Pastor vs Reverend
Pastor and Reverend are two different titles within the Christian community, and they carry different meanings in terms of usage. It can be confusing for an ordinary person to know how to address people within a church and to understand the differences between a pastor and a reverend. This article will attempt to clarify those differences.
In Christianity, there is a clear division between the clergy and the laity. The clergy are men of religion or those chosen to serve the religion inside a church, while the remaining faithful form the laity. In the Roman Catholic Church, there is a distinction within the clergy: those belonging to the lower order are simple Cleric, while those belonging to the higher order are Priest.
Who is a Pastor?
A Pastor is a title reserved for the leader of a church. It is a title used for a member of the clergy who is in charge of a congregation. The term “pastor” actually originated from the Latin word “pastor,” which means shepherd. A pastor, as the head of a church, ensures that it runs properly.
If the church is small and has just one priest, he is normally the pastor. If the church is large with many priests, the priest in charge is called the pastor. Priests belong to the higher order of clergy but one rung below the Bishops.
Who is a Reverend?
Reverend is used as an adjective to refer to any member of the clergy, whether higher or lower in the hierarchy. The term “reverend” is not a title like the term “pastor.” You simply refer to a cleric as reverend when talking to him inside a church. However, you also include the name of the cleric when talking about him with another person, inside or outside the church. Reverend is used to show respect to a member of the clergy. You can call any priest inside a church as reverend.
As reverend is a form of address, it is possible for a priest or a pastor to be called as reverend. There are other qualifications that precede this adjective, such as The Right Reverend or the Most Reverend. Using reverend when addressing a pastor or a priest simply means showing respect to the person. This is akin to referring to the Pope as His Holiness.
The term “reverend” is mainly used to address the clergy of Christianity. However, clergy of other religions can also be called by using the term reverend. For example, the clergy of Buddhism are also addressed by using the term reverend.
Key Takeaways
- Pastor is a title reserved for the leader of a church, while Reverend is an adjective used to refer to any member of the clergy.
- Pastor reflects church hierarchy, while Reverend does not show any church hierarchy and can be used for any priest.
- Pastors are found only in Christianity, but the term Reverend can be used for members of clergy in other religions as well.
