The duty of residence is that imposed by church law upon the holders of ecclesiastical offices, which stipulates that they should reside in the place where they minister (the clergy in manses or vicarages) and leave this place only on some task or on leave or with permission of some kind. The duty of residence came into canon law in the Middle Ages because of the scandals associated with pluralism, simony, and nonresidence. It was given greater emphasis at the Council of Trent.

Today the 1983 CIC lays down the rules for the various ministers, while Protestant churches may have …