Pastor, Elder, and Overseer: The Shepherd's Role in the Church

Introduction

The offices of elder, overseer, and pastor all describe the same position of shepherd, are interchangeable terms in biblical times, and should be regarded as such today. Various titles have been associated with the "head" shepherd according to different worldviews, and these offices have traditionally been related to the priesthood. A comprehensive exploration of these roles reviews the qualitative differences and similarities in the provision of service, and considers how a calling to shepherd God's flock may differ — at least in emphasis — from the roles inherent in the offices of elder, overseer, and pastor.

From the history of the Church, it is apparent that the biblical standard for the office of elder and overseer is in concordance with the roles of pastor and shepherd. Deeper consideration of the origins and applications of these titles provides better insight into the intentions and purposes the roles have assumed, and supports a clearer articulation of those roles in the Church today.

Historical Definitions

In order to establish a foundation for the discussion of the historical evolution of these terms, this section provides basic and commonly accepted definitions.

Pastor

The word pastor is associated with the gift of spiritual oversight given by God to certain people. An associated presumption is that this God-given gift is characterized by an acceptance of responsibility and an expression of authority. Spiritual oversight is characterized by several aspects that are central to the manifestation and functional use of the gift. These aspects include: (1) explicit study and exposition of the Word of God, and, based on these activities, providing explanations to others; (2) a fundamental understanding of the occurrence of human error in religious practice, the capacity to discern this error as it is manifested in various forms, and the capability to refute it — once identified — through reference to Scripture; and (3) spiritual access to the problems and needs of people through conversation and counsel, providing the appropriate Scripture as a means of helping to solve problems and answer the needs of those to whom one ministers.

It is important to ensure that the role of pastor is inextricably linked to a group to whom one functions as a shepherd — one who is in charge of God's people. It should be evident that the gift given to a pastor is a calling that expresses the will of God for a particular person to locate in a specific place in order to "pastor" a certain group of people.

Elder

The term elder is found commonly in the Old Testament. The literal meaning of the word refers to a person characterized by two attributes: age (older in comparison to others in a particular group) and wisdom (possessing more wisdom than others in the reference group). A member of a group is identified as an elder explicitly because of the qualities of character that they exhibit. Clearly, in any given population, not everyone who is older — that is, who qualifies as an elder in the purely age-related technical sense — is necessarily wiser. In the biblical context, there are many examples of Old Testament tribes and families — inside and outside of Israel — identifying their elders according to the manifestation of certain characteristics. Typically, Old Testament elders were older men who demonstrated leadership, nobility, wisdom, and bravery. From this basis, it is apparent that an elder is identified by the spiritual quality of his character, and not by some particular talent or by placement in an official capacity. In summary, "within the context of the church, elders would be those men who are spiritually mature, very capable and able of leading others and ruling over the church."

Bishop (Overseer)

The term bishop is associated with the word overseer, as a bishop is a man who is spiritually responsible to God and spiritually responsible for the church brethren. In his official capacity and within the bounds of his definitive office, God holds the bishop responsible for a people. In order to assume this office, a person must also spiritually qualify as an elder, having been vetted and approved as such by the existing body of elders in the church. Following approval by church leadership and designated authorities, the bishop is to assume leadership of the church and conduct those activities required to lead it. Should the bishop be found unworthy of the position — in any way disqualifying himself because of his actions, behaviors, or communications — he may be removed from his position and replaced by another candidate. To summarize, the bishop or overseer is an individual who holds an office within the church that enables him to guide and lead the church members, and allows him to officially represent the church and preside over its official business.

To conceptually clarify the way these terms are used and the meanings they convey, consider the different roles a man may play and the titles associated with those roles. For example, a man can be at once a son, a brother, a husband, a father, and an employee. The roles are not at all contradictory — in fact, they overlap and connect in important ways, being defined by interpersonal relationships and the obligations and responsibilities that arise from those relationships. In the same manner, the words used to refer to a pastor can be used interchangeably — without contradiction — in a manner that more richly expresses the many facets and nuances of the official life of a pastor.

Many would suggest that using the word bishop is confusing and may cause misunderstandings because of its long association with the Catholic Church. Hence, it has become increasingly common to hear the official church position referred to as that of an overseer, with the responsibility of the position described as oversight. The word pastor is used as both a noun and a verb. That is, when someone uses the term "to pastor," they refer to the spiritual gift that a man who is a pastor exercises. By extension, the term elder can refer to the spiritual character that a pastor must possess to qualify for the position and to be effective in the role. The term overseer, then, refers to a spiritual office in a church, while the term pastor refers to a relationship of spiritual oversight that exists between an individual man and a specific group of people.

When a man who has been a pastor is not currently affiliated with a church — in common parlance, is "between churches" — he should technically not be referred to as a pastor. This is because a pastor is a man who has a spiritual gift that is being exercised within the context of a church, that is, a group of people. Without that relationship — absent the provision of oversight for a group of people — the man would properly be considered an elder, not a pastor.

Two Parallel Directions in the Early Church

The early Church was growing in two parallel directions at once — both horizontally and outward to spread the Gospel, and vertically as it structured its organization to facilitate communication and to stabilize local bodies of Christians as the Apostles went forward to distant lands. These two simultaneous dynamics of church growth fostered the use of different terminology.

Brief consideration of the Book of Acts and the Book of Luke illustrates a parallel telling of the continuation of history that began in the Gospels. Two facets of the same story are told in the Luke-Acts writings. Of this two-part composition, Constable wrote, "Whereas Luke's Gospel focuses on the vertical universalization of the gospel (up and down the social scale), Acts focuses on its horizontal universalization (from Jerusalem to the uttermost parts of the world)." In reference to the same dynamics, the terms elder and overseer appear connected to the vertical growth of Jesus Christ's Church, which was manifested in part through a co-optation of the traditional religious roles that existed before the establishment of His Church. In the same manner, the roles of pastor and shepherd align with the horizontal growth of the Church, which did not emphasize the authority structure of the Church but did emphasize spreading the Word, baptism, and conversion.

There are many passages in the literature of the early Church where terms for church leaders are used interchangeably. The following passage from Titus is a good example:

"For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders [lit. presbyters] in every city, as I had appointed thee: If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly. For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not self-willed, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre" (Titus 1:5–7).

As in the New Testament example above, the terms bishop and presbyter are used interchangeably. Other versions of the Bible show similar translations. In most English translations of the New Testament, the term presbyter is rendered as elder. The King James Version (KJV) and the Revised Standard Version (RSV) usually translate bishop as bishop. However, one exception is found in the KJV where bishop is translated as overseer once (Acts 20:28). The New International Version (NIV) translates bishop as overseer exclusively and, in this way, is able to avoid using a term that would be considered objectionable to most Evangelicals.

Conclusion

Of the many issues addressed in the study of ecclesiology, one is how the Church should be governed. Fundamental to this line of study is inquiry about the mission and authority of the Apostles and how these might be continued today through the sacraments. A pivotal consideration is how leaders of the Church are chosen and what their roles are within the context of the Church. If a body of policy-making leaders are to govern a church, how are they distinguished from one another in their respective roles?

What is evident from this discussion is that the terms used by the Apostles and the early Church were quite interchangeable. Paul, for instance, was less concerned about the duties of the different offices of the Church than he was about the behavior and beliefs of the church leaders. Leading by the example of one's life and faith was exceedingly important in the early, vulnerable times as the Church was taking shape. These concerns are perhaps no less critical in contemporary society, since digital communication is immediate and easily skewed — and because people tend to believe what they perceive through such channels.

For all the duties, responsibilities, and division of authority that are associated with church structure and leadership, one principle holds fast. The mission of the Church is accomplished through the work of God's shepherds, regardless of the titles they assume or are given: "Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding" (Jeremiah 3:15).