>"[T]he church hierarchy" (whatever that is)
Lost your dictionary?
http://etymonline.com/?term=hierarchy
hierarchy:
mid-14c., from O.Fr. ierarchie, from M.L. hierarchia "ranked division of angels" (in the system of Dionysius the Areopagite), from Gk. hierarkhia "rule of a high priest," from hierarkhes "high priest, leader of sacred rites," from ta hiera "the sacred rites" (neut. pl. of hieros "sacred;" see ire) + arkhein "to lead, rule" (see archon). Sense of "ranked organization of persons or things" first recorded 1610s, initially of clergy, probably influenced by higher. Related: Hierarchal; hierarchical.