congregant

A congregant is a person who belongs to a religious congregation, typically attending services and participating in the life of the worshiping community. The term emphasizes the role of lay members who join together for worship, study, and mutual support, as distinct from clergy, staff, or visiting adherents.

Usage and context vary by denomination. In Christian churches and Jewish synagogues, congregants are the lay members who gather for worship and communal activities. In congregational forms of church governance, congregants may have a vote in certain decisions, such as the selection of leaders or the approval of budgets. The term can also be used more generally to describe anyone who attends a religious service or who is part of a local religious fellowship.

Etymology and form. Congragant derives from the Latin congregare, meaning “to bring together,” with the English agentive suffix -ant. The word has been in use in English since the early modern period to denote members of a gathered worshiping body.

Related terms. Congregation refers to the group of worshippers or the building and its community; congregational describes governance or practice related to that group; parishioner is a more specific term in parish-based churches; worshipper or believer are broader descriptors of individuals who participate in religious life.

See also. Congregation; Congregationalism; Parishioner; Worshipper.