Clergy

The clergy ( altertüml. also clergy, clergy ) is the totality of the members of the clergy ( clergy ). The word comes from the Greek κλῆρος kleros "Come on, share, inheritance " and became clerus Latin; it corresponds to the mlat. clericia and the MHG pfafheit. The corresponding adjective is clerical.

The term refers primarily to the Christian priesthood, but it is sometimes transferred to conditions outside of Christianity and used for example for ministers of religion or clergy of other religions. Principle can be of clergy but really only talk when there is a group clearly are within a religious community from the rest of the faithful aloof officials with priestly or at least comparable functions, which does not, for example, in Sunni Islam, but also in most Protestant Christian churches or is limited to the case.

In a general sense one speaks also of the members of the clergy or the clergy.

Status

A cleric in the Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and Old Catholic church ordained minister who has received one of the three stages of the sacrament. The clergy of these churches can therefore also be called ordination status. In the Roman Catholic and the Orthodox churches only men can receive the sacrament of Holy Orders.

Clerics are so deacons, priests and bishops. In contrast to the clerics are referred to the faithful who have not received the sacrament of Holy Orders, as a layman.

For the recognition of ordination offices in and between the different churches is the doctrine of apostolic succession of significance, that is, the uninterrupted transmission of the episcopate and the priesthood so that starting from the Apostles used in this office after church view through Christ.

Roman Catholic Church

Clerical state

After earlier Catholic Church law ( until 1972 ) the inclusion in the clergy was already by the tonsure (which could be received prior to receiving any consecration, about that of seminarians ). The precursors to the diaconate until then had various minor orders to go through that exist in the Eastern Churches which still exist. Historically, among the ( also referred to as Minoristen ) Owner of the minor orders in its results for the clergy (ie, were under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction, for example ), but were certain rights and obligations not or not to the extent subject to such Majoristen. Today in exceptional cases - such as in churches united with Rome with a different rite - yet donated minor orders will no longer result that such persons are considered according to the Catholic Church clerics law.

As an outward sign of belonging to the clergy were and are even today certain forms of clothing ( Kollar or Geneva bands, gown or cassock, biretta, Pileolus, Kamilavka ) and the hairstyle ( tonsure, beard, braids ) are common, depending on the denomination or tradition vary. At the celebration of a religious clerics usually wear liturgical vestments.

Belonging to the clergy is associated with various rights and duties, which include mainly:

• Obedience to ecclesiastical superiors (usually the bishop ): Obedience refers to the duties; the private life is concerned, so far as " befitting " behavior. The legal relationship of the cleric to its parent church organization unit ( diocese, etc.) is referred to in the Western churches as Incardination ( inclusion, integration ), in the Eastern Church than ascription ( membership, registration ).
• Chaplain service: Main tasks of the clergy are preaching the word and the administration of the Sacraments. Here are the cleric or priest certain offices reserved for the exercise of power of orders ( transmitted through the sacrament of Holy Orders ) or ecclesiastical power of governance ( transferred by special " broadcast" or commission ) is required (this is the consecration in most cases validity requirement, mandating however, the admissibility condition to providing the official acts ). For certain offices (eg diocesan bishop or priest ) is usually a requirement that (local residence or attendance ). In addition to the pastoral care and the service clerics will also fulfill administrative, scientific, academic, social, cultural or other clerical tasks.
• Celibacy: In the Latin Church deacons (if not already married before ordination ), priests and bishops are bound to celibacy. From celibacy release ( dispensation ), only the Pope ( perhaps in conjunction with the laicization or even for married Anglican or Protestant ministers who convert to the Catholic Church ). In most churches united with Rome with Eastern or Oriental Rite of celibacy for bishops and unmarried consecrated clerics also applies as in almost all Orthodox churches (mainly monks, anyway unmarried life because of their vow of chastity ). In the Anglican and Old Catholic Church clerics are not bound to celibacy.
• Lifestyle and personality: From a Cleric are generally required piety and a simple lifestyle, he should perform in an exemplary Christian life. There are also certain worship and prayer commitments for clerics (about the Catholic Church and the Eastern Church, the Liturgy of the Hours ). Moreover, the respective requirements strongly depend on the specific tasks and areas of the clergy and the tradition of his community.
• Right to maintenance and supply: Today's clerics are usually paid by their employer. In Germany and Austria, the church members contribute on the church tax for commenting the church officials. Historically played the supply of the clergy as a socio- political problem a major role. In many periods of history, there were many employment and destitute cleric. In general, the municipalities had to pay for their clergy, such as payment of tithing. Another model presented the spiritual benefice dar. long time formed the most acquired through donation land of the churches the most important basis for the payment of the clergy. After the expropriation of churches in the course of secularization at first obliged the prince to grade church officials. As part of the separation of church and state, the self-financing of the church by the faithful but was introduced largely again. Since 1919 in Germany guarantees the constitutional right of taxation of religious communities.
• Social privileges: In Germany clerics are exempt from military service and from the aldermen office. Historically, the clergy also had significantly more extensive privileges. A special against the social position of the clergy and the Church in general directed flow is called anti-clerical.

The clerical state can be lost again. Although the sacrament of Orders, due to its indelible character by the so-called laicization not be undone, but the person is released from the rights and duties of a cleric.

A special position to take a so-called religious, so the members of Christian monasteries, religious institutes and similar organizations or communities. They apply (if not ordained priests ) in the Eastern Catholic Churches and the orthodoxy as its own spiritual state (along with hermits and consecrated virgins, which is attributable to neither the clergy nor the laity. During the rest of the Roman Catholic Church that was to reform of canon law by the 1983 promulgated Codex Iuris Canonici similar (at least puts LG 31 the next ) and not precisely defined. Simultaneously, there were within the most Catholic men religious communities, especially in the so-called priestly orders, until the Second Vatican Council, a strict separation between the lay brothers and the clerics who had received holy orders and in many ways (own prayer times, work organization, access to books, etc.) were privileged. Nowadays, consecrated persons are in the Latin Church canonically as either lay or cleric, depending on whether they have received the sacrament of Holy Orders or not. At the same time, the different treatment of laity and priests within the Order is largely abolished, although still some line agencies remain the devotees reserved according to the canonical constitution of the Institute ( clerical or laikal ).

The name of the religious and secular institutes in the Roman Catholic Church as the Institutes of Consecrated Life brings the consecrated position of the consecrated persons to express. With the adoption of the special form of life according to the evangelical counsels through the church ( before a religious superior or the diocesan bishop) no sacramental ordination is connected; acceptance of the profession, the taking the vows of a hermit and the administration of the virginal consecration among the sacramentals.

Orthodox churches

According to the Orthodox view, the people of God is not divided in two clergy and laity, but often structured hierarchically, " in Bishop, priests, deacons, Ipodiakone, readers, psalm singer, baptized laity and catechumens. " In addition, in turn, own readings of the monks, nuns, hermits, consecrated virgins, deaconesses (the latter historically until the 13th century ). Clearly that is about the power of an Orthodox abbess, " in her convent - even in worship - the blessing of the individual believer " to donate.

This diversity is the Orthodox teaching, also the " eschatological beauty " of the Church is to the effect that the Church is an earthly perspective on the beauty of the coming Kingdom.

Protestantism

In Protestant circles, the term is only used as a slang term for ordained church members.

The Opposite of clergy and laity has been lifted in the Protestant church. On the one hand the authority of Scripture ( the Bible ) is required by the Protestant understanding no mediation by particularly consecrated persons, but can be understood by every Christian. In the Reformation ( as it did many previous reform ) movements, it has therefore always been a major concern, even the layman and not only for the priests and monks Scripture reading to allow ( in the vernacular ) and to allow the sermon.

On the other hand, the Protestant tradition developed the idea of the universal priesthood of all the baptized further and stresses that salvation through the sacrifice of Christ is unique and final, so no sacrifice priestly functions, and thus no special priesthood more is needed, the classic role of the Christian priest should be reserved for officers of the Last Supper and "administrator" of the sacraments.

Role of the clergy in society

In the religious organized societies of medieval Europe, in which the Church and society were considered as a unit, the clergy also made socially a special group, a so-called stand as the main task of the clergy was after understanding the medieval world order concern for the salvation of the believers, so the general public. Belonging to the clergy was associated with certain rights (such as the tithe ) and obligations (such as the celibacy ). Until modern times, enjoyed especially the higher clergy - like the nobility from which he came, almost without exception - different privileges towards the commoners and peasants ( third estate ). With the Enlightenment, the rise of the middle class after the French Revolution, the secularization, the anti-clerical and secular movements and social models of the 19th century, the separation of church and state, the development of democratic societies and, finally, the declining influence of religion on society life of Europe at all ( secularization ) lost the sociological special status of the clergy since the end of the 18th century to the present much of their meaning. As own social layer of the clergy in modern Europe practically does not exist anymore.

Social change, the role of the clergy was subjected in society in European history of the last millennium, has also led to major changes in relation to the composition of the clergy, which led social background of its members and the motivations that encourage people to pursue a clerical career. In western societies, it appears to give a decreasing attractiveness of the clergy profession.