noun
public servant; servant of the people
Used for someone who serves the public or a community, often with a sense of dedication or volunteer spirit. Common in political or social contexts.
政治家は国民の奉仕者であるべきだ。
Politicians should be servants of the people.
noun
minister; clergyperson
Refers to a religious minister or clergy member, especially in Christian contexts. Less common than 牧師 or 聖職者 in everyday speech.
彼は教会の奉仕者として長年働いてきた。
He has worked for many years as a minister of the church.
牧師 is the standard word for a Christian pastor or minister. 奉仕者 is a more general term for a religious servant and can include non-ordained workers.
奉仕 (service) + 者 (person). The word is a straightforward compound of Sino-Japanese elements.