Why the Title "Pastor"?

I misread hence the edit -- we call ours pastor.

 

As the pastor, I am called many things - some I can't really repeat here. To adults, I am called by my first name, or pastor. One man calls me Padre. The children usually call me Pastor Gary. My kids call me Dr. Dad (ha! ha!). We don't have elders - we do the deacon thing. They aren't called by any title. In fact, some of the things they are called can't be repeated here either.

 

In our church, his position is Pastor or Senior Pastor. When we are talking to others about him, we call him pastor or by his first name. However, we should not address him face to face as Pastor since Jesus said don't address another Christian by an elevated title (Matt. 23:8-10) because we are all brothers. That would also apply to Elder and Reverend.

Concerning Matt. 23:8-10, note the Pharisees were the preachers and teachers in the local synagogues (churches). The desciples were not to call other Christians Rabbi, Teacher, or Father because these were titles of elevation. The applicable titles of elevation today would be Pastor, Revernd, Elder and Teacher (Rabbi if you are Jewish).

Why shouldn't we address pastors and elders by their titles? Because Jesus said so.

 

Scholars, commentators, and pastors/theologian are in general agreement that elders, pastors, overseers are all referring to the same function.

But we have separated pastors from elders. Actually pastors were elders; they are just descriptive terms for the same function. But elders seem to be the choice in frequency.

Now we call the preacher the pastor and the pastors the elders. I have no problem with that, unless we understand that it is a recent development and not a NT practice.

 

Whatever you want to call them, the New Testament shows a plurality of elders, and no where does it show that there is "one to rule them all."

 

All of the ordained ministers in Primitive Baptist churches are given the title of Elder. When being introduced, to an individual for the first time, or to the congregatio during services when asked to carry out a function during the service, they are referred to as Elder "name here". In general conversation, we address one another in the church by Brother "name here" and Sister "name here". The role of Pastor in the church would be held by the "head" elected Elder. We call for Pastor each year by vote of the church. The Pastor must be a duly ordained Elder. I don't know of anyone in PB churches who would call someone Pastor "name here". It's used more as a job description or role within the church than a title, as such.

Typically, the Pastor serves as the Moderator for the business meetings as well.

As for men like me, who are preaching but not yet ordained by a presbytery, we are known as Licentiate, meaning the church has voted to set us aside to view as having a possible gift to preach. We are allowed to go and visit different PB churches, accept appointments, and generally do what other ministers do, except for baptizing and serving the Lord's Supper.​

 

Our church calls me Roger.

 

Nice. Simple. Easy to remember.

(Sweet guy too :wavey

 

RE: Pastor

In the Old Regular baptist, the ministers are given the title "Elder". The over-seer of each church is called "Moderator". To me, it's the same as "Pastor"...same responsiblity as "Pastor", just a different name for that position.

 

Most of the church calls our pastor, Pastor. Some call him Dr. Davis or Reverend Davis (which he dislikes).

I call him Preacher or Bro. Davis.

We have deacons, but the pastor does not rule over them. They make decisions together.

We call the deacons Mr. so and so, or Brother so and so. If we know them well, we call them by their first name.

We also have an associate and an assistant pastor. We call them Brother so and so, or as above, if we know them well, by their first name.

 

Acts 20 is a good example of Paul in action.

 

Frankly, as Shakespeare wrote, it is "muchado about nothing" wot a preacher is called by either members r the general public.

A title is a term of respect rather than a title of superiority. Years ago, we adopted the term "pastor" partly to offset the liberal habit of using "Reverend".

We are 2000 years past the New Testament era, and we have moved into modernity. Why is it we make so many changes in our lives according to the times and customs, and yet we must go back to another era in the church?

No matter wot people may call me, if I have stopped off "pastoring" the people, I can think of other titles that may apply. Just do the job and people will call you accordingly.

We label Paul the "apostle Paul" to separate him from other authorities. So, we call men or women serving as the pastor of a church as "pastor" out of respect for the office. The New Testament is not giving titles as much as it is describing different functions of the same position whether it be elder, pastor, bishop.

Cheers,

Jim

 

With the exception of the women thing this is a sound post.

 

you couldn't resist. unbelievable.

 

I am on board with Shakespeare here.

Again, I am on board. Not labels but descriptive terms:thumbs:

 

Are you certain that they are not merely acknowledging that you said something, or maybe even agreeing with it?


. . .roger?


Lacy

 

If I had a choice, I'd use the terms elder, bishop, or overseer.

I believe that the proper organization of a church is plural elders and deacons who minister (i.e. not ruling deacons). I could even see the potential for having deaconesses set apart for ministry to women. Such as system would not violate any biblical injunction against women exercising authority because the deacons do not exercise authority; they serve.

I've always been in churches that used the term "pastor," however.

 

From "Airplane..."

:applause: :laugh:

 

So thats why they call my name when I am preaching LOL

They are just saying "amen"