Minister (Christianity)

In Christianity, a minister is a person authorised by a church or other religious organization to perform functions such as teaching beliefs; leading services such as weddings, baptisms or funerals; or otherwise providing spiritual guidance to the community. The term is taken from Latin minister. It differs from other terms for religious leaders in that it deemphasizes the significance of ordination. The term dates back to the Protestant Reformation with its rejection of mediatorial priesthood in favor of a Priesthood of all Believers. While the term is most prominently associated with Protestantism, it is also used in the Catholic Church as a broad term to describe persons who have been commissioned by the church to perform some act.