Congregation

A congregation is an assembly of people.

Worship[edit]

In the sense of worship, a congregation is the group of members who make up a local Christian church, Jewish synagogue, or other religious assembly.

The term can also refer specifically to the people who are present at a worship service in the building other than the minister, rabbi or choir, who may be seated apart from the general congregation.

Catholic church[edit]

The Roman Catholic church uses the term in some senses to mean:

• an assembly of people who administer part of its policy or practices as departments of the Roman Curia:
  • The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
  • The Congregation for the Oriental Churches
  • The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
  • The Congregation for the Causes of Saints
  • The Congregation for Bishops
  • The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
  • The Congregation for the Clergy
  • The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
  • The Congregation for Catholic Education (for Seminaries and Educational Institutions)

• an assembly or religious institute of Roman Catholics in which only simple vows, not solemn vows, are taken.

Academia[edit]

In academia, a congregation is an assembly for a formal meeting of senior members of a university (especially United Kingdom.)