Congregation

A congregation is an assembly of people.

Worship

In the sense of worship, a congregation is the group of members who make up a local Christian church, Jewish synagogue, or other religious assembly.

The term can also refer specifically to the people who are present at a worship service in the building other than the minister, rabbi or choir, who may be seated apart from the general congregation.

Catholic church

The Roman Catholic church uses the term in some senses to mean:

• an assembly of people who administer part of its policy or practices as departments of the Roman Curia:
  • The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith
  • The Congregation for the Oriental Churches
  • The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
  • The Congregation for the Causes of Saints
  • The Congregation for Bishops
  • The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
  • The Congregation for the Clergy
  • The Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life
  • The Congregation for Catholic Education (for Seminaries and Educational Institutions)

• an assembly or religious institute of Roman Catholics in which only simple vows, not solemn vows, are taken.

Academia

In academia, a congregation is an assembly for a formal meeting of senior members of a university (especially United Kingdom.)