Catholicism in Rome In the
United States and Canada, the term
pastor is used by Catholics for what in other English-speaking countries is called a
parish priest. The
Latin term used in the Code of Canon Law is
parochus.
Lutheranism prepares for the celebration of
Mass in
Strängnäs Cathedral. The
Church of Sweden has a threefold ministry of bishop, priest, and deacon, and those ordained to the presbyterate are referred to as priests. In the
Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, ordained presbyters are referred to by various publications, including Finnish ones, as pastors, or priests. In the United States, denominations like the
Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod, use the terms "reverend" and "pastor" interchangeably for ordained members of the clergy, and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) usually just uses "pastor." On the other hand, the
Lutheran Church - International, a Confessional Lutheran denomination of Evangelical Catholic churchmanship, uses the term "priest" for those ordained to the presbyterate, who are addressed as "Father".
Anglicanism Ordained presbyters are called priests in the
Church of England, as in all other ecclesiastical provinces of the
Anglican Communion, and use the title "the Reverend" if they are
low church and "Father" or "Mother" if they are
high church. Leaders who are not ordained but have a license from their bishop increasingly use the title "pastor," along with office holders who are communicants within the Anglican Communion and participate in lay ministry where a license is not required.
Methodism pastor wearing a
cassock, vested with a
surplice and
stole, with
preaching bands attached to his
clerical collar United Methodists ordain deacons and elders, each of whom can use the title of pastor depending on the context. United Methodists also use the title of pastor for non-ordained clergy who are licensed and appointed to serve a congregation as their pastor or associate pastor, often referred to as
licensed local pastors. These pastors may be lay people, seminary students, or seminary graduates in the ordination process and cannot exercise any functions of clergy outside the
charge where they are appointed.
Reformed The use of the term
pastor to refer to the common
Protestant title of modern times dates to the days of
John Calvin and
Huldrych Zwingli. Both men, and other
Reformers, seem to have revived the term to replace the Roman Catholic
priest in the minds of their followers. The pastor was considered to have a role separate from the board of
presbyters. A "pastor" may be either ordained or commissioned, depending on the methods used to appoint a person into the role, with either way resulting in the same authority and responsibilities to provide shepherding and grace to a congregation.
Baptist The term
pastor in the majority of
Baptist churches is one of two offices within the church,
deacon being the other, and is considered synonymous with "elder" or "bishop" (though in
Reformed Baptist churches, elders are a separate office). In larger churches with many staff members, "senior pastor" commonly refers to the person who gives the sermons the majority of the time, with other persons having titles relating to their duties, for example, "worship pastor" for the person leading singing.
Restorationist Some groups today view the
pastor,
bishop, and
elder as synonymous terms or offices; many who do are descended from the
Restoration Movement in America during the 19th century, such as the
Disciples of Christ and the
Churches of Christ. ==Other religions==