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What is a minister? What is a pastor? Are the roles of minister and pastor the same or different?
The official titles used for church leadership roles can vary between traditions, cultures, and contacts. Two of the most commonly used titles—which go all the way back to the early church—are “minister” and “pastor”. But what are the actual meanings of these terms, and is there a difference between pastor and minister? Is every minister a pastor, or every pastor a minister?
Let’s take a look at the similarities and differences between pastor and minister titles for leaders who serve in the church.
What does a minister do? Simply put, a minister is someone who formally does Christian ministry of any kind. This person is a minister of the gospel because he or she “administers the gospel”, sharing it in word and action. Of course, all Christians are called to share and demonstrate the gospel (Matthew 28)—but becoming a minister happens when someone takes on this work occupationally.
Biblically, the role of a minister is derived from that of a “servant.” For instance, Joshua was the servant of Moses (Exodus 33:11). Likewise, the term was also used for servants of the temple (Jeremiah 33:21; Ezekiel 44:11). In the New Testament, Paul refers to himself as a minister subordinate to Jesus (Romans 15:16), and John Mark is referred to as a servant—or minister—under Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:5).
So the term “minister” may be used to describe someone who is a servant of the gospel and serves under another more authoritative person who does the work of God vocationally. A person may or may not be an ordained or licensed minister in a formal sense, depending on the faith tradition or denomination in which they are serving as a minister.
What are some examples of people who may be referred to as a minister rather than a pastor? Chaplains are ministers. Counselors are ministers. Men and women who officiate funerals or weddings can rightly be called ministers, even if they don’t serve on staff or minister in church. Ministers may or may not have formal education in Christian ministry, depending on the post they hold.
Likewise, people who are on staff at a church but do not fill the role of a pastor or elder could be called ministers, and this is where some confusion can set in—especially for those who don’t know what makes the role of pastor unique (explored below). But a minister who is on staff at a church differs from a pastor or elder because they are simply on staff, leading some area of ministry, but not necessarily included in the weekly preaching, the formal decision-making process with regard to the whole church body, or other more “pastoral” tasks.
The role of pastor is a more formal role of Christian and church leadership, and Scripture more strictly defines the role of pastor than it does the title of minister. The Bible provides examples of ministers, as we explored above. However, the Bible provides qualifications for pastors—that is, standards against which pastors should be measured.
One of the most plain differences between a pastor and a minister is that a pastor is typically a formal leader within a local church, whereas a minister could be on staff at a church but subservient to a pastor. Pastors may also be required by their denomination or governing body to have a formal education and undergo an ordination process..
Likewise, it should be noted that the role of “pastor” and “elder” are often regarded as the same (although translations and applications of biblical text vary.)
So what are the qualifications of a pastor or elder according to the Bible? Here are some:
Beyond the role of lead pastor, some people serve as interim pastors, filling a gap in a church when a pastor has departed. Some serve as associate pastors, children’s pastors, worship pastors, and so on.
Pastors counsel church members. Pastors visit people in the hospital. Pastors preach and otherwise lead weekly worship. Pastors manage church staff and steward the tithes of the church. But generally speaking, a pastor is responsible for leading a local church in such a way that they are aligned with the expectations given in Scripture.
Pastors and ministers are similar in that they both hold a vocational office related to the outworking of the gospel. Pastors and ministers may both conduct funerals and weddings. Pastors and ministers may both do hospital visits. Pastors and ministers can both serve on a church staff, and often in similar roles—even if the two roles may have different expectations and qualifications.
When it comes down to it, the practical, day-to-day work of pastors and ministers is quite similar! Much of the difference comes down to a matter of biblical expectations and functional ministry hierarchies.
While pastors and ministers are similar in many respects, they are also quite different in some important ways.
Pastors are subject to rigorous personal evaluation and vetting by local churches in accordance with the biblical expectations of pastors and elders in Titus and 1 Timothy (among other places), and ministers are often not subject to such expectations and scrutiny. This is important because the Bible makes clear that these expectations are for pastors, not for anyone who simply serves Jesus in an occupational way. Deacons, for example, have a different set of expectations (1 Timothy 3:1-13 ).
Beyond that, pastors and ministers are different when it comes to the scope of their ministry. Pastors most commonly lead a church, whereas ministers often do ministry in parachurch work. Pastors rarely report to ministers in a church organizational structure, but ministers often report to pastors. Likewise, pastors are more commonly expected to have formal Christian ministry training, whereas that expectation is not as strict for ministers (depending on the context).
The roles of pastor and minister are both important to the spread of the gospel and the hope of God around the world. One should not be seen as more valuable or important than the other. It is good for the Kingdom of God that people with various roles steward the gifts they have been given to administer the gospel in their contexts and communities.
