What is a cleric?

Answer

A cleric is a member of the clergy. In most religions, there is a distinction between the clerics – the “professional” ministers – and the laity, which includes all those who are not clerics. Scripture teaches that believers have various callings and gifts, as stated in Romans 12:6 and Ephesians 4:11. Some are called to be pastors or teachers, but all believers are servants (“ministers”) of the Lord, as mentioned in Romans 14:4. Dividing the church into clerical and non-clerical categories is not particularly biblical. It is concerning when clerics consider themselves more spiritual or closer to God than the “common” believer and believe that clerics must wear specific “clerical” attire such as special shirts, collars, albs, cassocks, capes, cinctures, tippets, hats, surplices, jewelry, etc.

A cleric is ordained to perform pastoral or other religious duties. The term cleric is a broad one and applies to Catholic priests, Protestant ministers, and non-denominational pastors. For instance, “The cleric led the funeral procession honoring the memory of Dr. Williams.”

The word cleric also has roots that go beyond Latin. The Greek word “kleros” referred to an object used in the casting of lots, as seen in Matthew 27:35.or to an inheritance or portion such as might be obtained by the casting of lots (see Acts 1:25-26). By the second century, kleros was being used by early Greek Christians to refer to any type of ministry work. They based this idea on Deuteronomy 18:1–2, which states that the Levites (set apart for temple work) had no inheritance or “portion” with the rest of Israel; instead, the Lord would be their portion. From kleros, we derive the word clerk, which originally referred to a member of the clergy and was a synonym of cleric.