What is a Pastor?

Even as a confessional Presbyterian, this isn't the most simple question. However, because of my tradition, it's also not an alarming question. In my theological tradition, a pastor is an informal title and is often the same as an elder and bound by the same necessary qualifications. Confessionally, "pastor" is a loose and informal term to describe a ministry leader. 

Put differently; though we have a strict standard for what defines an elder, we do not have the same sort of strict standard for what defines a pastor. And this works out for us because our ecclesiology is confessional. We share, at least for the most part, a common lexicon of theological terminology and practice. With the rare exception, we share the same ecclesiology. 

Though I'm sure some good Presbyterian men and women would contest that elder and pastor are strictly synonymous, this is not bound by our confessional or polity standards. For example, the PCA Book of Church Order often speaks of pastors and elders but, in other places, distinguishes between pastor-elders and non-pastor elders. While at the same time, some PCA churches will only informally call their teaching elder (or elders) a pastor. In other cases, a Presbyterian church may hire someone with the title of "Pastor of music ministry" or some other specific ministry. That same person is often also a deacon.

And we can also see this sort of flexibility by looking at our confessions and catechisms. The Westminster Standards only mention pastors when citing Eph. 4. The Heidelberg Catechism doesn't mention pastors at all. Neither does the 39 Articles. Interestingly, the Belgic Confession does mention pastor, but it also distinguishes between pastor and elder. 

But even though the Reformed heritage has this flexibility on what it means to be a pastor, eldership is maintained as a clearly defined office. What's abundantly clear is the definition of elder and the qualifications for eldership. Often pastor and elder are synonyms, but not always. This is why "what is a pastor?" should not be a troubling question for the confessional. we have assurance in the clarity of eldership and that assurance allows us charity in other places.

But as I'm a Presbyterian living happily in an SBC and Reformed Baptist Church, I know this question is far more complicated and problematic for the SBC and the Baptist tradition. And that's why the SBC is currently looking into what a pastor is or isn't. 

I've been in churches (such as my own) that uphold a more Reformed ecclesiology. There are elders and deacons. Our "pastors" are the elders called to preach regularly. 

But I also grew up in SBC churches with only one pastor and no elders. I've been in churches where the little old lady who plays the piano is considered a "worship pastor," and the twenty-something kid running the soundboard is called the "AV pastor." I've seen Baptist churches call children's ministry leaders pastors and youth ministry leaders pastors. I've seen counselors, financial experts, custodial staff, and admin staff be called pastors. I've seen essentially any official role at an Southern Baptist church be called a "pastor." 

That's not too different from some Presbyterian churches, but with one significant difference. Eldership is not a shared standard. 

Not only do SBC churches use the term "pastor" in different ways, but the basic organizational structure of a baptist church can also be vastly different from one church to the next. Sometimes deacons function as elders. Sometimes there are no elders. Sometimes the church functions like cooperation. There are dozens of possibilities in the Baptist tradition. 

So, should the SBC be asking, "what is a pastor?"

In the context of the SBC, it's a helpful discussion because it depends on the local church. And that's a "baked-in" problem for the SBC. 

I understand and sympathize with the frustration of many. I hold the old, boring, traditional view on eldership in that I believe that only men are qualified. But it's just not that simple to define "pastor" in the SBC. And, frankly, it's never been that simple. It will never be a simple answer unless the SBC fundamentally changes the nature of their loose association. 

Sadly, many are mocking and scoffing at this question needing to be asked. However, a brief analysis of Baptist history and polity shows that there's always been a great deal of flexibility and ambiguity regarding the term "pastor." 

I also sympathize with some of my Reformed Baptist brothers and sisters (Dr. Mohler, for example) as they urge their SBC fellows to understand "pastor" in a specific way. However, they are addressing this discussion as if the SBC is a confessional assembly as opposed to the pseudo-confessional loose association that it is. Frankly, to think that the SBC is a strictly confessional organization is wishful thinking if not a disingenuous assertion.

What is a pastor? 

Honestly, I don't care that much. I care about what an elder is. But in an association such as the SBC that doesn't have a shared ecclesiological understanding of "elder," it seems to me that you can either have a strict understanding of "pastor" or you can have the local autonomy of the church. But you can't have both.