lay membership

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lay membership" is not correct in standard written English; the correct term is "lay membership." You can use it when referring to the participation of non-clerical members in a religious organization or group.
Example: "The church encourages lay membership to foster community involvement and support."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

The alternative method is to invite the entire lay membership of a party to cast a vote for a party's highest office holder.

The Guardian - Opinion

And, as a rector of a progressive parish in the Episcopal Church, I know all too well that Paul Moore's story is not a singular one among the ranks of either the clergy or the lay membership of the Church.

The New Yorker

In 1991, in response to liturgical disputes and concerns that Ikeda Daiseku, Sōka-gakkai's leader, had gained a formidable influence among the organization's lay membership, the Nichiren-shō-shū priesthood excommunicated Sōka-gakkai, barring members from Nichiren-shō-shū temples and functions.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The way I read it, Pope Francis is giving license to the clergy and the lay membership of the Church to engage fully in liberation theology, and I suspect they will.

Huffington Post

The panel may be composed of a mix of clinical personnel and managers, and could include lay membership.

Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation

Psycho-educational programs are defined as time-limited, closed groups, conducted by health professionals, for the purpose of educating and providing support to its lay membership [ 13].

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

52 human-written examples

We defined influential experts as people with experience of working in a field directly related to breast screening in Australia and who had influence through one or more of: senior service delivery; academic or lay publication; membership of government or professional advisory committee; senior position in non-government breast screening organisation or consumer group.

BMC Cancer

Warming to the futility of bogus renegotiation, Clarke recalled that "sole responsibility" for Britain's 1975 referendum on EU membership lay with Tony Benn ("whom we are all lamenting").

The Guardian

Basically, I was overjoyed at the trends confirmed by the 2000 census figures, because this is the first time in my life that I can honestly lay claim to membership in an imperiled minority.

The New York Times - Style

These are the basic conditions for joining the EU, which lay down that "membership requires that the candidate country has achieved stability of institutions guaranteeing democracy, the rule of law, human rights and respect for and protection of minorities".Special report Looking to Europe Which Turkey?

The Economist

The potential ramifications do not end there, as Palestine's membership in UNESCO could trigger its membership in other specialized international agencies such as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), and lay the groundwork for membership in additional agencies such as the International Atomic Energy Agency IAEAandand the World Health Organization (WHO).

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to non-ordained members of a religious organization, use the term "lay members" to ensure clarity and respect for the established terminology. For broader contexts, consider "general members" or "community members".

Common error

Avoid using the term "lay membership" as a direct substitute for "lay members". "Lay members" refers to the individuals themselves, while "membership" more broadly describes their affiliation or status within an organization.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lay membership" typically functions as a noun phrase, often used to describe the collective body of non-ordained members within an organization, particularly in religious contexts. As shown in Ludwig, it defines a group of individuals within a larger entity.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

17%

Less common in

Wiki

17%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "lay membership" is a noun phrase often used to describe non-ordained or non-professional members within an organization, particularly religious ones. While grammatically acceptable, it should be used carefully, keeping in mind that "lay members" refers to individuals, not the concept of membership itself. According to Ludwig, it functions to categorize and differentiate these members from others with specialized roles. While its use is observed across various domains like news, science, and encyclopedias, understanding its precise connotation can help ensure clarity in communication. As Ludwig AI suggests, using the term "lay membership" is not standard written English; the correct term is "lay members."

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Non-clerical members

Focuses specifically on members without clerical status.

General members

Emphasizes the ordinary, non-specialized members of a group.

Regular members

Highlights consistent and typical members of an organization.

Ordinary membership

Underscores the common or standard type of membership.

Rank-and-file members

Refers to the standard members, especially in hierarchical organizations.

Community members

Highlights the sense of community and belonging among members.

Public members

Refers to members representing the general public.

Civilian members

Emphasizes non-military or non-official members.

Lay participants

Focuses on involvement of non-experts.

Non-professional members

Highlights the absence of professional qualifications within a membership.

FAQs

What does the term "lay members" refer to?

The term "lay members" refers to members of a religious organization who are not ordained clergy. They are regular members of the congregation who participate in the activities and functions of the organization.

How can I use the term "lay members" in a sentence?

You can use it like this: "The church relies heavily on its "lay members" for volunteer work and support."

What's the difference between "clergy" and "lay members"?

"Clergy" refers to the ordained leaders of a religious organization, such as priests or ministers, while "lay members" are the non-ordained members of the congregation.

Are there alternative terms I can use instead of "lay members"?

Depending on the context, you can use terms like "congregation members", "parishioners", or "community members" as alternatives to "lay members".