Revision #15309
Senior Pastor
Localized for English-speaking readers
Status: approved
Changes from the previous English revision
= ## 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*.
+ A senior pastor is the pastor who holds responsibility for a particular local church, that is, 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 title distinguishes the senior pastor from other ministerial staff of the same church, such as associate pastors who assist the senior pastor, retired pastors emeritus, and evangelists.
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= ## 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.
+ 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 several churches at once. As the number of churches and ministers grew, it became common 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.
+ The procedures for installing a senior pastor and the status of the office differ according to the form of church government. Among Korean Protestant denominations, the main patterns are as follows.
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- - **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.
+ - **Presbyterian**: Under the church constitution of Korean Presbyterian denominations, 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 installation 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.
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- 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.
+ 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 Korea 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.
Full revision
A senior pastor is the minister who holds responsibility for a local church and oversees its preaching, sacraments, pastoral care, and administration. The procedures for appointment and the status of the office vary according to each denomination's form of church government.
Definition and Meaning
A senior pastor is the pastor who holds responsibility for a particular local church, that is, 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 title distinguishes the senior pastor from other ministerial staff of the same church, such as associate pastors who assist the senior pastor, retired pastors emeritus, and evangelists.
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 several churches at once. As the number of churches and ministers grew, it became common 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. Among Korean Protestant denominations, the main patterns are as follows.
- Presbyterian: Under the church constitution of Korean Presbyterian denominations, 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 installation 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 Korea 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.