Hear that sound of rushing water...

That's the baptismal font filling up for K-Lo.

All kidding aside. Here's my first educational forum on Mormonism 101. I do this because I know there's gonna be a flurry of these questions over the next two years.

Lesson #1: Mormon "clergy"

K-Lo alluded to Mormon clergy in her post. While that's a semantically accurate way to refer to ecclesiastical authority in the Mormon Church, internally we never use the word clergy.

That is, of course, because the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has no paid clergy.

For example, my current Bishop (in Ashburn, VA) is a financial advisor, convert from Catholicism and father of two. My former Bishop was a senior CIA official (the kids would call him Batman sometimes - secret agent by day, Bishop by night).

Mitt Romney served as a Bishop in Mass. and a Stake President.

Just to get you an order of magnitude and perspective:

• A Bishop presides over a "ward" of about 200-350 members
• A Stake President (think tent stake) presides over 8-10 wards (about 2500 - 3000 members)

Also, all worthy males over the age of 12 may receive the Priesthood.

There are two Priesthoods in the Mormon Church: Aaronic and Melchizedek.

In the Aaronic Priesthood you can hold the office of Deacon, Teacher or Priest.
In the Melchizedek Priesthood you can hold the office of Elder or High Priest.

Leading the Church is the Prophet and President of the Church, the 12 Apostles and several quorums of Seventies:

click for larger version

I'll cover more detail at another time. Wiki does a decent job of describing it.

In short, K-Lo, the "clergy" would not be contacting you... rather it would be these guys:

I should note that that is my wife in the middle there (some 12 years ago)