In religious organizations, the laity consists
of all members who are not part of the clergy,
usually including any non-ordained members
of religious institutes, e.g. a nun or lay
brother.A layperson (also layman or laywoman)
is a person who is not qualified in a given
profession and/or does not have specific knowledge
of a certain subject.
In Christian cultures, the term lay priest
was sometimes used in the past to refer to
a secular priest, a diocesan priest who is
not a member of a religious institute.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
uses the term "Lay Priesthood" to emphasise
that local congregational leaders are unpaid.
Terms such as lay priest, lay clergy and lay
nun were also once used in Buddhist cultures
to indicate ordained persons who continued
to live in the wider community instead of
retiring to 
a monastery.
== Etymology ==
The word lay (part of layperson, etc.) derives
from the Anglo-French lai, from Late Latin
laicus, from the Greek λαϊκός, laikos,
of the people, from λαός, laos, the people
at large.The word laity means "common people"
and comes from the Greek λαϊκός (laikos),
meaning "of the people".Synonyms for layperson
include: parishioner, believer, dilettante,
follower, member, neophyte, novice, outsider,
proselyte, recruit, secular, laic, layman,
nonprofessional.
== Everyday context ==
The phrase "layman's terms" is often used
to refer to terms that apply to the everyday
person, as can the term "layman" or "layperson"
itself.
In English law, the phrase "the man on the
Clapham omnibus" is sometimes used to describe
a hypothetical person who is reasonably educated
and intelligent but has no special expertise
in a specific business or profession.
== Christian laity ==
In the Catholic and the Anglican churches,
anyone who is not ordained as a deacon, priest,
or bishop is referred to as a layman or a
laywoman.
In many Catholic dioceses, due in part to
the lack of ordained clergy, lay ecclesial
ministers serve parishes and in the diocese
as pastoral leaders, sometimes as de facto
pastor in the absence of an ordained priest.
=== Catholic Church ===
The Second Vatican Council [1962–1965] devoted
its decree on the apostolate of the laity
Apostolicam actuositatem and chapter IV of
its dogmatic constitution Lumen gentium to
the laity in a sense narrower than that which
is normal in the Catholic Church.
The normal definition of laity is that given
in the Code of Canon Law:
The narrower sense in which the Second Vatican
Council gave instruction concerning the laity
is as follows:
In this narrower sense, the Council taught
that the laity's specific character is secularity:
they are Christians who live the life of Christ
in the world.
Their role is to sanctify the created world
by directing it to become more Christian in
its structures and systems: "the laity, by
their very vocation, seek the kingdom of God
by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering
them according to the plan of God".
The laity are full members of the Church,
fully share in Church's purpose of sanctification,
of "inner union of men with God", acting with
freedom and personal responsibility and not
as mere agents of the hierarchy.
Due to their baptism, they are members of
God's family, the Church, and they grow in
intimate union with God, "in" and "by means"
of the world.
It is not a matter of departing from the world
as the monks and the nuns do that they sanctify
themselves; it is precisely through the material
world sanctified by the coming of the God
made flesh, i.e. made material, that they
reach God.
Doctors, mothers of a family, farmers, bank
tellers, drivers, by doing their jobs in the
world with a Christian spirit are already
extending the Kingdom of God.
According to the repeated statements of Popes
and lay Catholic leaders, the laity should
say "we are the Church," in the same way that
the saints said that "Christ lives in me."Lay
involvement takes diverse forms, including
participation in the life of the parish, confraternities,
lay apostolates, secular institutes, and lay
ecclesial movements.
There are also lay ecclesiastical ministries,
and where there is a priest shortage, lay
people have to take on some functions previously
performed by priests.
==== Vatican II afterwards ====
In December 1977, “A Chicago Declaration
of Christian Concern” was published.
The declaration looked back a decade to the
Vatican Council II with appreciation for its
“compelling vision of lay Christians in
society.”
As the Declaration interpreted it, the Council
viewed the laity's “special vocation”
as being the “leaven” for the “sanctification
of the world” in their “secular professions
and occupations.”
However, lamented the Declaration, the Council's
vision has “all but vanished” from the
church.
The Declaration was signed by forty-seven
clergy, religious, and laity that included
men and women in many occupations, and it
served as the charter for the National Center
for the Laity (NCL).
The NCL helps lay Catholics respond to their
call to change the world through their daily
activities and regular responsibilities, and
it publishes a monthly online newsletter Initiatives:
In Support of Christians in the World.Initiatives:
In Support of Christians in the World (January
2015) rejoiced that “50 Years since Vatican
II” the increased lay ministry in parishes
has “brought fresh vitality.”
However, the newsletter lamented “the neglect
of formation for the lay apostolate in the
world.”
Pope Francis is quoted as confirming this
lament.
Priests “tends to clericalize the laity”
and view their ministry as only “within
the Church,” discounting their “workaday”
ministry.
=== Orthodox ===
The Orthodox Church in America’s web site
has eleven articles regarding its Theology
of Lay Ministries.
The term “lay ministries” refers to all
the “people of God” (from the Greek laos
tou Theou) including the ordained.
Thus, every Christian has a vocation to ministry.
A minority are called to ecclesiastical ministries.
The majority are called to serve God and their
fellow human beings in some way in the “everyday
secular world.”The Orthodox Church's assertion
that all Christians are “appointed” as
ministers is based on Scripture (1 Peter 2:9)
and the Church Fathers.
The ministry of the laity complements the
ministry of the priest in their daily lives
in their families, their communities, their
work: “in whatever circumstances they find
themselves.”
The most important “lay ministry” can
be done anonymously.
What one's ministry is depends on the abilities
of the person: “landscaping, carpentry,
writing, counseling, child care, sports, music,
teaching, or just being a good listener.”The
relation within the laity as the “people
of God” between those who are ordained priests
and those not ordained is one of cooperation
in three areas: (1) in the Liturgy, (2) Church
administration, and (3) service (ministry)
to others.In spite of the church's teaching
about the ministry of the laity in the world,
the church gives more recognition to ministry
within the institutional church.
The “daily ministry” of the laity in their
work, in their homes, and in their recreation
remains hidden.
Priests may intend to support their parishioners’
daily ministry, but their priority tends to
be recruiting volunteers for the church's
programs.
=== Protestantism ===
==== Anglicanism ====
Anyone who is not a bishop, priest, or deacon
in the Church.
In the Anglican tradition, all baptized persons
are expected to minister in Christ's name.
The orders of ministry are thus laypersons,
deacons, priests, and bishops.The ministry
of the laity is "to represent Christ and his
Church; to bear witness to him wherever they
may be; and, according to the gifts given
them, to carry on Christ's work of reconciliation
in the world; and to take their place in the
life, worship, and governance of the Church".
Much of the ministry of the laity thus takes
place outside official church structures in
homes, workplaces, schools, and elsewhere.
It is “through their continuous participation
in political, economic, educational, and kinship
institutions” that the laity “powerfully
influence the character of these institutions.”Laymen
also play important roles in the structures
of the church.
There are elected lay representatives on the
various governing bodies of churches in the
Anglican communion.
In the Church of England, these governing
bodies range from a local parochial church
council, through Deanery Synods and Diocesan
Synods.
At the topmost level, the General Synod includes
a house of Laity.
Likewise, in the Episcopal Church in the USA,
the General Convention includes four lay persons
from each diocese in the House of Deputies,
and each diocesan convention includes lay
delegates from the parishes.
On the local parish level, lay persons are
elected to a church council called a vestry
which manages church finances and elects the
parish rector.
Parish musicians, bookkeepers, administrative
assistants, sextons, sacristans, etc., are
all roles normally filled by lay persons.
At higher levels, diocesan and national offices
rely on lay persons in many important areas
of responsibility.
Often specialized ministries as campus ministers,
youth ministers, or hospital chaplains are
performed by lay persons.
Lay persons serve in worship services in a
number of important positions, including vergers,
acolytes, lectors, intercessors, ushers.
Acolytes include torch bearers, crucifers,
thurifers, and boat bearers.
Lectors read the lessons from the Bible appointed
for the day (except for the Gospel reading,
which is read by a Deacon), and may also lead
the Prayers of the People.
Some specialized lay ministries require special
licensing by the bishop: the ministries which
require a license vary from province to province.
In the Episcopal Church, there are six specialized
lay ministries requiring a license: Pastoral
Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic
Minister, Eucharistic Visitor, and Catechist.
==== Methodism ====
===== Lay servant ministry =====
A very early tradition of preaching in the
Wesleyan / Methodist churches was for a lay
preacher to be appointed to lead services
of worship and preach in a group (called a
'circuit') of meeting places or churches.
The lay preacher walked or rode on horseback
in a prescribed circuit of the preaching places
according to an agreed pattern and timing,
and people came to the meetings.
After the appointment of ministers and pastors,
this lay preaching tradition continued with
local preachers being appointed by individual
churches, and in turn approved and invited
by nearby churches, as an adjunct to the minister
or during their planned absences.The United
Methodist Church recognizes two types of lay
ministries.
One is a “Lay Servant Ministry” of (a)
assisting or leading local church meetings
and worship or of (b) serving as lay missioners
to begin new work within the church that requires
special training.
The other type is the "Ministry of the Laity"
in their daily lives.In addition to being
appointed by members of their local churches,
Local and Certified Lay Speakers of the United
Methodist Church (more commonly in the United
States) attend a series of training sessions.
These training sessions prepare the individual
to become a leader within the church.
All individuals who are full members of the
church are laity, but some go on to become
Lay Speakers.
Some preachers get their start as Lay Speakers.In
the Uniting Church in Australia, that was
constituted in part from the Methodist Church,
persons can be appointed:
by the congregation as a Lay Preacher; and/or
by the regional Presbytery to conduct Communion.A
well-known lay preacher was the late King
Taufa'ahau Tupou IV of Tonga.
The comparable term in the Anglican and Episcopal
churches is Lay Reader.
===== Ministry of the laity =====
The Methodist Book of Discipline describes
the "Ministry of the Laity" in their daily
lives as being “Christ-like examples of
everyday living” and “sharing their own
faith experiences.”
===== Worship Leader =====
In the Methodist Church of Great Britain,
a Worship Leader is a trained lay person appointed
by a Church Council to "take a leading and
significant role in the conduct of worship
within the life of a Local Church".
==== Presbyterianism ====
Presbyterians do not use the term "lay".
Thus the Church of Scotland has "Readers",
men and women set apart by presbyteries to
conduct public worship.
This arises out of the belief in the priesthood
of all believers.
Ministers are officially 'teaching elders'
alongside the 'ruling elders' of the Kirk
Session and have equivalent status, regardless
of any other office.
In the Church of Scotland, as the Established
church in Scotland, this gives ruling elders
in congregations the same status as Queen's
chaplains, professors of theology and other
highly qualified ministers.
All are humble servants of the people in the
congregation and parish.
Ministers are simply men and women whose gift
is for their role in teaching and possibly
pastoral work.
They are thus selected for advanced theological
education.
All elders (teaching and ruling) in meetings
of Session, Presbytery, or Assembly are subject
to the Moderator, who may or may not be a
minister but is always an elder.
=== The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day
Saints ===
Many leaders in the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints are lay ministers.
Essentially all male members above the age
of 12 who are judged by church leaders to
be in good standing are ordained to an office
of the priesthood and hold various positions
in the church.
Most church positions at the local level are
unpaid, but the LDS church helps with the
living expenses of top church leaders and
some others (e.g. mission presidents).
Many top church leaders serve in these positions
after long secular careers.
With the exception of members of the Quorum
of the Twelve Apostles, the First Quorum of
the Seventy who are at the top of the church
hierarchy, and patriarchs, all leadership
positions are temporary.
== Buddhist lay persons ==
In Buddhism, a layperson is known as an upasaka
(masc.) or upasika (fem.).
Buddhist laypeople take refuge in the Triple
Gem (the Buddha, his teaching, and his community
of noble disciples) and accept the Five Precepts
(or the Eight Precepts) as rules for conduct.
Laymen and laywomen are two of the "four assemblies"
that comprise the Buddha's "Community of Disciples."
In Chinese Buddhism, there are usually laypersons,
who are depicted wearing a black robe and
sometimes a brown sash, denoting that they
received the five precepts.
== Faith at work ==
The movement to help laity apply their faith
to daily life has been divided into three
eras by David W. Miller in God at Work.
The Social Gospel Era (c. 1890s—1945)
The Ministry of the Laity Era (c.1946—1985)
The Faith at Work Era (c. 1985—Present)
=== Social Gospel ===
The 
Social Gospel sought to reform society by
the application of biblical principles.
Its major proponents were all clergy: Washington
Gladden, Charles Monroe Sheldon, and Walter
Rauschenbusch.
They were better in diagnosing society's ills
than finding remedies.
The Social Gospel reached its peak just prior
to World War I, a war that contradicted its
optimism about Christianizing society.The
Social Gospel was promulgated by the preaching,
writing, and other efforts of clergy on behalf
of the laity rather than by the laity themselves.
In the early 1930s, the Social Gospel was
described as “a preacher's gospel.
It has not been the church's gospel.
The laity have little share in it."
Many were not aware what their clergy believed.Most
scholars hold that the Social Gospel movement
peaked between 1900 and World War I.
There is less agreement about when and why
the decline happened.
=== Ministry of the Laity ===
The Ministry of the Laity in daily life premise
was stated by Howard Grimes in his The Rebirth
of the Laity.
“Although it is not alone through our daily
work that we exercise our call, there is a
special sense in which we do so in that area,
since so much of our lives are spent in our
occupations as lawyer, doctor, manual laborer,
skilled craftsmen, housewife, domestic servant,
student, serviceman.”In 1988, Dean Reber
of the Auburn Theological Seminary wrote a
retrospective of the Ministry of the Laity
era based on research and survey.
His research participants were women and men
in equal numbers, aged 20 to 60, from six
denominations.
Reber found that “all were really interested
to link faith with their daily life and work.”
However, in his survey, Reber found that little
had been done in the six denominations to
enable laity to make this link.
He observed a “preoccupation with activities
inside the church,” as well as a lack of
literature and programs on the subject.
For these reasons, attempts to link faith
and daily life “fizzled out.”For Miller,
“hindsight suggests that the institutional
church and its leaders never fully embraced
or understood lay ministry”.
Therefore, they stopped promoting the “ministry
of the laity” concept to their members.
=== Faith at Work ===
Miller deems “Faith at Work” to be “a
bona fide social movement and here to stay.”
Unlike earlier movements, business people
(from evangelical and mainline Protestant
denominations, Roman Catholics, Jews, Buddhists,
and unaffiliated) initiated the faith at work
movement and support it because they want
to connect their work and their faith.
Management training often includes a faith
dimension.Examples of various kinds of faith
at work initiatives follow:
The Theology of Work Project is an independent
international organization that produces materials
for "workplace Christians" to teach them what
the Bible and the Christian faith can contribute
to ordinary work.
The National Center for the Laity (NCL) grew
out of the 1977 “A Chicago Declaration of
Christian Concern.”
It propagates the Second Vatican Council’s
teaching about laity’s vocation as “daily
work.”
The NCL's primary voice is Initiatives: In
Support of Christians in the World.
In its January 2015 issue, Initiatives listed
worldwide initiatives taken by laity in connecting
faith and work.
C12 Group, offers training laced with Christian
principles for CEO/Owners by monthly all-day
meetings led by former CEOs.
In its name, “C” stands for Christ, “12"
stands for its ideal training group size.
Group membership costs up to $1,450 per month.
Some 1,500 Christian CEO/Owners belong to
C12.
The Princeton University Faith & Work Initiative
develops resources regarding ethics and vocation
at work.
It disseminates its learnings by programs
for students, academics, and leaders in the
marketplace.
The Industrial Christian Fellowship helps
its “members and others to live out their
faith at their work” by research and publications.
The Christian Association of Business Executives
(CABE) “exists to Inform, Inspire and Influence
Christian business people from all church
backgrounds and all types of business, as
they seek to live out their faith day to day.”
=== Workplace as a mission field ===
Some faith at work initiatives focus not on
work itself but on the workplace as a “mission
field.”
In this “business as missions” concept,
faith at work means “reaching people for
Christ in the marketplace,” people that
career missionaries could not reach.
For example, “Member Mission “teaches
the baptized to see themselves as missionaries
out in the world in each of their daily places”
== See also ==
Lay brother
Laypeople (disambiguation)
Laïcité
Expert
Jargon
