laity
Those without vestments
The laity are people who aren't members of a particular profession or group of experts—most often, church members who aren't ordained clergy.
The term distinguishes ordinary believers from priests, ministers, or religious officials: The laity participated in the service alongside the clergy.
By extension, laity can mean non-experts in any field: explaining quantum physics to the laity.
Members of local congregation
- churchgoersRegular worship attendees
- congregantsMembers attending religious services
- flockAnimals gathered together
- worshipersThose who show reverence
believers · faithful · devotees · adherents · assembly · fellowship · brethren · communicants
Ordained ministerial assistants
- catechistsTeachers of Christian doctrine
- acolytesDevoted followers or assistants
- lectorsLiturgical scripture readers
- church eldersSenior congregational authorities
Sunday school teachers · church wardens · unordained · nonclerical
Experienced in practical affairs
- temporalRelating to chronology
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
- earthlyOf this world
- mundaneCommonplace, lacking excitement
nonreligious · civilian · irreligious · unchurched · secular society · everyday life
parishioners
Members of local congregation
- churchgoersRegular worship attendees
- congregantsMembers attending religious services
- flockAnimals gathered together
worshipers · believers · faithful · devotees · adherents · assembly · fellowship · brethren · communicants · prayer groups
deacons
Ordained ministerial assistants
- catechistsTeachers of Christian doctrine
- acolytesDevoted followers or assistants
- lectorsLiturgical scripture readers
church elders · Sunday school teachers · church wardens · unordained · nonclerical
worldly
Experienced in practical affairs
mundane · nonreligious · civilian · irreligious · unchurched · secular society · everyday life
- church historychurch history, apostles, Protestant Reformation, Christian history, baptism
- Catholic ChurchVatican, papacy, cardinals, popes, papal
- CatholicismVatican, cardinals, pope, Holy Communion, popes
- churchnave, pew, pews, altar, altars
- human groupstribe, clan, class, caste, crowd
- religionChristianity, Islam, beliefs, Judaism, Hinduism
laityclergy
Ordained religious officials collectively
priesthood · clerics · clergymen · ministers · ordained
laityexperts
Highly skilled practitioners
professionals · specialists · practitioners · authorities · cognoscenti