Get NJ Church Officials 2022-2024

In the Christian church, the clergy is the entire class of religious officials, from priests to pastors to bishops and beyond. If you have a sense that your life path lies in helping others practice their faith, you should go into the clergy. Clergy comes from the word clerk, which in turn comes from cleric.

The Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey today elected the Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French to serve as 13th bishop of the diocese. French, who will be consecrated and installed on June 24, is the first female to be elected bishop of the diocese.

The senior pastor acts as the CEO, and their leadership team oversees the various departments within the business. The Board of Deacons often serves as the Board of Directors. Without structure, the pastor would bear all of running the church.

In Christianity, the specific names and roles of the clergy vary by denomination and there is a wide range of formal and informal clergy positions, including deacons, elders, priests, bishops, preachers, pastors, presbyters, ministers, and the pope.

'Hierarchy of Order' is the orderly arrangement of ranks and orders of the clergy in one apostolic body to carry out the sacramental and pastoral ministry of the Church. Comprises: His Holiness, the Pope, Supreme Pastor of the Roman Catholic Church; and the Patriarchs, Archbishops, bishops, priests and deacons.

The sacrament of holy orders is conferred in three ranks of clergy: bishops, priests, and deacons.

The term traditionally refers to the holy orders of bishop, priest, and deacon. The major orders were distinguished from minor orders such as porter (doorkeeper), lector, exorcist, and acolyte.

Bishops exist in the church hierarchy above the level of pastors and priests. They provide administrative supervision, theological guidance, and moral foundations for the many local churches under their oversight.