Why is everyone a "Pastor" at protestant churches now?

[BernadetteM]

Episcopalians use the term “rector”. Is that true throughout Anglicanism? I would suspect that Anglo-Catholics use “priest”.

Jon

In Anglican churches the title is rector, however, you don’t addess them as Rector Smith. It used to be Rev. Simth, Mr. Smith, Dr. Smith or at high churches or Anglo Catholic parishes Father Smith.

In the last 40 years “Father” seems to be the term most Anglicans/Episcopalians call the rector of the parish. I am going by my memory of how it was when I attended TEC.

I assume the OP was just wondering why one who is not ordained to the ministry are referred to as “Pastor”. I don’t recall anyone being called “Pastor” years ago unless they were ministers hired to be the overseers of a particular church.

Gpd Bless

Bernadette

 

[JonNC]

In Anglican churches the title is rector, however, you don’t addess them as Rector Smith. It used to be Rev. Simth, Mr. Smith, Dr. Smith or at high churches or Anglo Catholic parishes Father Smith.

In the last 40 years “Father” seems to be the term most Anglicans/Episcopalians call the rector of the parish. I am going by my memory of how it was when I attended TEC.

I assume the OP was just wondering why one who is not ordained to the ministry are referred to as “Pastor”. I don’t recall anyone being called “Pastor” years ago unless they were ministers hired to be the overseers of a particular church.

Gpd Bless

Bernadette

Thanks, Bernadette. Interesting, I remember my dad’s title being “The Reverend Dr. ___________”, but Lutheran rarely refer to them as Rev. _______. Instead, it is Pastor _____.

Jon

 

[GKC]

In Anglican churches the title is rector, however, you don’t addess them as Rector Smith. It used to be Rev. Simth, Mr. Smith, Dr. Smith or at high churches or Anglo Catholic parishes Father Smith.

In the last 40 years “Father” seems to be the term most Anglicans/Episcopalians call the rector of the parish. I am going by my memory of how it was when I attended TEC.

I assume the OP was just wondering why one who is not ordained to the ministry are referred to as “Pastor”. I don’t recall anyone being called “Pastor” years ago unless they were ministers hired to be the overseers of a particular church.

Gpd Bless

Bernadette

Within the CoE there are subtle historical distinctions on what is a rector, a vicar or a curate. Whichever is used, one might still refer to him (him, I say) as Reverend or as Father, as you say.

GKC

 

[Kouyate42]

Not in my old church, or indeed my current one. Only the actual leader of the services and the actual preaching is called a pastor or minister in both the churches I’ve been in, and anyone else is simply a leader- youth leader, worship leader, prayer team leader etc.

 

[BigDave31]

Well in my experience growing up in several evangelical churches including a Pentecostal one, the preacher or leader of the church was always called pastor. And this is from the middle 1930’s on. The pastor was always an ordained minister of the Gospel. I was actulaay surprised when I first learned that the Catholic priest was called pastor…BTW, there were no youth leaders etc in those days either.

 

[Cheshangle]

Within the CoE there are subtle historical distinctions on what is a rector, a vicar or a curate. Whichever is used, one might still refer to him (him, I say) as Reverend or as Father, as you say.

GKC

I returned to Anglicanism ten years ago after 35 years of agnosticism. I then lived in high church Queensland for four years, and we addressed our Rector as “father”. Since there were women priests there, I wondered whether I would address one as “mother” but the issue never arose!

My next four years were spent in Ireland, as a member of the relativly low church Church of Ireland. I mistakenly addressed our Rector as “father” and got a funny look (perhaps partly because he was an ex RC priest). He said that I could address him either as Dr. M____, Rector, Archdeacon or as P____, his Christian name. The RCs used to address him as “Reverend”.

Anglicans don’t seem to use the word “minister” much, though “priest” is certainly used. I address our vicar as “vicar”. Yes, there is an arcane difference between Vicar and Rector. I don’t think there are many vicars outside the CofE. But in England it’s sometimes used incorrectly as a generic term for CofE priests.

 

[Cat]

Well in my experience growing up in several evangelical churches including a Pentecostal one, the preacher or leader of the church was always called pastor. And this is from the middle 1930’s on. The pastor was always an ordained minister of the Gospel. I was actulaay surprised when I first learned that the Catholic priest was called pastor…BTW, there were no youth leaders etc in those days either.

In many evangelical churches, there is an actual “major” in the seminary called “Youth Ministry,” and the person is ordained as a “Youth Pastor.” So it’s correct for them to be called “Pastor.”

But besides that, I think that the reason why many youth pastors are called “pastor” is that it reinforces the idea that they are an authority figure, not just a “buddy” for the teenagers. When the teens start calling their youth leaders by their first names, the authority lines become blurred, and then discipline problems can develop. A wise teen leader will make sure to find a way to maintain his/her authority position over the youth group and not just be a big ol’ best friend to everyone.