A Protestant minister or clergyman who leads a parish church; a member of the clergy with responsibility for a local church.
From Old French 'persone,' from Latin 'persona' meaning person or character. In medieval times, the parson was the legal 'person' representing the parish, which gave the word its clerical meaning.
In England, the parson was historically one of the few educated people in a village, so parsons often taught, performed legal functions, and provided healthcare—the job was far broader than just religious duties.
Parson historically denoted male clergy; female clergy were often titled differently (deaconess, sister) or excluded entirely. Modern usage persists gender-neutrally in some contexts but carries male default from centuries of male-only ordination.
Use 'parson' or 'clergy/cleric' for all genders. If gender matters contextually, specify 'female parson' or use denomination-specific titles.
["clergy","cleric","minister","pastor"]
Women fought for ordination rights throughout 20th-21st centuries. Female parsons/clergy today actively reshape religious institutions from within, claiming authority historically denied to them.
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