ecclesiastics
Members of clergy
Ecclesiastics is the plural of ecclesiastic, a member of the clergy or someone formally affiliated with a church.
The term is formal and somewhat old-fashioned: The council of ecclesiastics debated matters of doctrine.
As an adjective, ecclesiastic means relating to the church or clergy, though ecclesiastical is more common in that role.
One who performs sacraments
- bishopDiocesan clergy head
- pastorChristian congregation leader
- deaconJunior clergy member
- ministerReligious leader or serve
chaplain · vicar · rector · parson · curate · monsignor · canon · friar
Formal worship structure
- massQuantity of matter
- baptismRitual water purification ceremony
- communionProfound shared closeness
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
ordination · vespers · sacrament · procession · incense · vestments · chants · matrimony
Bishop's principal church
- basilicaColonnaded church with apse
- chapelSmall worship room
- parishLocal church community
- dioceseBishop's territorial jurisdiction
archdiocese · bishopric · sanctuary · rectory · sacristy · nave · chancel · apse
Unchallengeable official beliefs
- doctrineEstablished body of teachings
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- creedStatement of belief
- orthodoxyAdherence to accepted beliefs
catechism · heresy · schism · apostolic · papacy · canonization · encyclical · infallibility
Study of interpretation methods
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- apologeticsSystematic doctrine defense
- theodicyDefense of divine goodness
ecclesiology · homiletics · transubstantiation · atonement · predestination · doxology
priest
One who performs sacraments
minister · chaplain · vicar · rector · parson · curate · monsignor · canon · friar · reverend
liturgy
Formal worship structure
confirmation · ordination · vespers · sacrament · procession · incense · vestments · chants · matrimony · litany
cathedral
Bishop's principal church
diocese · archdiocese · bishopric · sanctuary · rectory · sacristy · nave · chancel · apse · steeple
dogma
Unchallengeable official beliefs
orthodoxy · catechism · heresy · schism · apostolic · papacy · canonization · encyclical · infallibility · excommunication
hermeneutics
Study of interpretation methods
- eschatologyStudy of ultimate destiny
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- apologeticsSystematic doctrine defense
theodicy · ecclesiology · homiletics · transubstantiation · atonement · predestination · doxology
ecclesiasticslaypeople
Those outside a profession
laity · laymen · laywomen · laypersons · lay members
ecclesiasticssecularists
Advocates for nonreligious governance
materialists · atheists · politicians · bureaucrats · businesspeople
- ecclesiastical LatinLanguage of Christian liturgy