Is A Pastor the Same Thing as an Elder?
If you move about between evangelical churches of a “baptistic” and “congregational” strain, you are likely to encounter a variety of practices and norms with respect to the use and definition of the terms “pastor” and “elder”. In some churches, the terms are synonymous: pastors are elders and elders are pastors. In other churches, the elders are volunteer leaders, while the pastors are leaders who are paid. In some churches, there are several elders and one Lead Pastor. In other churches, there are several pastors, only one of whom is considered an elder. Further examples of unique usage could no...
