The people, as distinguished from the clergy; the body of the people not in orders.
The unordained people of the church, as distinct from the clergy; derived from the Greek word laos, "the people". (Lynch, Joseph H. The Medieval Church: A Brief History, 363) Related terms: Lay
All baptized Catholics who form the faith community of the Church but have not received Orders.
The laymen or non-clergy members of the church.
A term used to refer to the ordinary people in a religious tradition as opposed to the official leaders and specialists (for example, the clergy).
everyone except the clergy
persons who are not members of the clergy
Those who have been initiated into the Church (baptized), from the Greek laios, “initiated.
All members of the Church who are not ordained are considered the laity. Technically, even members of religious congregations are considered laity.
the members of the Catholic church who are not in the clergy.
people who are not clergy
those who have not been initiated into a specialized group, such as clergy
The nonordained members of a church; ordained members are referred to as clergy.
The people of God. The term is from the Greek laos, "the people."
unordained religious believers, church members
(layperson, laymen, laywomen) The people of a religious faith as distinguished from its clergy.
The laity is all who have been baptised and who have not been ordained a deacon, priest or bishop. Through baptism, the laity share in the mission of Jesus and the Church, of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Sister and brother members of religious communities are laity or lay people.
From laos, meaning "people of God," and used to describe members of a congregation or parish.
the non-ordained members of a church; all lay persons together; "the people" as distinguished from "the clergy".
An English word used to refer to the general members of a religion (in Buddhism, Christianity, etc.) as opposed to religious specialists such as monks or priests.
The baptized people or members of a church, as distinct from the clergy. The ministry of lay persons 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.
In religious organizations, the laity comprises all lay persons collectively. This can mean either any person who is not a member of the ordained clergyhttp://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08748a.htm Laity at the Catholic Encyclopedia or of any monastic order or, within such an order, a monastic who is not a priest (c.f., lay brother). Conversely, terms such as lay priest, lay clergy and lay nun were once used in both Christian and Buddhist cultures to indicate ordained persons who continued to live out in the wider community instead of retiring to a monastery.