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  What Is A Pastor?

We believe that God has established the public ministry of the Word (Eph. 4:11), and it is the will of God that the church, in accordance with good order (1 Cor. 14:40), call qualified individuals into this public ministry (1 Tim. 3:1-10 & 1 Cor. 9:14).  Such individuals minister publicly, that is, not because as individuals they possess the universal priesthood but because they are asked to do this in the name of other Christians (Rom. 10:15).  These individuals are the called servants of Christ and ministers of the gospel.  They are not to be lords over God's church (1 Peter 5:3). We believe that when the church calls individuals into this public ministry, the Lord himself is acting through the church (Acts 20:28).  We believe that the church has the freedom to establish various forms within the one ministry of the Word, such as Pastors, Christian teachers, and staff ministers.  Through its call, the church in Christian liberty designates the place and scope of service. (This We Believe p.29-30)