A Website

Nice homepage you have there Bro. Chris. Enjoyed some of the sermons and songs. I have a question though, the title Elder on that page is similar to Pastor in the IFB churches?

 

Changed like Saul:

Is Elder Guy Hunt Alabama's former governor?

 

I'm not changed_like_saul, Roy, but I can answer your question - Guy Hunt, of Holly Pond, AL, is a Primitive Baptist elder, and was formerly the Governor of Alabama.

Chris, thanks for the link.

 

I'll answer that question for you Barnabus having been a member of the Primitive Baptist Church for 34 years. The Elder title in a PB church can be used for a Pastor. An Elder may be a Pastor or may not hold that office of overseer of a church unless appointed to that office. The designation Elder is only used of those in the ministry but does not necessarily mean he is the pastor of the church.

I know nothing of the IBF but if the title Pastor in the IBF means the overseer of the church he is appointed to it can be the same. We also have those who have not be liberated but the church is seeing weather the individual man has been called of God to preach. He is exercising his gift among the churches to see if he has truely been called. If after this period of time they feel he has the gift then he is ordained. All our ministers are self taught... I'm exercising now in my church... Hope this helps... Brother Glen

 

Bro. Barnabas, agreeing with Bro. Glen and adding a little - an "elder" among us types (Primitive Baptists and primitivists) refers to a preacher who has been ordained, even though he may not necessarily be a pastor of a church. In common usage (IFB, etc.), pastor refers to one who has been called to oversee a congregation. So the terms are not exactly equivalent. But the use of "elder" by Primitive Baptists and similar groups should not be confused with the way some other groups use the term "elder" - such as ruling elders, etc. An elder is always an ordained minister, whether or not serving in pastoral capacity.