In Tibetan Buddhism, a Lama who has through phowa and siddhi consciously determined to be reborn, often many times, in order to continue their Bodhisattvavow.
Ecumenical Patriarch [insert name], His All-Holiness, Your All-Holiness. Bishop of Constantinople, with primacy within Orthodox communion; Successor of Saint Andrew the Apostle, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ
The Most Reverend Metropolitan [insert name] of [place], Metropolitan John, His Eminence, Your Eminence.
Titular Metropolitan
The Most Reverend Metropolitan [insert name] of [place], His Excellency, Your Excellency. Some Metropolitans use the style "The Very Most Reverend", and a Metropolitan who is the head of an independent Church is addressed as "Beatitude" rather than "Excellency".
Novice [insert name]; or Brother [insert name]. The title "Brother" is a result of Latin influence; the title is only given to some novices with a special blessing.
"President [surname]" is used for most positions that use the word "President" in the title (including all quorum presidents), with the following exceptions:
Some Presbyterian denominations distinguish between Teaching Elder (aka Minister of Word and Sacrament or Pastor) and Ruling Elder. Teaching Elders are ordained by the Presbytery and fill the role of pastor. Ruling Elders are ordained by the local church and serve on a board that leads the church.
Most common in non-mainline churches (Doctor of Metaphysics (D.o.M. or Latin Dr. mph.) and Doctor of Divinity (D.o.D., alternative: D.D.). High ranking teachers in certain evangelical institutions bear the title "Scolasticus Theologicae" or “Professor” (ecclesiastical) (Pundit/Clerical professor of Theology). These are clerical titles, not academic.
Bishop of Rome, with primacy within the universal college of bishops. Presiding bishop of the entire Catholic communion, Patriarch of the Latin Church, Primate of Italy, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Roman Province, Successor of Saint Peter.
A member of the college of cardinals, given secondary incardination to the Church of Rome and therefore as electors of the bishop of Rome (pope). An adjunct honor and responsibility on top of their primary office (as arch/bishop of a diocese, president of a dicastery, nuncio, etc)
"His Excellency", "Your Excellency" / Most Reverend
Major archbishops are the heads of some of the Eastern Catholic Churches. Their authority within their sui juris church is equal to that of a patriarch, but they receive fewer ceremonial honors.
Primate can be used as synonymous for "presiding bishop" at any level within the church - e.g., a patriarch is primate within his autonomous church, a Metropolitan is primate within his province, etc.
Most commonly in the Latin Church, it is a title given to the bishop of the oldest diocese or local church within a nation or country, and historically would preside over national synods (now a role taken on by elected presidents of bishops conferences).
"His Excellency", "Your Excellency" / Most Reverend
A metropolitan archbishop is a bishop of a diocese which has primacy within an ecclesiastical province, or group of dioceses. In addition to his regular duties as diocesan bishop, he presides over meetings of all the bishops in a province.
Sometimes a metropolitan may also be the head of an autocephalous, sui iuris, or autonomous church when the number of adherents of that tradition are small. In the Latin Rite, metropolitans are always archbishops; in many Eastern churches, the title is "metropolitan," with some of these churches using "archbishop" as a separate office.
"His Excellency", "Your Excellency" / Most Reverend
While most archbishops are metropolitan archbishops, on occasion a non-Metropolitan may be a titular archbishop, an archbishop ad personam, coadjutor archbishops, or diocesan archbishops whose see is no longer a metropolitan see. In these cases it is largely an honorific only.
"His Excellency", "Your Excellency" / Most Reverend, Most Rev.
Most bishops are the chief pastor of a diocese or eparchy with geographical boundaries, having authority over all of presbyters, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers therein.
A coadjutor bishop is an assistant bishop who has the automatic right to succeed the incumbent diocesan bishop. The appointment of coadjutors is often seen as a means of providing for continuity of church leadership.
A titular bishop is an official who is ordained bishop but not functioning in an episcopal office, so is given title to a defunct diocese (a titular see). He may serve as an auxiliary bishop of a diocese or as an official of the Roman Curia.
Very Reverend, Very Rev., Reverend Monsignor, Rev. Msgr.
A presbyter granted vicarious authority from a diocesan bishop for the entire diocese, as a kind of "vice bishop" for administrative purposes. Often also acts as moderator of the curia / chief of staff.
A chorbishop is an official of a diocese in some Eastern Christian churches. Chorbishops are not generally ordained bishops – they are not given the sacrament of Holy Orders in that degree – but function as assistants to the diocesan bishop with certain honorary privileges.
A bishop or priest granted vicarious authority from a diocesan bishop for a specific area of ministry (e.g., Judicial Vicar, Vicar for Clergy, etc.). A deacon or lay ecclesial minister may be appointed to the same role, but typically called by a different title.
A presbyter (or, historically, a deacon) with primacy within a specific deanery or vicariate, a subdivision of a diocese consisting of several parishes.
Knight/Dame of the Order of Pius IX, the Order of St. Gregory, the Order of Pope St. Sylvester
"Sir", "Dame"
Three classes of papal honours for laity. Purely honorary.
Very Reverend, Very Rev., Canon[5] Members of a 'chapter' of a cathedral or other significant church. Originally indicative of simply a community of clergy living a semi-religious/monastic life, now often used purely as an honorific.
Presbyter is the official name of the ministers commonly called 'priest'; persons ordained to the presbyterate. Presbyters are ordained as ministers of word and sacrament, most commonly assigned to serve as pastors of parishes or to assist in this ministry.
Presbyter given charge of a parish or other stable community of the faithful, under the authority of the diocesan bishop. Supervises other presbyters, deacons, and lay ecclesial ministers serving in the parish.
A deacon or lay ecclesial minister may serve in this role, but is given a different title (e.g., Pastoral Life Director, Pastoral Coordinator, etc.)
Parochial Vicar
A presbyter assigned to assist at a parish, under the authority of the pastor.
A minister ordained to the diaconate, as a collaborator with the bishop and extension of his ministry. Traditionally an alternate vocational path equal to and alongside the presbyterate.
Referred to by appropriate civil titles (Dr., Mr., Ms., etc.)
Non-ordained yet vocational and professional ministers authorised by the diocesan bishop or other ecclesiastical authority. Typically with the same education and formation as a presbyter or deacon.
The style "Father" is an ancient form of address for any clergy: Bishop, Presbyter, or (permanent) Deacon. Only transitional deacons should not be addressed as such.
In some cultures, it is most common to refer to bishops by their title or style (e.g., Bishop Peter), only presbyters as "Father", and deacons as "Deacon".
Religious ascetic or holy person. Dressed in saffron clothes. Sadhus live a life free from greed, ego, lust, anger, and other panchvishays (pleasure senses). Placed at the top of the caste pyramid. Also known as Monks, Yogi, Saints, Sant, Santos, or Sadhus.
An ascetic or yogi who has been initiated into the religious monastic order founded by Adi Sankara,[6] or to a religious teacher.[7] When used as a prefix with a monastic name, "Swami" usually refers to men who have taken the oath of renunciation and abandoned their social status. The monastic name is usually a single word without a first and last name.
A Sunni Islam term meaning the most respected of the Marjas; it is a Persian name for teacher that is also used by some to denote a teacher of extraordinary respect.
The 12th Imam will come either as a first time appearance or as a reappearance after a long occultation. The Mahdi is the greatest teacher, the Messiah of the Islamic World, and the Maitreya of Buddhism.
A spiritual teacher of Islam as it is taught in the West Africa and Maghreb, The word comes from the Berber concept of Saint. The "marabout" is known as "Sayyed" (سيد) to the Arabic speaking Maghribians.
Means Reviver of the Faith or Reviver of Religion. The designation of Mohyeddin as a title carries religious connotations within Islamic theology, rooted in the concept of tajdid (renewal).
The title of the teachers at the Madrasahs, Islamic schools. Mullah is a teacher in regard of being respected as a vicar and guardian of Qur'an and the Islamic traditions.
An Arabic honorific term that literally means Elder. It is a long historic debate in many cultures whether the elder in itself denotes the role and status of a teacher.
Literally means ‘great one’. The word Rabbi is derived from the Hebrew root word רַב, rav, which in biblical Hebrew means ‘great’ or ‘distinguished (in knowledge)’.
"Admor" is an acronym for "Adonainu, Morainu, VeRabbeinu," a phrase meaning "Our Master, Our Teacher, and Our Rebbe." This is an honorific title given to scholarly leaders of a Jewish community. In writing, this title is placed before the name, as in "Admor of Pinsk" or "R' (stands for Rabbi, Rav, or Reb) Ploni Almoni, Admor of Redomsk."
Shlit"a
'Shlit"a' is an acronym for "Sheyikhye Lirot Yamim Tovim Arukim/Amen," "May he live a good long life" or "May he live a good life, Amen," given to a revered rabbi or to someone's child's Rebbe (teacher). This title is usually placed before the name.
K'vod K'dushat
"K'vod K'dushat," meaning "The honor of [his] holiness". This title is usually placed before the name. It is found as early as in the 1531 edition of the Arukh.[9]
Shy'
"Shy'" is an acronym for "Sheyikhye," meaning "May he live". This title is usually placed after the name.
A title used by someone who practices Witchcraft. Many Wiccans are Witches because of the inclusion of witchcraft in many Wiccan traditions. Most Witches are not Wiccans and practice Traditional Craft or folk magic.
A title that may be used within various forms of Paganism. In Wicca, it denotes a male or female who has been initiated into the priesthood in the 1st or 2nd degree depending on the tradition.
A Wiccan role. One becomes a High Priest/ess once they attain the second or third degree, depending upon which tradition of Wicca they belong to.
Bard
1st degree (after candidacy/initiation) title used by the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids that is primarily centered on song, spoken word, memory, tradition, and poetry.[10]
Ovate
2nd degree used by the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids. It is the centered on healing, divination, and herbalism.[11]
Druid
A masculine term for someone who practices druidry, the indigenous spirituality of the Celts. People who belong to a grove or are members of a druid order will use this term generically regardless of gender to indicate they practice the overall faith instead of a holding the rank of a specific degree title. In the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids, druid is the gender neutral 3rd degree, the priest title, centered on teaching, philosophy, mysticism, and other leadership roles.[12]
The female form of the word druid. A woman who practices the druid spirituality. Mainly found in Irish mythology.
Archdruid
A title that is held by the chief or head of a druid order. Sometimes independent groves (druid form of circle/coven) may have an archdruid, but generally this is reserved for the head of an entire organization such as the Reformed Druids of North America (RDNA),[13] The Ancient Order of Druids in America (AODA),[14]Ár nDraíocht Féin: A Druid Fellowship (our own druidism in Irish),[15] and the Order of Bards, Ovates, and Druids in England.[16]
A person who practices Neopaganism alone and does not belong to a group, circle, grove or organization. Sometimes they may belong to a group or organization, but may live too far from other members to attend and chose to do a solitary practice. This is often the case with druid orders that are national and international organizations and have members spread out across the globe. Members of groups and organizations who attend functions will often have a solitary practice but this is not a "solitary practitioner".
Santero/Santera
A person who is the priest or priestess clergy in Santeria.