Structure of the Church
The Church is served and ran by priests at 7 different tiered levels. The top and highest position in the Church is the Sanctus Manus (Sacred Hand). This individual hears directly from the gods and pronounces new doctrine. At the next level down are the ten Bishops. These are some of the most famous and powerful people in Excelsion. At the third level is the Council of Lords. This council of 100 consists of the land-owning, decision making leaders in the Church at large. A member of the council is referred to as "Lord" or "Lady" and are often occupied with the many affairs of state. At the fourth level are the 1,000 Elders who head of many of the largest Orders, Temples, Churches, and other significant sacred organizations in the land. An Elder is typically the highest level of priest that a common citizen would have seen or met in their life and are seen as the spiritual leaders of the land. Under the Elders, at the fifth level, are the 10,000 of Fathers and Mothers who run the smaller churches, parishes, abbeys, or simply serve in small communities. At the sixth level are roughly 100,000 Bothers and Sisters who serve throughout the lands but do not typically lead in an official capacity. At the lowest level are the million or so scribes, clerks, orderlies, friars, custodians, and all other workers who officially work for the church but have no level of authority. A young person or recent convert who is training to work for the church at any level is referred to as a "neophyte".
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