Protestant pastor
Protestants have no clergy, the meaning of their function as radically separate the faithful. Each sees itself as Protestant prophet, priest and king by the biblical word.
As a result, the pastor can not be regarded among Protestants as a priest. The word own is a minister, etymologically: the servant. The pastor is simply set aside for the service of worship (sacraments and preaching).
This term is synonymous with the origin of the shepherd, it can actually mean any person to conduct a religious spirit, and is also used by Catholics, about the Bishop in particular.
"The pastor of tomorrow may be, under his theological training, that, with his brothers, the witness of the Word, those who return with them and seeks the path of fidelity to the Lord. This does not mean that every believer should rely on its care to base their attitudes and options in the faith. It only means that the reading of the Bible is not only naive and they can not do without the help of a technician who is, at the same time, a man of faith and concern for the life of the community. The pastor will his brethren remaining in its position as servant of the Word. It does not pretend to know better than they have to do, but only to renew them constantly with the Word."
Status and training
The status of the pastor is different for different Protestant denominations and especially by the government of the church in question:
* Episcopalian,
* Congregationnaliste,
* Presbyterian-synodal.
In the historical, the pastor is always elected from among the faithful. However, he was elected from among candidates who must meet various conditions of studies and diplomas. In Europe, the Masters of Divinity degree (bac +4) is required everywhere. The level required is often higher (master professional tray 5 for Lutheran-Reformed Churches in France).
In some current evangelical training can not exceed 4 months without any prerequisite.
Lutheranism maintains an ordination, the Reformed Church of France is celebrating the recognition of ministry.
In most Protestant churches, women can be pastors today. The first woman pastor was Madeleine French-Saillens Blocher, pastor recognized automatically by the Evangelical Church of the Tabernacle Baptist Independent in Paris in 1923.
Use of the word in the Bible
The word pastor is used in the Bible (Gospel) of Jesus, when he says to Peter: "Be the shepherd of my sheep."
Jesus says three times.
The apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, speaks also of "pastors and masters", which will charge to "train the saints for the work of ministry" (Ephesians 3.10,11). According to the biblical text, the ministry would then have the main function of forming Christians so that they can, each according to his call, live for what God has called them.
The word pastor is used in this sense in Christianity in general.
Read also
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