The term "Shinkan" refers to a government official (civil servant) who performs religious ceremonies; until World War II, only the shrine workers at the "Jingu Shicho" (the government agency that oversaw shrines) were so described.
神官(しんかん)は祭祀を司る官吏（公務員）のことで、第二次世界大戦前は伊勢神宮の「神宮司庁」の祠職のみが呼ばれた。