Preacher vs. Senior Pastor vs. Pastor?

I would prefer gifted.

Any thoughts on post # 16?

 

They are not mutually exclusive.

 

edited...I thought I was in the Baptist only forum (I was going through my subscribed threads)

 

No, it's not.

 

I caught it and already edited it.

 

All right. Congrats on your new addition!

 

…It quite obvious, to me anyway, that Christ in Matthew 23:9-10 is using hyperbole…that is, Christ is exaggerating to make a point…kind of like when Christ says that if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out…if Christ were serious, we’d all be blind gimps…

Jesus in Matthew 23:9-10 is commenting on His observance in Matthew 23:6-7. Jesus is criticizing the Jewish leaders who love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues; and salutations in the market places, and being called ‘rabbi’ by men. Christ is pointing to how sinful these scribes and Pharisees are, how proud they were for not looking humbly to God as the source of all authority and fatherhood and teaching, and instead are setting themselves up as the ultimate authorities, father figures and teachers.

In the Orthodox faith, my priest is my spiritual father and we are his children, in other words we are committed to our priests spiritual care…hence Paul’s words: I do not write this to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel (1 Cor. 4:14–15).

In XC
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Someday I might have an earned PhD, but I'll still like to called by my first name. But if they want to call me Dr., then so be it.

 

I am all for showing respect. Part of my concern is that we respect some and not others. I also do not think that "pastor" is a position. I think it is a function within the body or church. We do not call any other people who are operating within the body by the fuction they are performing: exhorter Ed, teacher Tim...

Another part of my concern is that we have become dependent upon men for our spiritual growth. An earlier post said that he was commited to his Priest for his spiritual care. I think that is improper. Most Protestants see the inordinate dependence on the priests in Catholicism and Orthodoxy. I think this is happening within baptist, bible, and other churches as well. God will use people in our life; I think we are failing to let him use more of us within our local congregations due to this elevation of "pastor". I also think more people are pastors and don't realize it becasue they have not gone through the hoops of gaining the title or degree.

The solution is not to stop calling them "Pastor", but rather to change our mindset about what the church is and how it is to function.

 

Back to the OP ... when I was a kid, we only had one preacher and he was called either pastor or preacher by the church members. (I called him dad.) I think "preacher" may be more of a southern thing.

At my current church, we have four pastors on staff. The title of the one who primarily preaches is the Senior Pastor. The other pastors' titles reflect their roles within the church -- Pastor of Community, Youth Pastor and Executive Pastor.

From a interpersonal standpoint, individual members may call them "Pastor" or by their first name, depending on their relationship with them. (I've heard them called other things too.)

Technically, they are either Assistant Pastors or Associate Pastors, but this is a denominational thing.

 

I call my pastor "Randy"

His name means amorous...and his love for God, His Word and His people is a reflection on his name, and fits him perfectly.

 

My title is "Moderator" but they all call me Bro Bob..........How about that, I know exactly who they are addressing when they say, "Hey you".....:laugh:

BBob,

 

"Moderator/Pastor" on your profile. Is the "Moderator" title something related to your church or this board?

Bob