Universal Priesthood

Universal Priesthood

Unlike the Roman Catholic church with its hierarchy of pope, priests and laypersons, Calvinism presents the concept of a universal priesthood, meaning that all believers are priests. This puts responsibility on all believers, and forces people to consider Christian social ethics. John Calvin presented many controversial ideas, and many of his followers, primarily Theodore Beza, made grander conclusions under "Calvinism" than Calvin was ever willing to draw. [BM] {ED}