lay director

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay director" is not correct in standard written English; it should be "lay director" if referring to a non-ordained person in a church context.
You can use it when discussing roles within a religious organization, particularly in relation to leadership or administrative functions. Example: "The lay director organized the community outreach program to engage more members in service activities."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pointedly calling for a new set of Co-op members to join the board, he added: "The commitment to setting the bar at the right level would be greater if those lay directors who have sat on the board over the last five disastrous years made clear that they accepted that they fell well short of the new standard and said that they would not be standing for election to the board".

The Guardian - Business

The New York Times' Charlie Savage highlighted the alterations between the already-weak USA Freedom Act and the obliterated new version, showing how critical definitions of what the NSA can search have been widened, and how all potential transparency now rests in the hands of the very person who Snowden's leaks caught lying, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper.

The Guardian - Opinion

Most companies explicitly lay out each director's qualifications for serving on the board to meet a recent Securities and Exchange Commission requirement.

The New York Times

Regional directors lay out country programmes for second regular session of the Executive Board NEW YORK, United States of America, 12 September 2012 – UNICEF's regional directors took centre stage at the second regular session of the UNICEF Executive Board to present programmes for nine countries, including Haiti, Libya and the Sudan.

Unicef

A lay board of directors governs the parish, and church property and financial assets are owned by the congregation.

The New York Times

They lay out which directors can authorize information sharing, and which are responsible for ensuring the rules are not broken.

Vice

"We want the finance director, not the environmental director, lying awake at night wondering if he has the right social performance metrics".

The New York Times

The power lay with the famous director and famous actor.

The Guardian - Film

A few weeks ago, when the Hungarian director George Sidney lay dying, Mrs. Sidney put Curtis on the phone with him.

The New Yorker

All of it very much not filmed on location in the UK, lest the constables lay hands on the director and transport him to the New World.

The Guardian

The standard dealer's commission on sales — fifty per cent — reflects the complexity of a gallery's services to its artists: agent and manager in one, publicist, archivist, sometimes assistant producer, and perhaps social director and lay psychotherapist.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a director within a religious context who is not ordained, it's generally more accurate to use the term "lay leader" or "non-ordained director". This clarifies their role and avoids potential confusion.

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "lay director" without understanding its specific context. It generally applies to individuals in religious organizations who are not ordained clergy. In other contexts, use alternatives like "secular director" or "civilian director".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay director" functions as a noun phrase, where "lay" modifies "director". It specifies the type of director, usually in contrast to an ordained or professional one. As Ludwig indicates, this construction is not always grammatically correct in standard English.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Formal & Business

33%

Science

34%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lay director" refers to a director who is not part of the clergy or a paid professional. While the phrase may appear straightforward, Ludwig indicates that the usage of "lay director" is not always grammatically correct in standard English, and it's more suitable to use "lay leader" or "non-ordained director" for enhanced clarity, especially in religious contexts. Given its specific application, it's crucial to consider the context and purpose when using the phrase or opt for a more fitting alternative. The analysis reveals that this term is mostly used in News & Media and Formal & Business sources.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

secular director

Emphasizes the secular nature of the directorship.

civilian director

Indicates a director who is not a member of the clergy.

non-clerical director

Specifies the absence of a clerical role for the director.

unordained director

Similar to "non-ordained", highlighting the lack of ordination.

lay leader

Similar role but emphasizes leadership rather than directorship.

non-ordained leader

Emphasizes the leadership role without religious ordination.

secular administrator

Highlights the administrative function within a non-religious setting.

lay administrator

Focuses on administrative tasks by a non-ordained person.

civilian head

Focuses on the head of an organization or department who is not part of the clergy or military.

non-professional director

Highlights that the director may not be a paid professional.

FAQs

What does "lay" mean in the context of church leadership?

In a church context, "lay" refers to members of the congregation who are not ordained clergy. A lay leader, for example, is a non-ordained member who takes on leadership responsibilities.

What are some alternative phrases for describing a non-ordained leader?

You can use alternatives like "non-ordained leader", "secular administrator", or "civilian head" depending on the specific context.

Is it appropriate to use "lay director" in a business setting?

No, "lay director" is generally not appropriate in a business setting. Use more appropriate terms such as "secular director", "civilian director", or simply "director".

How can I ensure I'm using the term "lay" correctly?

Double-check the context. "Lay" should only be used to describe non-ordained members within a religious or ecclesiastical setting. If you're unsure, opt for a more general term like "non-professional" or "civilian".