What is a Predikant?

Predikant (from Latin praedicare, to proclaim) is a term used in some Christian traditions to refer to a person who delivers sermons or preaches. In the Reformed tradition, a predikant is a minister who has been ordained to preach the Word of God and administer the sacraments.

In the Dutch Reformed tradition, for example, a predikant is a pastor who has completed his theological studies and has been ordained by a classis (a regional church council) to serve as a minister in a particular congregation. The predikant's primary responsibility is to preach the Word of God and provide spiritual guidance to the members of his congregation. He may also be involved in other aspects of church life, such as administering the sacraments, visiting the sick and the elderly, and providing pastoral care.

In some Reformed traditions, the term "predikant" is used interchangeably with "pastor" or "minister," while in others it is used to refer specifically to a minister who has been ordained to preach and administer the sacraments.