What Is a Pastor?

A pastor is a man called and ordained to serve in the Office of the Holy Ministry—to preach the Word publicly and administer the Sacraments in a congregation, in the stead and by the command of Christ. Lutherans confess that God himself instituted this office precisely so that people would receive his gifts: “to obtain such faith God instituted the office of the ministry, that is, provided the Gospel and the sacraments” (Augsburg Confession V). The office exists for the Gospel’s sake—so that Christ’s forgiveness is reliably delivered to his people.

What sets a pastor apart is not that he is holier, closer to God, or a different class of Christian. Every baptized believer is a priest before God with direct access to him. The difference is the call. Not everyone may simply take it upon himself to preach publicly and administer the Sacraments; that would be chaos, and Scripture forbids it—“how are they to preach unless they are sent?” (Romans 10:15). A pastor is one whom the Church, acting on Christ’s behalf, has rightly called to this public work (Augsburg Confession XIV). Ordination sets him publicly into that office. So his authority is not personal; it is the authority of the Word he is called to speak. When he absolves, baptizes, and preaches, it is Christ doing these things through him.

Scripture uses several pictures for the same office—pastor (shepherd), overseer/bishop, elder, minister—and lists the character a man must have to hold it: faithful, self-controlled, able to teach, of good reputation, holding firmly to sound doctrine (1 Timothy 3). He is to feed the flock, guard it from error, and care for souls, knowing he will give an account for them (Acts 20:28).

So a pastor is best understood not as a religious professional or a spiritual celebrity, but as a servant of the Word—a man placed by Christ, through the Church, to hand out Christ’s own gifts to Christ’s own people.