Priesthood of all believers

The Priesthood of all believers is one of the pillars of Protestant Christianity, which distinguishes it from Russian Orthodox, Roman Catholicism, and Anglicanism. In each of these other branches of Christianity, the church body has ordained priests who are doctrinally authorized to perform functions that normally are forbidden to laymen. Where or when a priest cannot be summoned, some exceptions are allowed under extreme circumstances such as the performance of a baptism for someone close to death.