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Pastor/Preacher. Interchangeable?
- Thread starter Gina B
- Start date
Around here, there's a difference. A pastor is a position in a church. A preacher is what one does. A pastor is usually a preacher but a preacher is not necessarily a pastor (we have numerous men in our congregation who were former pastors but are no longer pastoring but they do preach at times at other churches).
Jim1999 said:
We don't really in the States either
TCGreek said:
Hm. Thanks for your input!
I was talking about this with a couple friends today, but you just made me think about the topic a bit more.
Is there any call for a singular pastor? Should the church just have plural elders and if there is a need for someone to take a leadership position and make a decision when the church body can't agree, the final call should be made among the elders instead of just one person?
thegospelgeek
New Member
Not splitting hairs here. There is a huge difference between the two. A preacher simply has to deliver the message God has given him. Plain and simple. A Pastor has to shepherd the flock. Not sure I have enough time or space to go into all that that entails. But the short version is that he has to care for them, feed them, and protect them. This must all be done out of love.
I preacher for years. Show up, deliver the message. See the short term effect by witnessing what happens in that service.
When God called me into pastoring everything changed. Suddenly it became deeper. The relationship were deeper. The burdens were deeper. Everything changed more than I could ever imagine.
As stated earlier both preach, but pastor do much more.
I think our denomination has it wrong by ordainig both preachers and pastors into the same office. The requirements are much stricter to be and Elder (pastor) than just a preacher.
I preacher for years. Show up, deliver the message. See the short term effect by witnessing what happens in that service.
When God called me into pastoring everything changed. Suddenly it became deeper. The relationship were deeper. The burdens were deeper. Everything changed more than I could ever imagine.
As stated earlier both preach, but pastor do much more.
I think our denomination has it wrong by ordainig both preachers and pastors into the same office. The requirements are much stricter to be and Elder (pastor) than just a preacher.
Getting a little tired of the rhubard. One has to raise the homosexual issue and then the issue of elders and elder lef churches. For centures we had pastors and deacons. The only officers of the local church. Sure the NT talks about elders and some even insist the must be plural,even in a church of 25 people. How stupid is that?
Why don't they insist on bishops too? They are also in NT churches. And preachers is just another name for pastors...in the good old days.
Cheers,
Jim
Why don't they insist on bishops too? They are also in NT churches. And preachers is just another name for pastors...in the good old days.
Cheers,
Jim
thegospelgeek said:
I'm in complete agreement here.
I want to throw this in the mix, but do NOT want this to turn into a debate on male/female roles as that's already happening, but do want to get your opinion on that as pertains to pastors/preachers. But anyhow, when my friends and I were talking about this, the conversation rolled back to women's gifts, and that while a woman shouldn't pastor, she is perfectly within limits to preach. What do you think?
Again, let me emphasize that I do not wish this thread to be a debate about men and women's roles, and if people change it to that I will be asking the mods to remove those posts. It's merely a side discussion of the main idea of this thread.
Thanks.
Gina L said:
I am not clear on what your asking. It seems you are wanting a specific answer and no disagreement or scriptual reasoning. So I must pass
Gina L said:
I would agree with you.. I see preaching equal to NT prophesying, and Philip's daughters did that....
As a Preacher and a Pastor, I want to share with you my feelings.
Pastoring is a whole lot harder than preaching.
Pastoring of course comes from the word that means caring for a flock of sheep.
As a Pastor, it means, being with them when they hurt.. when a loved one dies, when there is trouble in the home, when a marriage is on the rocks, when a child runs away, when a mother calls and is crying because their teen just told her she was pregnant, when there is disputes among the members of the flock, when one is spiritually sick, or having to spend extra time with one sheep in order to get him or her better.
To me, Preaching is the FUN part of being a Pastor. I LOVE IT!
It is a lot easier to preach from a passage of Scripture than to comfort a mother who's 1 yr old just died.
There is a difference, and a pastor that thinks he can just preach and that's all he is called to do, won't be a pastor for long. Pastoring is much more work than being a preacher.
But at the same time, it is much more fulfilling.
As I said clearly before, for many, many years we called pastors preachers and preachers pastors.....they wre one and the same. All of a sudden it becomes an issue!
We have too many issues to-day. Let's get on with the job of being preachers who pastor a church.
Cheers,
Jim
We have too many issues to-day. Let's get on with the job of being preachers who pastor a church.
Cheers,
Jim
Great minds think alike, Jim:thumbs:
"I remember that when Andrew Fuller had a very severe lecture from some Scotch Baptist brethren about the discipline of the church [the Scotch Baptists were a splinter group who insisted on multiple elders rather than a pastor -- sound familiar? ---Jerome], he made the reply," You say that your discipline is so much better than ours. Very well, but discipline is meant to make good soldiers. Now, my soldiers fight better than yours, and I think therefore that you ought not to say much about my discipline." So the real thing is not to be for ever calculating about modes of church government, and methods of management and plans to be adopted and rules to be laid down, which it shall be accounted a serious breach to violate. All well in their place, for order is good in its way. But come, now, let us go to work. Let us have something done." ---Charles Spurgeon
"I remember that when Andrew Fuller had a very severe lecture from some Scotch Baptist brethren about the discipline of the church [the Scotch Baptists were a splinter group who insisted on multiple elders rather than a pastor -- sound familiar? ---Jerome], he made the reply," You say that your discipline is so much better than ours. Very well, but discipline is meant to make good soldiers. Now, my soldiers fight better than yours, and I think therefore that you ought not to say much about my discipline." So the real thing is not to be for ever calculating about modes of church government, and methods of management and plans to be adopted and rules to be laid down, which it shall be accounted a serious breach to violate. All well in their place, for order is good in its way. But come, now, let us go to work. Let us have something done." ---Charles Spurgeon
I Am Blessed 24
Active Member
I introduce the pastor of my church as "my pastor", but when I am talking to him, I call him "Preacher".
Even though there is a difference, the words can be used interchangeably.
A preacher preaches and does so anyplace he wants/can.
A pastor pastors and preaches and takes care of his flock, and for the most part is tied to his church.
A woman, IMHO, should not pastor OR preach, but is quite capable of teaching (except teaching men).
I realize Baptists are diverse. I am just giving MY opinions.
Even though there is a difference, the words can be used interchangeably.
A preacher preaches and does so anyplace he wants/can.
A pastor pastors and preaches and takes care of his flock, and for the most part is tied to his church.
A woman, IMHO, should not pastor OR preach, but is quite capable of teaching (except teaching men).
I realize Baptists are diverse. I am just giving MY opinions.
tinytim said:
I love your distinction and I share them. I used to bristle when I was referred to as "Preacher". Preaching (preparation and proclamation)makes up about 10% of my total work. Pastoring certainly includes the ministry of proclamation, but it is certainly not limited to that alone. I see preaching as one leg on a stool, the others being pastoral care and personal discipleship.
I don't bristle anymore, being referred to as "preacher" is just a regional thing.
I vote post #2 by annsni
But usually a preacher is thought of as an ordained minister with or without a church.
Some of these posts either seem to be a grasp at self justification or a "know ones enemy" recon mission.
To those on recon:
My advice is go to the instruction manual. All the answers are there for you to gather your "hate" campaign material for the eventual outlawing of the Bible as an oppression to certain minority groups rather than a light that chastens darkness.
But usually a preacher is thought of as an ordained minister with or without a church.
Some of these posts either seem to be a grasp at self justification or a "know ones enemy" recon mission.
To those on recon:
My advice is go to the instruction manual. All the answers are there for you to gather your "hate" campaign material for the eventual outlawing of the Bible as an oppression to certain minority groups rather than a light that chastens darkness.