ministry
Clerical calling or department
The noun ministry shows an important difference between American and other varieties of English.
Parliamentary governments (as in the UK and many other countries) call their major departments of government ministries (Ministry of Justice).
In American English, however, these are simply called departments, and ministry refers to the service, job, or activity of a religious minister: The boy felt called to enter the ministry after high school graduation.
The ordained ministry refers collectively to religious ministers.
Formal worship structure
- sermonClergy's worship address
- prayerAddress to deity
- hymnReligious song of praise
- altarSacred ritual table
sanctuary · congregation · devotion · praise · sacrament · ritual · communion · benediction
Christian congregation leader
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- preacherReligious sermon deliverer
- reverendWorthy of veneration
bishop · chaplain · vicar · rector · deacon · ordination · vocation · calling
Enclosed storage furniture
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
- portfolioCollected works or assets
- secretaryAdministrative office aide
bureaucracy · legislation · diplomacy · statecraft · chancellor · premier · governance · sovereignty
Religious outreach worker
- evangelismPromoting beliefs to others
- outreachProactive community assistance
- proselytizeAdvocate one's beliefs
- gospelSacred choral tradition
conversion · discipleship · crusade · revival · testimony · baptism · apostolic · preaching
Official diplomatic residence abroad
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- consulateForeign diplomatic office
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
legation · chancellery · attaché · representation · portfolio · summit · treaty · protocol
Unpaid willing participant
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
- compassionConcern for others' distress
aid · relief · benevolence · caregiving · nonprofit · welfare · advocacy · community
liturgy
Formal worship structure
altar · sanctuary · congregation · devotion · praise · sacrament · ritual · communion · benediction · homily
pastor
Christian congregation leader
- priestOne who performs sacraments
- clergyOrdained religious officials collectively
- preacherReligious sermon deliverer
reverend · bishop · chaplain · vicar · rector · deacon · ordination · vocation · calling · seminary
cabinet
Enclosed storage furniture
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
- portfolioCollected works or assets
secretary · bureaucracy · legislation · diplomacy · statecraft · chancellor · premier · governance · sovereignty · senate
missionary
Religious outreach worker
- evangelismPromoting beliefs to others
- outreachProactive community assistance
- proselytizeAdvocate one's beliefs
gospel · conversion · discipleship · crusade · revival · testimony · baptism · apostolic · preaching · salvation
embassy
Official diplomatic residence abroad
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- envoyAccredited diplomatic representative
- consulateForeign diplomatic office
delegation · legation · chancellery · attaché · representation · portfolio · summit · treaty · protocol
volunteer
Unpaid willing participant
- humanitarianHelper of suffering people
- charityVoluntary aid for others
- philanthropyGenerous giving for others
compassion · aid · relief · benevolence · caregiving · nonprofit · welfare · advocacy · community · assistance
- bureaucracybureaucracy, bureaucrat, bureaucrats, red tape, civil service
- organizationsorganization, organizations, company, companies, club
- politicsdemocracy, campaigning, campaigns, democrats, bill
- church lifechurch attendance, worship service, prayer group, youth group, church music
- American ProtestantismBaptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Lutheran, Episcopalian
- Christian ministrypreaching, evangelists, missionaries, discipleship, pastors
ministrylaity
Non-ordained church members
congregation · laypeople · layperson · flock · parishioners
ministrylegislature
Lawmaking governmental branch
parliament · judiciary · private sector · civil society · opposition
ministryexploitation
Selfish use of others
self-service · neglect · indifference · self-interest · selfishness
- prime ministerLeader of a parliamentary state
- foreign ministerHead of diplomacy
- cabinet ministerHead of government department
- defense ministerGovernment's military head
- youth ministryChurch program for teenagers
- foreign ministryDiplomatic relations government branch
minister, administration, administrator, administer, ministers, administrative, ministerial, ministering, ministries