Senior Pastor

Definition and Meaning

A senior pastor is a pastor who holds responsibility for a particular local church (a single congregation in a given locality). The senior pastor oversees preaching, the sacraments, pastoral care (shepherding and teaching the members), and church administration. The Korean term damim (擔任) means "to take charge of and be responsible for." The title distinguishes the senior pastor from other ministerial staff in the same church, such as associate pastors who assist the senior pastor, retired pastors emeritus, and evangelists. Church members often refer to the senior pastor simply as damim.

Biblical and Historical Background

The term "senior pastor" does not appear in the Bible. Several passages, however, are cited as the basis for a pastoral office responsible for a local church. A representative example is the reference to "pastors and teachers" in Ephesians 4:11. Also frequently cited are Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2-3, in which elders are charged to feed the flock of God.

The pattern of a single minister remaining with one congregation and taking charge of its preaching and sacraments became established in Protestantism after the Reformation. In Korea, during the early missionary period, missionaries or a small number of pastors often cared for multiple churches. As the number of churches and ministers grew, it became common practice for each church to have its own pastor in charge.

Practice in Korean Churches

The procedures for installing a senior pastor and the status of the office differ according to the form of church government.

• Presbyterian: Under the church constitution, senior pastors are divided into installed pastors and temporary pastors. An installed pastor is called through a resolution of the session and a vote of the congregational meeting, and is installed with the approval of the presbytery. An installed pastor generally serves the church until retirement age. A temporary pastor serves for a fixed term without being installed and may be reappointed with the approval of the presbytery. Some denominations use the title "serving pastor" in place of "temporary pastor." The senior pastor serves as moderator of the session.
• Methodist: In the Korean Methodist Church, the senior pastor is also called the "pastor in charge." Formally, the bishop appoints and sends the pastor in charge through the annual conference. In practice, the local church's wishes regarding whom to call are reportedly taken into account.
• Holiness Church: The usual practice is for the local church to issue a call, which is then approved by the district conference.
• Baptist: Baptists follow congregational polity, in which the assembly of the entire membership decides major matters. The church's business meeting calls a senior pastor by vote, and greater weight is given to the decision of the local church than to approval by any higher body.

When a senior pastor is replaced, the manner in which a successor is chosen can become a matter of concern both within and outside the church. In particular, cases in which the office of senior pastor at a megachurch has passed to the pastor's child have fueled an ongoing debate over hereditary succession in churches.