Clergy | July 13, 2004

Clergy refers to the ordained leadership of the Christian Church. The word is derived from the Greek kleros, an object used in casting lots, such as those used by the jewish priests in Deuteronomy (Deut. 18:1 ff.), or those used in the selection of a successor to Judas Iscariot (Acts 1:17, 25-26). The word can also refer to an allotted portion, hence its use in I Pet. 5:3 of persons assigned to the care of elders.