Associate Pastor

Definition and Meaning

The Korean term bumoksa (副牧師) uses the character bu (副), meaning "second" or "deputy," and denotes "a pastor who assists the senior pastor." An associate pastor is an already ordained pastor who oversees an assigned area of ministry under the senior pastor, who bears responsibility for the entire pastoral ministry of a congregation. In church usage, associate pastors are often grouped with evangelists and licentiates under the term bugyoyeokja, or "assistant ministers," which refers collectively to all ministers other than the senior pastor.

Biblical and Historical Background

The title "associate pastor" does not appear in the New Testament. However, Paul's leaving Timothy in Ephesus to care for the church (1 Timothy 1:3) and his calling Priscilla and Aquila his "helpers" (Romans 16:3) are frequently cited as examples of shared ministry. Moses' sharing of his burden with the seventy elders (Numbers 11:16–17) is cited in the same connection.

The practice of having several pastors serve a single congregation became established in Western churches as congregations grew in size. In the English-speaking world, titles such as "associate pastor" and "assistant pastor" are used. In Korea, during the period of church growth in Korea, the number of large congregations and megachurches increased, and many churches came to have multiple associate pastors.

Practice in Korean Churches

The church constitutions of many Presbyterian denominations define the associate pastor as a pastor who assists the installed pastor. An associate pastor is called (the formal process by which a church invites a minister) by resolution of the session, with the approval of the presbytery. Typically, the term of service is set in fixed increments, with renewed approval required at each extension, though specific provisions vary by denomination. The senior pastor serves as moderator of the session.

Methodist churches have an appointment system in which a bishop sends and appoints ministers to churches, and associate pastors are appointed in conjunction with this system. In Baptist churches and other denominations in which the congregation governs church affairs, associate pastors are appointed according to the decisions of church meetings or internal bylaws. Both titles and appointment procedures therefore differ among denominations.

Responsibilities vary from church to church. Associate pastors commonly oversee a parish district, conduct pastoral visitation (visiting members in their homes or workplaces to provide care), lead early morning prayer meetings, and take charge of educational departments such as the Sunday school and young adult ministry, as well as church administration. In larger churches, duties are divided by area, such as district ministry, education, and administration.

Among ministers, serving as an associate pastor is often regarded as a period of learning pastoral ministry before becoming a senior pastor. At the same time, short terms of service, job insecurity, and the level of compensation paid to ministers are reportedly subjects of continuing discussion both within the church and beyond.