[min-uh-stree] 
| 1. | the service, functions, or profession of a minister of religion. |
| 2. | the body or class of ministers of religion; clergy. |
| 3. | the service, function, or office of a minister of state. |
| 4. | the body of ministers of state. |
| 5. | (usually initial capital letter ) any of the administrative governmental departments of certain countries usually under the direction of a minister of state. |
| 6. | (usually initial capital letter) the building that houses such an administrative department. |
| 7. | the term of office of a minister of state. |
| 8. | an act or instance of ministering; ministration; service. |
| 9. | something that serves as an agency, instrument, or means. |
| min·is·try (mĭn'ĭ-strē) n. pl. min·is·tries
[Middle English ministerie, from Old French ministere, from Latin ministerium, from minister, servant; see mei-2 in Indo-European roots.] |
ministry
in Christianity, the office held by persons who are set apart by ecclesiastical authority to be ministers in the church or whose call to special vocational service in a church is afforded some measure of general recognition. The type of ministry varies in the different churches. That which developed in the early church and is retained by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Old Catholic, Anglican, and some Protestant churches is episcopal (see episcopacy) and is based on the three orders, or offices, of bishop, priest, and deacon.
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