Appointment

An appointment is a time reserved for something such as a doctor visit, much like a reservation.

In government, it also refers to the assignment of a person by an official to perform a duty, such as a presidential appointment of a judge to a court. This may also happen for an office which is normally elected, but has an unexpected vacancy. A person appointed but not yet in office is a designate.

In Christianity, particularly denominations which practice episcopal forms of church government and polity (such as Anglicanism and United Methodist Church, an appointment of clergy is made by a bishop to a particular ministry setting. Typically, a pastor is appointed to a particular church or parish.