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Pastor

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A pastor with an open Bible on a stand

Apastor(abbreviated to "Pr"or"Ptr"(both singular), or"Ps"(plural)) is the leader of aChristiancongregation who also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. InLutheranism,Catholicism,Eastern Orthodoxy,Oriental OrthodoxyandAnglicanism,pastors are alwaysordained.InMethodism,pastors may be eitherlicensedor ordained.

TheNew Testamenttypically uses the words "bishops"(Acts 20:28) and "presbyter"(1 Peter 5:1) to indicate the ordained leadership in early Christianity. Likewise, Peter instructs these particular servants to "act likeshepherds"as they" oversee "the flock of God (1 Peter 5:2). The words "bishop" and "presbyter"were sometimes used in an interchangeable way, such as inTitus 1:5-6. However, there is ongoing dispute betweenbranches of Christianityover whether there are twoordained classes(presbyters anddeacons), or three (bishops, priests, and deacons). The first view is affirmed by thePresbyterian Church.[1]On the other hand, Christians of the Roman Catholic,Persian,Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox,Moravian,Scandinavian Lutheran, Anglican, andOld Catholictraditions maintain the latter view and affirm the doctrine ofapostolic succession.[2][3]

These terms describe a leader (e.g., bishop), one who maintains a careful watch for the spiritual needs of all the members of the flock (i.e., a pastor). The person must meet scriptural qualifications (1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9). For some Protestants, whether called an elder, bishop, or pastor, these terms describe the same service in the church. In the early Church, only a man could be a presbyter[citation needed],but many Protestant denominations in the 19th and 20th century have changed to allow women to be pastors. Whether man or woman, this person is to be older and experienced in the faith (i.e., an elder), a person who is a decision-maker, and a manager of church affairs.

The actual word pastor is derived from aLatinword meaning shepherd.[4]

History

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The word "pastor" derives from theLatinnounpastorwhich means "shepherd"and is derived from the verbpascere– "to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat".[5]The term "pastor" also relates to the role ofelderswithin theNew Testament,and is synonymous with the biblical understanding of the word "minister".The term Pastor, Shepherd, and Elder are all the same position. The term" Senior Pastor "does not exist in scripture, but - in multi-staffed churches - is commonly used to denote the pastor who does the preaching. Many Protestant churches call their ministers" pastors ".

Present-day usage of the word is rooted in theBiblicalmetaphor of shepherding. TheHebrew Bible(or Old Testament) uses theHebrewwordרעה(roʿeh), which is used as a noun as in "shepherd", and as a verb as in "to tend a flock."[6]It occurs 173 times in 144 Old Testament verses and relates to the literal feeding of sheep, as inGenesis29:7. InJeremiah23:4, both meanings are used (ro'imis used for "shepherds" andyir'umfor "shall feed them" ), "And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD." (KJV).

Christ's Charge to PeterbyRaphael,1515. In telling Peter to feed his sheep, Christ appointed him as apastor.

English-language translations of theNew Testamentusually render theGreeknounποιμήν(poimēn) as "shepherd" and the Greek verbποιμαίνω(poimainō) as "feed". The two words occur a total of 29 times in the New Testament, most frequently referring to Jesus. For example,Jesuscalled himself the "Good Shepherd" inJohn10:11. The same words in the familiarChristmasstory (Luke2) refer to literal shepherds.

In five New Testament passages though, the words relate to members of the church:

  1. John21:16 -Jesus told Peter:"Feed My sheep"
  2. Acts20:17 - theApostle Paulsummons theeldersof the church inEphesusto give a last discourse to them; inActs 20:28,he tells them that theHoly Spirithas made themoverseers,and they are tofeedthe church of God.
  3. 1 Corinthians 9:7 - Paul says, of himself and the apostles: "who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?"
  4. Ephesians 4:11- Paul wrote "And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some,pastorsand teachers; "
  5. 1 Peter5:1-2- Peter tells theeldersamong his readers that they are to, "Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof"

Bishopsof various denominations often bear a formalcrosierin the form of a stylisedshepherd's crook as a symbol of their pastoral/shepherding functions.

Historical usage

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Around 400 AD, SaintAugustine,a prominentAfricanCatholicbishop,described a pastor's job:

Disturbers are to be rebuked, the low-spirited to be encouraged, the infirm to be supported, objectors confuted, the treacherous guarded against, the unskilled taught, the lazy aroused, the contentious restrained, the haughty repressed, litigants pacified, the poor relieved, the oppressed liberated, the good approved, the evil borne with, and all are to be loved.[7]

Current usage

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A Lutheran priest of theChurch of Swedenprepares for the celebration ofMassinSträngnäs Cathedral.

Catholicism

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See also:Hierarchy of the Catholic Church
ACatholic priestin Rome

In theUnited States and Canada,the termpastoris used by Catholics for what in other English-speaking countries is called aparish priest.[8]TheLatinterm used in the Code of Canon Law isparochus.

The parish priest is the proper clergyman in charge of the congregation of the parish entrusted to him. He exercises the pastoral care of the community entrusted to him under the authority of thediocesan bishop,whose ministry of Christ he is called to share, so that for this community he may carry out the offices of teaching, sanctifying and ruling with the cooperation of other priests or deacons and with the assistance of lay members of Christ's faithful, in accordance with the law.[9]

Lutheranism

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TheChurch of Swedenhas a threefold ministry of bishop, priest, and deacon and those ordained to the presbyterate are referred to as priests.[10]In theEvangelical Lutheran Church of Finland,ordained presbyters are referred to by various publications, including Finnish ones, as pastors,[11][12]or priests.[13][14]In the United States, denominations like theLutheran Church–Missouri Synod,use the terms reverend and pastor interchangeably for ordained members of the clergy, and theEvangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),usually just uses pastor.

Baptist

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Baptist pastorMartin Luther King Jr.

The term "pastor", in the majority ofBaptistchurches, is one of two offices within the church,deaconbeing the other, and is considered synonymous with "elder" or "bishop" (though inReformed Baptistchurches, elders are a separate office).[15][16]

In larger churches with many staff members, "Senior Pastor" commonly refers to the person who gives the sermons the majority of the time, with other persons having titles relating to their duties, for example "Worship Pastor" for the person leading singing.[17]

Anglicanism

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Ordained presbyters are called priests in theChurch of England,as in all other ecclesiastical provinces of theAnglican Communion,and use the title the Reverend if they areLow churchand Father or Mother if they areHigh church.[18]Those leaders who are not ordained, but have a license from their Bishop, are increasingly using the title Pastor, as well as those office holders who are communicants within the Anglican Communion and participate in lay ministry where a license is not required.[citation needed]

Methodism

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Main article:Elder (Methodist)
AMethodistpastor wearing acassock,vested with asurpliceandstole,withpreaching bandsattached to hisclerical collar

United Methodistsordain to the office of deacon and elder, each of whom can use the title of pastor depending. United Methodists also use the title of pastor for non-ordained clergy who are licensed and appointed to serve a congregation as their pastor or associate pastor, often referred to aslicensed local pastors.These pastors may be lay people, seminary students, or seminary graduates in the ordination process, and cannot exercise any functions of clergy outside thechargewhere they are appointed.[19]

Reformed

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The use of the termpastorto refer to the commonProtestanttitle of modern times dates to the days ofJohn CalvinandHuldrych Zwingli.Both men, and otherReformers,seem to have revived the term to replace the Roman Catholicpriestin the minds of their followers. The pastor was considered to have a role separate from the board ofpresbyters.A "pastor" may be either ordained or commissioned, depending on the methods used to appoint a person into the role, with either way resulting in the same authority and responsibilities to provide shepherding and grace to a congregation.

Restorationist

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Some groups today view thepastor,bishop,andelderas synonymous terms or offices; many who do are descended from theRestoration Movementin America during the 19th century, such as theDisciples of Christand theChurches of Christ.

Other religions

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Other religions have started to use the termpastorfor their own ordained leader of a congregation such as "Buddhist pastor".[20][21]

Junior roles

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Anassistantorassociate pastoris a person who assists the pastor in aChristianchurch.The qualifications, responsibilities and duties vary depending on church anddenomination.

In many churches, an assistant pastor is a pastor-in-training, or are awaiting fullordination.In many instances, they are granted limited powers and authority to act with, or in the absence of, thecongregation's pastor. Some churches that have outreach programs, such as hospital visitations, in-home programs, prison ministries, or multiplechapels,will appoint assistant pastors to perform duties while the Pastor is busy elsewhere. Some churches use the titlebrotherorordained brotherin place of assistant pastor. In largerRoman Catholicparishes, the duties of an assistant pastor can be broken up into duties performed by deacons and non-ordained lay people.

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^Merkle, Benjamin L. (2008).40 Questions about Elders and Deacons.Kregel Academic. p. 84.ISBN978-0-8254-9332-4.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-02-24.Retrieved2024-02-24.The presbyterian model of church government formally acknowledges only two church offices--elder and deacon.
  2. ^Guidry, Christopher R.; Crossing, Peter F. (1 January 2001).World Christian Trends, AD 30-AD 2200: Interpreting the Annual Christian Megacensus.William Carey Library. p. 307.ISBN9780878086085.Archivedfrom the original on 24 February 2024.Retrieved24 February2024.A number of large episcopal churches (e.g. United Methodist Church, USA) have maintained a succession over 200 years but are not concerned to claim that the succession goes back in unbroken line to the time of the first Apostles. Very many other major episcopal churches, however-Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Old Catholic, Anglican, Scandinavian Lutheran-do make this claim and contend that a bishop cannot have regular or valid orders unless he has been consecrated in this apostolic succession.
  3. ^Melton, J. Gordon (2005).Encyclopedia of Protestantism.Infobase Publishing. p. 91.ISBN9780816069835.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-02-24.Retrieved2024-02-24.Among other Protestants that claim apostolic succession is the Moravian Church.
  4. ^"pastor | Definition of pastor".Oxford Dictionary English.Archived fromthe originalon September 26, 2016.Retrieved2018-06-10.
  5. ^"pastor".Online Etymology Dictionary.Archivedfrom the original on 2017-03-16.Retrieved2018-06-10.
  6. ^"Genesis 1:1 (KJV)".Blue Letter Bible.Archivedfrom the original on 2016-07-31.Retrieved2018-06-10.
  7. ^Sermon CCIX, cited in The Wiley Blackwell Companion to Practical Theology, Bonnie J. Miller-McLemore, John Wiley & Sons, Dec 27, 2011, p.271
  8. ^"Why are some Catholic priests called" pastor "?".Aleteia.25 April 2021.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-04-17.Retrieved2023-04-14.
  9. ^"Code of Canon Law: text - IntraText CT".www.intratext.com.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-01-31.Retrieved2024-02-24.
  10. ^"Ministry and Ministries".www.svenskakyrkan.se.2023-02-02.Retrieved2024-02-25.
  11. ^"Parishes".Evl.Retrieved2024-02-25.
  12. ^"Women ordained for thirty years".Evl.Retrieved2024-02-25.
  13. ^Sequeira, Tahira (8 February 2021)."Gallery: Turku makes history with first female bishop".Helsinki Times.Archivedfrom the original on 27 March 2023.Retrieved13 May2021.Leppänen also became the first woman from the Conservative Laestadian movement (a revival movement within the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland) to be ordained as a priest in 2012. The first female priests were ordained in Finland 32 years ago.
  14. ^Doe, Norman (4 August 2011).Law and Religion in Europe.Oxford University Press. p. 135.ISBN9780199604012.In Finland, a priest of the Lutheran church is forbidden to reveal a secret received in confession and in the course of pastoral counselling; a similar rule applies to Orthodox priests.
  15. ^Pinson, Wm M. (2010)."Two Church Officers: Pastors and Deacons".Baptist Distinctives.Archivedfrom the original on 28 October 2019.Retrieved28 October2019.Baptist polity through the years has affirmed two scriptural officers of a New Testament church, pastor and deacon.
  16. ^Erwin Fahlbusch, Geoffrey William Bromiley,The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 4,Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, USA, 2005, p. 64
  17. ^Steven D. Brooks,Worship Quest: An Exploration of Worship Leadership,Wipf and Stock Publishers, USA, 2015, p. 145
  18. ^An Anglican-Methodist Covenant: Common Statement of the Formal Conversations Between the Methodist Church of Great Britain and the Church of England.Church House Publishing. 2001. p. 47.ISBN9781858522180.In the Church of England, the term priest is thought 1 D jL appropriate because those ordained to the presbyterate are related to the priesthood of Christ and to the priesthood of the whole Church in a particular way.
  19. ^United Methodist Church, General Board of Higher Education and Ministry."Ministry of Local Pastors"(PDF).Higher Education and Ministry.General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the United Methodist Church.Archived(PDF)from the original on 29 March 2017.Retrieved3 January2016.
  20. ^"Buddhist Pastors Around The World".Tsem Rinpoche.2017-02-08.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-06-12.Retrieved2018-06-10.
  21. ^"I am a Pastor now… A Buddhist one | There's No Way But Up".www.davidlai.me.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-06-12.Retrieved2018-06-10.

References

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  • Bercot, David W. (1999).Will The Real Heretics Please Stand Up.Scroll Publishing.ISBN0-924722-00-2.
  • Dowly, Tim, ed. (1977).The History of Christianity.Lion Publishing.ISBN0-7459-1625-2.
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