Religious Hierarchies

The majority of religions in Cambrium are entirely matriarchal; that is, all of its overseeing figures are female or feminine presenting. This is because while the main deity of fertility - Valenis - is male, many sentient races believe that the shepherds of the deities should be feminine-presenting as a means of completing the necessary components for life. While this may be represented in different ways for different deities (such as deities representing the masculine 'yang' while the religious overseers represent the feminine 'yin') the principle is more or less the same.
The major deities in Cambrium are: Sekhem, Olmir, Trygvi, Abzu, Delphinium, Aphelion and Xestus. Deities that are prohibited from open worship include: Hati, Sköll, Ravenos and Sanguinis. While the other deities are considered minor, the importance of and strength of the deity in question depends on the location - for example, Calloanth has more importance to a farming community while Sekhem and Olmir is more important to a thriving city. However, regardless of location it is widely accepted by most sentient races that Sekhem is at the top of the deity hierarchy.
Below is a table of the different religious titles that have been agreed upon and accepted by all of the major religious followings.

Rank	Meaning	Title
Novice	Still in training and yet to be recognised officially or legally as a religious representative	Novice
Acolyte	Usually a novice that is officially recognised but is still in training, usually aiding priestesses in religious ceremonies. Most often acolytes are the ones that serve as healers in religious temples unless in cases of emergencies.	Acolyte
Nun	Voluntary position usually given to widows or the elderly, they often handle charitable events or oversee smaller religious branches such as orphanages or soup kitchens. It is seen as less of a life-long commitment and more a way of members of society to give back to the community if they wish.	Sister, Nun
Deacon	Mostly often a scholarly role, taken up by those wishing to train for priesthood or continue transcribing religious texts.	Deacon
Pastor	While the same rank as a deacon, a pastor takes on a more community-facing role, usually as the member of the temple that people go to listen to their woes, give advice and offer prayers.	Pastor, Sister
Priest/Priestess	The leader of religious ceremonies in a temple, such as weddings, religious holidays or funerals. There may be more than one Priest(ess) in one temple. The use of Priest or Priestess is entirely personal and does not signify any difference in rank.	Priest, Priestess, Sister
Archdeacon	A deacon in charge of the other deacons and pastors of their particular temple. They typically take on the role of administering punishment to the ranks below them, usually in the form of gruelling mundane tasks or being forced to file tax papers.	Reverend Deacon, Archdeacon
Vicar	The religious leader of a small temple, usually encompassing an entire town or village.	Vicar, Sister
Bishop	The religious leader of a city for a particular deity. Typically in charge of overseeing the financial aspects of upkeeping the temple.	Bishop, Reverend Sister
Cardinal	The religious leader of a continent for a particular deity. Most public announcements are made by the Cardinal of any religious sect.	Cardinal, Holiest Sister
Mother Superior	The supreme religious figure for a particular deity, equitable to the Pope or Dalai Lama. They represent the closest connection between the sentient races and the deities. Usually this position is taken up by the longest serving member of the sect, but not always.	Mother Superior, Her Most Holy Mother

Many religious sects also have warrior-priests, such as Aphelion's Griefguards. They all have unique names depending on which deity they follow and what role they serve, for example Griefguards are usually positioned as city watch rather than soldiers sent out to fight in war, but with expertise in arcane defenses. Not all deities have officially recognised warrior-priests, and some may even outright prohibit the use of violence in their name, however that does not prevent some sentient races from spilling blood for their chosen deity.