Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / July 04, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, on Feb. 2010
Division of government whose purpose is to exercise a specific function in the administration
A Ministry is a department or division of the government of a nation: economy, defense, work, foreign relations, production, justice, safety interior, agriculture, commerce, among others. Each of the ministries in which a government is divided has a concrete and specific function within it and has the responsibility of an authority called a minister, which will respond to the highest authority: the president of the government in question.
For example, the ministry of defense of a nation will be in charge of everything that pertains to the national defense of a country and is generally in charge of controlling the armed forces. Obviously, it responds to the directives that the current president and head of the executive want to take in this regard.
For its part, the ministry of economy of a nation has the task of assisting the president in all matters concerning the
Building in which the offices of the ministry are located
On the other hand, the term is also used to designate the building in which the offices of the ministerial department are located., then, it is used interchangeably both to refer to each ministerial division and to designate the physical space in which each one functions. “The Ministry of Agriculture announced important benefits that will reach the majority of agricultural producers; the demonstration at the doors of the labor ministry was really bloody ".
Generally, the ministries are close to the headquarters of the central government.
There is no universal name for each government department, they will depend on each country and may, according to needs, be modified by the executive power shift.
In addition, some countries, such as Argentina, have the figure known as Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers, such position is carried out by an official designated by the president, who will have under his orbit and main activity carry out the coordination of actions between the different ministries.
The questions that turn out to be general in this sense is that the authorities of the ministries, that is, the ministers, are appointed by the executive power, there will never be an official in charge of a ministry who does not agree with the official government proposal, it would be unfeasible politically. And the other issue is that their physical headquarters are located in the national capital, close to the activity of the central power, as we have already pointed out.
The religious ministry
On the other hand, in religion we also find a reference since in that way the office and dignity of the priesthood is called. As we know, priests are men consecrated to God, who were trained and ordained to exercise as such and They are in charge of officiating the popular rite of mass, the most important celebration within the Catholic religion.
In this case also those who exercise this activity will be called ministers.
In the Catholic Church they have great relevance because they are in charge of manage the Sacraments (Baptism, Eucharist, Marriage, Confirmation, Penance, Anointing of the Sick).
Of course, none of these sacraments will be valid if they are not administered by a formal minister belonging to the church.
Administration of Sacraments
Baptism is the first sacrament and one of the most relevant because it makes the faithful a Christian and also because it will erase the original sin with which we are all born. Baptism by ablution or pouring out is the widespread way of administering the sacrament in Catholicism today by ministers.
Topics in Ministry