What Christian groups do not accept priests?

zbeckabee

Although many religions still use priests, most Protestant faiths reject the idea of a priesthood as group that is spiritually distinct from lay people. They typically employ professional clergy who perform many of the same functions as priests such as clarifying doctrine, administering communion, performing baptisms, marriages, etc. In many instances, Protestants see professional clergy as servants acting on behalf of the local believers. This is in contrast to the priest, who is seen as an agent -- with a distinct authority and spiritual nature different from that of ordinary believers -- who acts on behalf of a formal religious hierarchy. http://www.protestant.eu/priesthood_of_all_believers_en.html Jan 20 08, 4:11 PM

author

Okay, maybe I should rephrase my question: What Christian groups do not have clergymen at all? Jan 20 08, 4:40 PM

BRY2K

In fairness to my friend zbeck, you DID change the question! How about this, per your "new" version of the question about Christian groups that have no clergy at all: While much of typical Brethren theology closely parallels non-Calvinist English and American Baptist traditions on many points, the view on clergy is much closer to the Radical wing of the Protestant Reformation in rejecting the idea of clergy. The Plymouth Brethren embrace the most extensive form of the idea thT there is no ordained or unordained person or group employed to function as a minister or pastor. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plymouth_Brethren#No_clergy Jan 20 08, 4:54 PM

queproblema

The Jehovah's Witnesses do not have an official clergy. "Following the model of first-century Christianity, Jehovah's Witnesses have no clergy-laity division. All baptized members are ordained ministers and share in the preaching and teaching work." http://www.jw-media.org/beliefs/membership.htm Jan 20 08, 5:21 PM

Baloo55th

That's a bit like the Swiss Army - there isn't one but all the men are in it..... Jan 20 08, 5:27 PM

star_gazer

Quakers don't have any clergy. Some members may be appointed as elders because a meeting recognises that they have the ability to serve in a particular way. Appointment as an elder doesn't mean that the person is in any way superior to anyone else. Such appointments are for 3 years and can be renewed. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/subdivisions/quakers_9.shtml Jan 20 08, 6:07 PM

author

The so called 'Old Believers' in Russia don't have clergy either. Sorry for the rephrazing - I was not really aware of the difference between a "priest" and a "clergyman". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Believers Jan 21 08, 2:53 AM