What is the difference between a Reverend and a Pastor?

Answer 1

Not really any difference.

Answer 2

Reverend, according to Webster's dictionary, is someone worthy of reverence and is used as a title for example --The Reverend Dr. Smith. Also a reverend could be a member of the clergy. On the other hand a pastor is a spiritual overseer. A pastor can be of any religion, because the dictionary says that it is a clergyman serving a local church or parish. As far as I'm concerned church or parish include lots of religious denominations.

Answer 3

Mostly are just titles. Reverend tends to be reserved toward those of education and higher placement in the religious heirachy. Pastor is the basic ordained person performing services and ministering to a local population. Catholic titles are those of Deacon, Priest, Mon Signore and so forth. These are distinct from the Protestant forms of Pastor, Reverend, Bishop, President and so forth. Minister has in the past been reserved for the ordained members of a Protestant Church, but this usage is beginning to fall out of favor as it is now associated with anyone that performs the services of a Pastor in a religious support setting.

Answer 4

A Reverend is a Minister and Pastor is a Minister with a congregation. So a Reverend may or may not be a Pastor.

Answer 5

Some (me included) don't use the term reverend, because we do not revere any men.

We also use the term elder instead of pastor for those who lead our congregation since this term is in the new testament. Deacons are also servants in the church who have certain assigned responsibilities. They take care of many things so that the elders are not tied up with the more mundane work. Every member is a minister.

Answer 6

All pastors are reverends, but not all reverends are pastors. A pastor is a reverend who's the leader of a parish or congregation.

Answer 7

The word "Reverend" is applied only to God in the Bible (Psalm 111:9 ..."holy and reverend is his name."). For a human man to assume that name for himself is WAY beyond presumptuous.

The term "pastor" (according to the Bible) refers to a man who meets the qualifications set forth in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 and who therefore serves as an elder of a local congregation (also called "bishop" or "overseer" or "shepherd"), and describes the part of his role that includes feeding the flock he and his fellow elders oversee (Acts 20).

As these terms are used in the denominations, they are incorrectly applied (often to the local preacher).

Answer 8

Reverend is a title, similar to "your grace" or "your excellency." "Pastor" refers to a job, i.e. "The Rev. Johnson is pastor of St. Luke's." Pastor originates in a word that was once used to refer to shepherds who tend flocks.

Skypilot is completely wrong. Every Catholic parish has a pastor, without any exception at all.

Answer 9

Both names for the same things. Different Christian groups prefer different titles. Catholics use "father" and "priest". Protestants use "reverend" and "pastor". You will also hear "bishop", "deacon", and "elder". Mine goes by "doctor", as he has a degree in theology. It is more a matter of personal preference then religious dogma. Since the titles are meant to show respect for the person, you use the title they prefer.

Answer 10

A reverend may be Catholic or Protestant but a pastor is always Protestant (Baptist, Pentecostal, Methodist, United, Lutheran, etc).

Answer 11

Usually the denomination the clergy serves uses specific titles. The following websites may be useful with more info.