presbytery
pres.by.tery \'prez-b*-.ter-e-, -tre; 'pres-b*-, -p*-\ n [ME & LL; ME presbytory part of church reserved for clergy, fr. LL pre]sbyterium group of presbyters, part of church reserved for clergy, fr. Gk presbyterion group of presbyters, fr. presbyteros elder, priest - more at PRIEST 1: the part of a church reserved for the officiating clergy 2: a ruling body in presbyterian churches consisting of the ministers and r epresentative elders from congregations within a district 3: the jurisdiction of a presbytery 4: the house of a Roman Catholic parish priest
Webster's English Dictionary