lay authority
[/leɪ ɔːˈθɒrɪti/]
nounpl: lay authorities
autoridade leiga
1. Power or jurisdiction exercised by non-religious or non-clerical individuals or bodies; secular authority as opposed to ecclesiastical authority
The lay authority of the state must be separate from religious institutions.
A autoridade leiga do estado deve ser separada das instituições religiosas.
2. Authority or influence wielded by someone without professional expertise or formal credentials in a particular field
As a lay authority on climate change, he contributes to community discussions.
Como uma autoridade leiga em mudanças climáticas, ele contribui para discussões comunitárias.
3. In religious contexts, governing power held by laypersons rather than clergy or ordained officials
The church's lay authority helped manage community outreach programs.
A autoridade leiga da igreja ajudou a gerenciar programas de alcance comunitário.
The concept of lay authority is historically significant in discussions about the separation of church and state, particularly in the context of the Reformation and modern democratic governance. In Brazil, this term is commonly used in discussions about institutional church-state relationships and the role of laypersons in religious organizations. The distinction between lay and clerical authority remains important in Catholic and other Christian communities.
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