clergy
Sacred ritual table
- vestmentsCeremonial religious attire
- chaliceOrnate ritual drinking vessel
- patenEucharistic bread dish
- incenseAnger greatly, or aromatic resin
processional · communion · baptism · lectionary · gospel · psalms · hymnal · cassock
Clergy appointment ceremony
- seminaryClergy training college
- theologyStudy of the divine
- vocationDedicated career path
- callingStrongly felt purpose
formation · discernment · training · candidate · postulant · commissioning · service · ministry
Trust without proof
- prayerAddress to deity
- devotionDeep, loyal commitment
- worshipReligious reverence and praise
- pietySincere religious devotion
holiness · sacred · grace · reverence · sanctity · righteousness · service · humility
Clergy's worship address
- homilyReligious discourse on scripture
- preachingDelivering moral discourse
- pastoral careReligious emotional support
- charityVoluntary aid for others
alms · benevolence · outreach · social justice · hospital visitation · prison ministry · food pantry · funeral
parish
Local church community
pastor · vicar · curate · chaplain · synod · canon · prelate · episcopate · clergy · ordination
altar
Sacred ritual table
incense · processional · communion · baptism · lectionary · gospel · psalms · hymnal · cassock · surplice
ordination
Clergy appointment ceremony
calling · formation · discernment · training · candidate · postulant · commissioning · service · ministry · diaconal
faith
Trust without proof
piety · holiness · sacred · grace · reverence · sanctity · righteousness · service · humility · obedience
sermon
Clergy's worship address
- homilyReligious discourse on scripture
- preachingDelivering moral discourse
- pastoral careReligious emotional support
charity · alms · benevolence · outreach · social justice · hospital visitation · prison ministry · food pantry · funeral · wedding
- church historychurch history, apostles, Protestant Reformation, Christian history, baptism
- American Catholicismarchdiocese, parish council, archdioceses, Catholic school, Catholic schools
- Baptist ChurchSouthern Baptist, First Baptist, adult baptism, baptistry, immersion
- Black ChurchBaptist church, gospel choir, pastor, preacher, choir
- early churchapostles, early church, Church Fathers, apostolic fathers, Acts of the Apostles
- Anglican historyChurch of England, Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury, English Reformation, Book of Common Prayer
deaconsbishops
High-ranking clergy members
archbishops · cardinals · popes · priests · patriarchs
deaconslaity
Non-ordained church members
laypeople · parishioners · congregants · lay members · communicants