also: へいしんと
noun
Christian term for a non-ordained member of the church; contrasts with clergy.
彼は平信徒として教会の活動に参加している。
He participates in church activities as a layperson.
Clergy; ordained ministers, in contrast to 平信徒.
Compound of 平 (ordinary) and 信徒 (believer/follower). The reading ひらしんと uses the kun'yomi for 平, while へいしんと uses the on'yomi.