What is the difference between a senior minister and a pastor?

Answer 1

In the Catholic Church, and in some other churches with a 'catholic' character, 'priest' is one of three orders of ordained ministry (bishop, presbyter/priest, deacon). 'Pastor' is the title, and job description, of a priest who is given responsibility for a parish.

Not all priests are pastors, and not all ministers are priests. Sometimes, the person given the job of pastor is not a priest, and is usually given a different title, like 'pastoral life coordinator' or 'pastoral administrator' (cf, CIC 517.2).

In many evangelical churches, all ordained ministers are called 'pastor', (youth pastor, children's pastor, worship pastor, etc) and the pastor given responsibility for a parish or congregation is called the 'senior pastor'. Some churches only consider one order of ordained ministers, which may be called pastors or ministers.

Answer 2

Priest is normally a term used by Catholics and a Minister is the term used by Protestants and non-denominational christian churches.

In the Christian faith, a Minister is the Shepard of his flock, (the people), the people, the true believes in Christ are the church, (not the building)

A Priest on the other hand is different, A priest becomes a priest though The Rite of Ordination is what "makes" one a priest, having already been a deacon.

There is much more to say but basically they are similar terms for different faiths with different rules and regulations around them and their roles are somewhat similar but the meaning behind things is different.

Roman Catholic AnswerA priest is a minister. But a minister is not necessarily a priest. A priest is a person who offers sacrifice. In the case of a Catholic priest, he is an "alter Christus" - another Christ. He stands in the place of Christ and offers the sacrifice of the Mass: the re-presentation (the making present the one and only sacrifice on Calvary two thousand years ago. In other words, he does not sacrifice Jesus again, but makes it possible for the people to witness and receive the grace as if they were standing on Calvary in 33 A.D. The modern word "minister" is also used of representatives of other faith traditions who do not have priests. They are completely different. Both minister but the priest is another vocation given by God through the Church.

Answer 3

The Common Priesthood is all who are baptized in the Catholic faith. They are called to preach the good news to all. When a person is baptized, they are baptized priest, prophet and king, that is called the common priesthood. The Ministerial Priesthood is all who receive the sacrament of Holy Orders and are chosen by God to serve and preach to others. The ministerial priesthood is drawn from the male common priesthood and is at the service of all the baptized.

Answer 4

Well, I think some of the differences between Senior Ministers and Pastors is that the, "Senior" ministers are like an assistant Pastor, but the, "Senior" minister is usually the oldest assistant Pastor. Usually, some churches have a Pastor, Senior Minister, and Assistant Minister.

Answer 5

in Scotland a minister is Church of Scotland, threrefore, presbyterian

in England a vicar is Church of England, therefore, episcopilian