Need a fancy word for "cleric"

[Kilmore]

Presbyter is an ancient term for priest, used for the late Roman Christian priests, and in fact is the source for the word "Priest", and is the root of "Presbyterian" as well. I don't know if the word has background beyond that, though.

At any rate, I don't think you are gonna get more fancy than that, unless you go with religious titles from other cultures, such as ayatollah or something.

Personally, I reserve the term chaplain for priests serving with a nation's military, though in some nations there is little difference between the military and the rest of the nation.

 

[johnsemlak]

Here are the old 1e 'Level Titles straight out of the 1e Players Handbook. Thought they might be useful:
CLERICS TABLE I

1 Acolyte
2 Adept
3 Priest
4 Curate
5
6 Canon
7 Lama
8 Patriarch
9 High Priest

A few other titles from the D&D Expert Book:

Vicar
Bishop
Matriarch
Elder

 

[Gez]

Historically, mages were priests as well.

 

[LGodamus]

divine puppet

 

[drnuncheon]

How about theurgist? There's not much of a better name for a divine spellcaster IMO, and it would be great if you wanted to separate spellcasting priests from their non-gifted brethren.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=theurgist

 

[Darkness]

Grand poobah.

 

[Celebrim]

Well, the most general term for 'religious person' (as a class) should not imply ecclesiatical rank, otherwise we are directly resticting who has access to divine power according to a particular system of belief.

The problem is similar to that in 1st edition D&D when a 9th level fighter was called a 'Lord'. What if the fighter was a slave or criminal living out a death sentence fighting in an arena for the amusement of his captors? How did he automatically get to be a 'Lord'?

I like 'celebrant' myself, since the term refers to both clergy and lay people on equal terms regardless of rank.

 

[Angcuru]

The Good Reverend,
Mr. Holy Hands,
Captain Righteous,

"Wanna see what I can do?" *Casts Inflict Serious Wounds on a nearby squirrel* *Squirrel turns inside out, explodes with a shriek* "That cracks me up every time!"

 

[Henry]

How about Supplicant?

 

[Hand of Evil]

From my AEG's Toolbox...

Abbot
Acolyte
Adept
Altar Master
ArchBishop
Bishop
Cardinal
Curate
Elder
Father
Heirophant
Lama
Minister
Monk/Nun
Monsignor
Patriarch
Perfect
Priest
Shaman
Wisdom