Reminder About When To Use (And Not Use) The Word 'Parishioner'

By Mark Memmott

Published February 12, 2019 at 9:33 AM CST

If we report further about the investigation into alleged sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches, do not refer to those who attend the churches as "parishioners."

As The Associated Press says about the word, it describes a "member of a parish, an administrative district of various churches, particularly Roman Catholic and Anglican. Do not use for Judaism or non-hierarchal Protestant denominations."

Among the alternatives to describe those who attend the Baptist churches are "members," "congregants" and "worshipers."

Mark Memmott

Mark Memmott is NPR's supervising senior editor for Standards & Practices. In that role, he's a resource for NPR's journalists – helping them raise the right questions as they do their work and uphold the organization's standards.

See stories by Mark Memmott