What Pastors Do All Day

Few vocations have undergone greater change in recent times than has pastoral ministry. As I reflect on my role as a pastor, I realize that my current responsibilities are entirely different from those I held nearly 25 years ago when I entered the ministry. Indeed, the "job" I now have looks nothing like what I was trained for in seminary.

Just what does a pastor do all day?

Your idea of what a pastor does is probably driven by your view of what a pastor is. Often, that is reflected in the term used to describe him or her. Here are the classic views of pastoral ministry. Which one fits you, or your pastor?

Parson (or Priest)
According to this view, the pastor is the "good person" (parson) of the community. His or her job is, well, to be holy. If this is your view, you might expect your pastor to spend much of his or her time praying, reading Scripture, or doing acts of service in the community.

Pastor 
The term pastor actually means shepherd. In this view, the pastor is the spiritual caretaker whose primary job is to comfort and build up others. If you see your pastor this way, you would probably expect to find him or her visiting the hospital, counseling couples, or visiting in people's homes.

Preacher
Some see the pastor primarily as the educated, articulate person in the congregation who is able to expound the Word of God. His or her job is to be the expert on Scripture, doctrine, and all spiritual matters. If you see your pastor as a preacher, you'd probably expect to find him or her in the study, poring over the Scriptures, reading commentaries, and preparing to preach or teach.

Minister
Another view of the pastor is that he or she is the organizational manager of the congregation. The primary responsibility is to administer the affairs of the church. If you see your pastor this way, you might expect him or her to be attending meetings, reading reports, or hobnobbing with denominational leaders.

Senior Pastor
Many churches use this term to denote the fact that their pastor is the CEO of a large organization. His or her primary role is to be a leader. If you see your pastor in this way, you might expect him or her to be directing staff members, consulting with lawyers or fundraisers, or out speaking at a conference.

Here's the interesting thing. In most churches, the pastor is expected to fulfill all of these roles.

What is your pastor's job?