Clergy Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! ==Christianity== {{main article|Minister (Christianity)}} In general, Christian clergy are [[ordained]]; that is, they are set apart for specific [[Catholic ministry|ministry]] in religious rites. Others who have definite roles in worship but who are not ordained (e.g. [[Laity|laypeople]] acting as [[acolytes]]) are generally not considered clergy, even though they may require some sort of official approval to exercise these ministries. Types of clerics are distinguished from offices, even when the latter are commonly or exclusively occupied by clerics. A Roman Catholic cardinal, for instance, is almost without exception a cleric, but a cardinal is not a type of cleric. An archbishop is not a distinct type of cleric, but is simply a bishop who occupies a particular position with special authority. Conversely, a youth minister at a [[parish]] may or may not be a cleric. Different churches have different systems of clergy, though churches with similar [[ecclesiastical polity|polity]] have similar systems. ===Anglicanism=== {{main article|Anglican ministry}} [[File:IEAB 2006 mauricio saulo crosier.jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Bishop Maurício Andrade, [[Primate (bishop)|primate]] of the [[Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil]], gives a [[crosier]] to Bishop Saulo Barros]] In [[Anglicanism]], clergy consist of the orders of [[deacon]]s, [[priest]]s (presbyters) and [[bishop]]s in ascending order of seniority. ''[[Canon (priest)|Canon]]'', ''[[archdeacon]]'', ''[[archbishop]]'' and the like are specific positions within these orders. Bishops are typically overseers, presiding over a [[diocese]] composed of many [[parish]]es, with an archbishop presiding over a [[province]] in most, which is a group of dioceses. A parish (generally a single church) is looked after by one or more priests, although one priest may be responsible for several parishes. New clergy are first ordained as deacons. Those seeking to become priests are usually ordained to the priesthood around a year later. Since the 1960s some Anglican churches have reinstituted the permanent diaconate, in addition to the transitional diaconate, as a ministry focused on bridges the church and the world, especially ministry to those on the margins of society. For a short period of history before the ordination of women as deacons, priests and bishops began within Anglicanism, women could be [[deaconess]]es. Although they were usually considered having a ministry distinct from deacons they often had similar ministerial responsibilities. In Anglicanism all clergy are permitted to marry. In most national churches women may become deacons or priests, but while fifteen out of 38 national churches allow for the consecration of women as bishops, only five have ordained any. Celebration of the [[Eucharist]] is reserved for priests and bishops. National Anglican churches are presided over by one or more [[primate (bishop)|primates]] or [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitans]] (archbishops or presiding bishops). The senior archbishop of the [[Anglican Communion]] is the [[Archbishop of Canterbury]], who acts as leader of the [[Church of England]] and 'first among equals' of the primates of all Anglican churches. Being a deacon, priest or bishop is considered a function of the person and not a job. When priests retire they are still priests even if they no longer have any active ministry. However, they only hold the basic rank after retirement. Thus a retired archbishop can only be considered a bishop (though it is possible to refer to "Bishop John Smith, the former Archbishop of York"), a canon or archdeacon is a priest on retirement and does not hold any additional honorifics. For the forms of address for Anglican clergy, see [[Forms of address in the United Kingdom]]. <gallery> File:SirGeorgeFlemingBt2.jpg| [[Sir George Fleming, 2nd Baronet]], British churchman. File:CWLeffingwell.JPG| [[Charles Wesley Leffingwell]], Episcopal priest </gallery> === Baptist === The [[Baptist]] tradition only recognizes two ordained positions in the church as being the elders (pastors) and deacons as outlined in the third chapter of I Timothy<ref>{{bibleverse|1Tim|3}}</ref> in the Bible. === Catholic Church === {{Catholic Church hierarchy sidebar}} {{See also|Bishops in the Catholic Church|Priesthood in the Catholic Church|Deacon}} [[File:Archbishop Jose Palma delivering his homily.jpg|thumb|left|[[Archbishop]] [[Jose S. Palma]] with his assistant ministers during [[Pontifical High Mass]]]] [[File:Koorkledij (vlnr Jean-Pierre Delville-Franco Coppola-Jozef De Kesel - Guy Harpigny).jpg|thumb|left|[[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] [[Jean-Pierre Delville]], [[nuncio]] [[Franco Coppola]], [[Cardinal (Catholicism)|Cardinal]] [[Jozef De Kesel]], [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishop]] [[Guy Harpigny]]]] [[Holy Orders|Ordained]] clergy in the [[Catholic Church]] are either deacons, priests, or bishops belonging to the diaconate, the presbyterate, or the episcopate, respectively. Among bishops, some are [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitans]], [[archbishop]]s, or [[patriarch]]s. The [[pope]] is the [[bishop of Rome]], the supreme and universal hierarch of the Church, and his authorization is now required for the ordination of all Roman Catholic bishops. With rare exceptions, [[cardinal (Catholicism)|cardinals]] are bishops, although it was not always so; formerly, some cardinals were people who had received [[clerical tonsure]], but not [[Holy Orders (Catholic Church)|Holy Orders]]. [[Secular clergy]] are ministers, such as deacons and priests, who do not belong to a religious institute and live in the world at large, rather than a religious institute ([[Secular institute|''saeculum'']]). The [[Holy See]] supports the activity of its clergy by the [[Congregation for the Clergy]] ([https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cclergy/]), a [[dicastery]] of [[Roman curia]]. [[Canon law (Catholic Church)|Canon Law]] indicates (canon 207) that "[b]y divine institution, there are among the Christian faithful in the Church sacred ministers who in law are also called clerics; the other members of the Christian faithful are called lay persons".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PT.HTM |title=Code of Canon Law, Canon 207 |access-date=25 November 2011 |archive-date=12 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312112835/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PT.HTM |url-status=live }}</ref> This distinction of a separate ministry was formed in the early times of Christianity; one early source reflecting this distinction, with the three ranks or orders of [[bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]], [[presbyter|priest]] and [[deacon]], is the writings of Saint [[Ignatius of Antioch]]. Holy Orders is one of the [[Sacraments of the Catholic Church|Seven Sacraments]], enumerated at the [[Council of Trent]], that the Magisterium considers to be of divine institution. In the Catholic Church, only men are permitted to be clerics.{{citation needed|date=June 2022}} In the [[Latin Church]] before 1972, [[tonsure]] admitted someone to the clerical state, after which he could receive the four [[minor orders]] (ostiary, lectorate, order of exorcists, order of acolytes) and then the [[major orders]] of [[subdeacon|subdiaconate]], diaconate, presbyterate, and finally the episcopate, which according to Roman Catholic doctrine is "the fullness of Holy Orders". Since 1972 the minor orders and the subdiaconate have been replaced by [[Catholic ministry|lay ministries]] and clerical tonsure no longer takes place, except in some [[Traditionalist Catholic]] groups, and the clerical state is acquired, even in those groups, by Holy Orders.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19720815_ministeria-quaedam_lt.html|title=Ministeria quaedam - Disciplina circa Primam Tonsuram, Ordines Minores et Subdiaconatus in Ecclesia Latina innovatur, Litterae Apostolicae Motu Proprio datae, Die 15 m. Augusti a. 1972, Paulus PP.VI - Paulus PP. VI|website=The Holy See|access-date=2020-03-15|archive-date=2011-11-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111103110807/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/motu_proprio/documents/hf_p-vi_motu-proprio_19720815_ministeria-quaedam_lt.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the Latin Church the initial level of the three ranks of Holy Orders is that of the diaconate. In addition to these three orders of clerics, some [[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]], or "Uniate", Churches have what are called "minor clerics".<ref name="vatican.va">{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19901018_codex-can-eccl-orient-1_lt.html#TITULUS_X|title=Codex Canonum Ecclesiarum orientalium, die XVIII Octobris anno MCMXC - Ioannes Paulus PP. II - Ioannes Paulus II|website=The Holy See|access-date=2020-03-15|archive-date=2011-06-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154301/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19901018_codex-can-eccl-orient-1_lt.html#TITULUS_X|url-status=live}}</ref> Members of [[institute of consecrated life|institutes of consecrated life]] and [[society of apostolic life|societies of apostolic life]] are clerics only if they have received Holy Orders. Thus, unordained monks, [[friar]]s, [[nun]]s, and religious brothers and [[Nun#Distinction between a nun and a religious sister|sister]]s are not part of the clergy. The Code of Canon Law and the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches prescribe that every cleric must be enrolled or "[[incardination and excardination|incardinated]]" in a [[diocese]] or its equivalent (an [[apostolic vicariate]], [[territorial abbey]], [[personal prelature]], etc.) or in a [[religious institute]], [[society of apostolic life]] or [[secular institute]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PX.HTM|title=Code of Canon Law - IntraText|website=The Holy See|access-date=2020-03-15|archive-date=2021-01-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125062626/http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PX.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="vatican.va"/> The need for this requirement arose because of the trouble caused from the earliest years of the Church by unattached or vagrant clergy subject to no ecclesiastical authority and often causing scandal wherever they went.<ref>John P. Beal, James A. Coriden, Thomas J. Green, ''New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law'' (Paulist Press 2002 {{ISBN|9780809140664}}), p. 329</ref> Current canon law prescribes that to be ordained a priest, an education is required of two years of [[philosophy]] and four of [[theology]], including study of dogmatic and moral theology, the Holy Scriptures, and canon law have to be studied within a [[seminary]] or an ecclesiastical faculty at a university.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PW.HTM|title=Code of Canon Law - IntraText|website=The Holy See|access-date=2020-03-15|archive-date=2011-05-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110508022209/https://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG1104/__PW.HTM|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19901018_codex-can-eccl-orient-1_lt.html#TITULUS_X |title=Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches, canons 342-356 |access-date=2020-03-15 |archive-date=2011-06-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604154301/https://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_jp-ii_apc_19901018_codex-can-eccl-orient-1_lt.html#TITULUS_X |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Clerical celibacy]] is a requirement for almost all clergy in the predominant Latin Church, with the exception of deacons who do not intend to become priests. Exceptions are sometimes admitted for ordination to transitional diaconate and priesthood on a case-by-case basis for married clergymen of other churches or communities who become Catholics, but consecration of already married men as [[bishop (Catholic Church)|bishops]] is excluded in both the Latin and [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] (see [[Personal ordinariate#Married former Anglican clergy and rules on celibacy|personal ordinariate]]). [[Clerical marriage]] is not allowed and therefore, if those for whom in some [[particular Church]] celibacy is optional (such as permanent deacons in the Latin Church) wish to marry, they must do so before ordination. Eastern Catholic Churches while allowing married men to be ordained, do not allow [[clerical marriage]] after ordination: their [[parish priest]]s are often married, but must marry before being ordained to the priesthood.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Rusyn-Ukrainians of Czechoslovakia: An Historical Survey| first= W. |last=W. Braumüller|year= 2006| isbn=9783700303121| page =17 |publisher=University of Michigan Press|quote= }}</ref> [[Eastern Catholic Churches]] require celibacy only for bishops. === Eastern Orthodoxy === {{Eastern Orthodox sidebar|expanded=organization}} [[File:Orthodox clergy.jpg|thumb|upright=0.7|left|[[Eastern Orthodox Church|Orthodox Christian]] clergy: [[bishop]] (right, at [[altar]]), [[priest]] (left), and two [[deacon]]s (in gold)]] The [[Eastern Orthodox Church]] has three ranks of holy orders: bishop, priest, and deacon. These are the same offices identified in the [[New Testament]] and found in the [[Early Church]], as testified by the writings of the [[Holy Fathers]]. Each of these ranks is ordained through the [[Sacred Mystery]] (sacrament) of the [[laying on of hands]] (called ''[[Christian laying on of hands|cheirotonia]]'') by bishops. Priests and deacons are ordained by their own [[diocesan bishop]], while bishops are [[consecration|consecrated]] through the laying on of hands of at least three other bishops. Within each of these three ranks there are found a number of titles. Bishops may have the title of [[archbishop]], [[metropolitan bishop|metropolitan]], and [[patriarch]], all of which are considered [[honorific]]s. Among the Orthodox, all bishops are considered equal, though an individual may have a place of higher or lower honor, and each has his place within the [[order of precedence]]. Priests (also called [[presbyter]]s) may (or may not) have the title of [[archpriest]], [[protopresbyter]] (also called "protopriest", or "protopope"), [[hieromonk]] (a [[monk]] who has been ordained to the priesthood) [[archimandrite]] (a senior hieromonk) and [[hegumen]] (abbot). Deacons may have the title of [[hierodeacon]] (a monk who has been ordained to the deaconate), [[archdeacon]] or [[protodeacon]]. The lower clergy are not ordained through ''cheirotonia'' (laying on of hands) but through a blessing known as ''cheirothesia'' (setting-aside). These clerical ranks are [[subdeacon]], [[Reader (liturgy)|reader]] and [[altar server]] (also known as [[taper-bearer]]). Some churches have a separate service for the blessing of a [[cantor (church)|cantor]]. Ordination of a bishop, priest, deacon or subdeacon must be conferred during the [[Divine Liturgy]] (Eucharist)—though in some churches it is permitted to ordain up through deacon during the [[Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts]]—and no more than a single individual can be ordained to the same rank in any one service. Numerous members of the lower clergy may be ordained at the same service, and their blessing usually takes place during the [[Little Hours]] prior to Liturgy, or may take place as a separate service. The blessing of readers and taper-bearers is usually combined into a single service. Subdeacons are ordained during the Little Hours, but the ceremonies surrounding his blessing continue through the Divine Liturgy, specifically during the [[Great Entrance]]. Bishops are usually drawn from the ranks of the archimandrites, and are required to be celibate; however, a non-monastic priest may be ordained to the episcopate if he no longer lives with his wife (following Canon XII of the [[Quinisext Council|Quinisext Council of Trullo]])<ref>Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers [http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/Npnf2-14-136.htm#P6201_1388746 CCEL.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050720015521/http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-14/Npnf2-14-136.htm#P6201_1388746 |date=2005-07-20 }}</ref> In contemporary usage such a non-monastic priest is usually [[tonsure]]d to the monastic state, and then elevated to archimandrite, at some point prior to his consecration to the episcopacy. Although not a formal or canonical prerequisite, at present bishops are often required to have earned a university degree, typically but not necessarily in [[theology]]. Usual titles are ''Your Holiness'' for a patriarch (with ''Your All-Holiness'' reserved for the [[Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople]]), ''Your Beatitude'' for an archbishop/metropolitan overseeing an [[autocephaly|autocephalous Church]], ''Your Eminence'' for an archbishop/metropolitan generally, ''Master'' or ''Your Grace'' for a bishop and ''Father'' for priests, deacons and monks,<ref>"[http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx Clergy Etiquette] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122025012/http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx |date=2009-11-22 }}", Orthodox Christian Information Center.</ref> although there are variations between the various Orthodox Churches. For instance, in Churches associated with the Greek tradition, while the Ecumenical Patriarch is addressed as "Your All-Holiness", all other Patriarchs (and archbishops/metropolitans who oversee autocephalous Churches) are addressed as "Your Beatitude".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://goarch.org/resources/etiquette|title=Forms of Addresses and Salutations for Orthodox Clergy |website=Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206164329/http://goarch.org/resources/etiquette |archive-date= Feb 6, 2017 }}</ref> Orthodox priests, deacons, and subdeacons must be either married or celibate (preferably monastic) prior to ordination, but may not marry after ordination. ''Re''marriage of clergy following divorce or widowhood is forbidden. Married clergy are considered as best-suited to staff parishes, as a priest with a family is thought better qualified to counsel his flock.<ref>Ken Parry, David Melling, Dimitri Brady, Sidney Griffith & John Healey (eds.), 1999, ''The Blackwell Dictionary of Eastern Christianity'', Oxford, pp116-7</ref> It has been common practice in the Russian tradition for unmarried, non-monastic clergy to occupy academic posts. ===Methodism=== In the Methodist Churches, candidates for ordination are "licensed" to the ministry for a period of time (typically one to three years) prior to being ordained. This period typically is spent performing the duties of ministry under the guidance, supervision, and evaluation of a more senior, ordained minister. In some denominations, however, licensure is a permanent, rather than a transitional state for ministers assigned to certain specialized ministries, such as music ministry or youth ministry. ===Latter-day Saints=== {{primary sources section|date=November 2023}} {{Main article|Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)}} [[The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints]] (LDS Church) has no dedicated clergy, and is governed instead by a system of lay priesthood leaders. Locally, unpaid and part-time [[Priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|priesthood holders]] lead the church; the worldwide church is supervised by full-time [[General authority|general authorities]], some of whom receive modest living allowances.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1985/11/questions-and-answers?lang=eng|title=Questions and Answers - ensign|website=ChurchofJesusChrist.org|access-date=2019-07-15|archive-date=2020-02-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219193137/https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ensign/1985/11/questions-and-answers?lang=eng|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/General_Authorities "General Authorities,"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141111085647/http://eom.byu.edu/index.php/General_Authorities |date=2014-11-11 }} [[Encyclopedia of Mormonism]], p. 539</ref> No formal theological training is required for any position. The church believes that all of its leaders are called by [[revelation (Latter Day Saints)|revelation]] and the [[laying on of hands]] by one who holds authority. The church also believes that [[Jesus Christ]] stands at the head of the church and leads the church through revelation given to the [[President of the Church (LDS Church)|President of the Church]], the [[First Presidency (LDS Church)|First Presidency]], and [[Quorum of the Twelve Apostles (LDS Church)|Twelve Apostles]], all of whom are recognized as [[prophet, seer, and revelator|prophets, seers, and revelators]] and have lifetime tenure. Below these men in the hierarchy are [[quorum (Latter Day Saints)|quorums]] of [[Seventy (LDS Church)|seventy]], which are assigned geographically over the [[Area (LDS Church)|areas]] of the church. Locally, the church is divided into [[stake (Latter Day Saints)|stakes]]; each stake has a [[stake president|president]], who is assisted by two counselors and a [[high council (Latter Day Saints)|high council]]. The stake is made up of several individual congregations, which are called "[[ward (LDS Church)|wards]]" or "branches." Wards are led by a [[Bishop (Latter Day Saints)|bishop]] and his counselors and branches by a [[branch president|president]] and his counselors. Local leaders serve in their positions until released by their supervising authorities.<ref>The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, [http://www.mormon.org/faq/no-paid-clergy "Why Don't Mormons Have Paid Clergy?"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140508061814/http://www.mormon.org/faq/no-paid-clergy |date=2014-05-08 }}, mormon.org.</ref> Generally, all worthy males age 12 and above receive the [[priesthood (LDS Church)|priesthood]]. Youth age 12 to 18 are ordained to the [[Aaronic priesthood (LDS Church)|Aaronic priesthood]] as [[deacon (Latter Day Saints)|deacons]], [[teacher (Latter Day Saints)|teachers]], or [[Priest (Latter Day Saints)|priests]], which authorizes them to perform certain [[ordinance (Latter Day Saints)|ordinances]] and sacraments. Adult males are ordained to the [[Melchizedek priesthood (Latter Day Saints)|Melchizedek priesthood]], as [[elder (Latter Day Saints)|elders]], seventies, [[high priest (Latter Day Saints)|high priests]], or [[Patriarch (Latter Day Saints)|patriarchs]] in that priesthood, which is concerned with spiritual leadership of the church. Although the term "clergy" is not typically used in the LDS Church, it would most appropriately apply to local bishops and stake presidents. Merely holding an office in the priesthood does not imply authority over other church members or agency to act on behalf of the entire church. ===Lutheranism=== [[File:LutheranClergy.JPG|thumb|upright=0.7|right|Lutheran pastor confirming the youth of his congregation]] There is only one order of clergy in the Lutheran church, namely the office of [[pastor]]. This is stated in the [[Augsburg Confession]], article 14.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Augsburg Confession|url=https://www.gutenberg.org/files/275/275-h/275-h.htm#link2H_4_0015|access-date=2022-02-07|website=www.gutenberg.org|archive-date=2021-06-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624205444/https://www.gutenberg.org/files/275/275-h/275-h.htm#link2H_4_0015|url-status=live}}</ref> Howeverer, for practical and historical reasons, many Lutheran churches have different roles of pastors. Some pastors are functioning as [[deacon]]s, others as parish priests and yet some as [[bishop]]s and even [[archbishop]]s. Lutherans have no principal aversion against having a pope as the leading bishop. But the Roman Catholic view of the papacy is considered antichristian.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Power and Primacy of the Pope (1537): Smalcald Theologians|url=https://www.projectwittenberg.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/concord/web/smc-pope.html|access-date=2022-02-07|website=www.projectwittenberg.org|archive-date=2022-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220207212812/https://www.projectwittenberg.org/pub/resources/text/wittenberg/concord/web/smc-pope.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Book of Concord]], a compendium of doctrine for the [[Lutheran Church]]es allows ordination to be called a sacrament.{{Citation needed|reason=Augsburg Confession Articles IX, X, XIII, and XXII only mention 2 sacraments and Articles XIV, XXVII, and XXVIII speaks to ordination with no explanation or mention of ordination being called a sacrament.|date=February 2023}} === Reformed === The [[Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)]] ordains two types of [[presbyter]]s or elders, teaching (pastor) and ruling (leaders of the congregation which form a council with the pastors). Teaching elders are seminary trained and ordained as a presbyter and set aside on behalf of the whole denomination to the ministry of Word and Sacrament. Ordinarily, teaching elders are installed by a presbytery as pastor of a congregation. Ruling elders, after receiving training, may be commissioned by a presbytery to serve as a pastor of a congregation, as well as preach and administer sacraments.<ref>Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). ''Book of Order: 2009-2011'' (Louisville: Office of the General Assembly), Form of Government, Chapter 6 and 14. See also {{cite web |url=http://www.pcusa.org/theologyandworship/issues/unplumin.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040307070026/http://www.pcusa.org/theologyandworship/issues/unplumin.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2004-03-07 |title=Theology and Worship }}</ref> In [[Congregationalist Church]]es, local churches are free to hire (and often ordain) their own clergy, although the parent denominations typically maintain lists of suitable candidates seeking appointment to local church ministries and encourage local churches to consider these individuals when filling available positions. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). 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