presbyters

Presbyter is a term derived from the Greek presbyteros, meaning elder. In Christian usage, it refers to a local elder or to a member of the clergy who shares in the pastoral and spiritual leadership of a Christian community. In the early church, presbyters served alongside bishops, and over time the term came to denote clergy who, in various traditions, are responsible for teaching, administering sacraments, and shepherding a congregation, typically under the oversight of a bishop.

In the Catholic and Orthodox churches, a presbyter is a priest. Priests are ordained by bishops and may preside at the Eucharist, celebrate the other sacraments, preach, and provide pastoral care. They usually serve in parish settings or religious communities. The collective body of priests within a diocese is known as the presbyterate.

In Anglican and many Protestant churches, the meaning varies by tradition. In Anglican usage, presbyter is often synonymous with priest. In Reformed and Presbyterian churches, presbyters are elders who govern the church. Presbyterian polity emphasizes shared rule through bodies such as sessions (local), presbyteries (regional), and general assemblies (denominational). Within this framework, presbyters include both teaching elders (ministers) and ruling elders (lay leaders), who exercise governance, teaching, and spiritual oversight.

Overall, the role and authority of presbyters differ across ecclesial systems. In episcopal structures they operate under bishops; in Presbyterian and some Reformed systems they participate in representative governance with a strong emphasis on elder leadership. Across traditions, the term continues to denote a principal leadership role within the Christian community.