A pastoral letter, often simply called a pastoral, is an open letter addressed by a bishop to the clergy or laity of a diocese or to both, containing general admonition, instruction or consolation, or directions for behaviour in particular circumstances. ^[1] In most episcopal church bodies,^{[ clarification needed]} clerics are often required to read out pastoral letters of superior bishops to their congregations.^{[ citation needed]}

In the Catholic Church, such letters are also sent out regularly at particular ecclesiastical seasons, particularly at the beginning of fasts. ^[1]

In the non- episcopal Protestant churches a pastoral letter is any open letter addressed by a pastor to his congregation, more especially to one customarily issued at certain seasons, for example, by the moderator of a Presbyterian assembly or the chairman of a Congregational or Baptist union. ^[1]

The Armenian term for pastoral letter is kondak, also translated as encyclical, statement, or decree. ^{[2] [3] [4] [5]}

References

• This article also incorporates the definition of "pastoral letter" provided by the Catholic Committee of Appalachia. Archived 2014-11-10 at the Wayback Machine

This Christianity-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e