Isn't one Catholic, the other Protestant? Can one be used instead of the other - does it really matter if the name belongs to certain sect?
2007-02-21 07:39:18 · 31 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
real answers please!
2007-02-21 07:43:25 · update #1
A Pastor leads, a Father provides.
2007-02-21 07:42:27 · answer #1 · answered by Royal Racer Hell=Grave © 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Pastor is a Latin word meaning shepherd
Used in most Protestant denominations.
Roman Catholics use the word Father for a priest
Anglicans use priest, or vicar
In the Armed Forces they often use the word Padre
Roman Catholics use the word as Joseph would when he was a 'father' to Pharaoh Gen.45:5
Elisha called a father by the King of Israel 2Kgs.6:21
Eliakim a 'father' to the inhabitants of jerusalem and the House of Judah Is.22:20-21
There are many examples in the Bible
Jesus said call no one father but your Father in Heaven. He was saying this to point out the hypocrisy of some of the Jewish teachers etc.
2007-02-21 16:11:58 · answer #2 · answered by Plato 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, in certain christian sects they would say that 'no man can be called Father', hence, some of the outrage at the use of the word in Protestant religions with the exception of Anglican. A Father is ordained in the Catholic church but he can also be the pastor of a church which means he's the priest in charge. He would, however, still be called Father Smith (for example). Pastor's probably serve the same purpose in Protestant churches in terms of leadership.
2007-02-21 15:45:27 · answer #3 · answered by Yogini 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Although there are pastors in both the Protestant and Catholic religions, there are only "fathers" in Catholicism. Pastors are the lead priests in Catholic and Protestant churches. They pretty much run the church. "Father" is just another name for a priest in the Catholic church.
2007-02-21 15:45:15 · answer #4 · answered by Prue 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Those of TheTrue Christian Faith are not to use the term Father for any one except our mortal parent or for God The Creator.... The title Pastor is bestowed by a Congrigation upon the one chosen to lead the Flock... It is a title of respect and is usualy not an indication of any scholarly degree.... those Pastors who do have a Phd in divinity may be called Reverand... but that has kind of gone out of style and has been mis applied in the past.
2007-02-21 15:48:50 · answer #5 · answered by idahomike2 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You're correct. The term "pastor" is most commonly used to refer to a minister or head of a protestant congregation. "Father" refers to any Catholic priest, whether or not he runs the congregation or parish.
The terms are generally used as above- Ive never heard of any interchange in terms. You'll most likely never see a protestant Father, because only Catholics view the relationship between clergy and God as sacred- the term so refers to hierarchy in the sacrament.
2007-02-21 15:46:54 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not 100% sure but Pastor is the name of the position in the clergy, whereas Father is the title when talking to a pastor: you say 'Father Stephen is a pastor', not 'pastor Stephen is a Father'.
2007-02-21 15:44:56 · answer #7 · answered by Me 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The title is related to the religion, you wouldn't call a Baptist Pastor " Father" or a Catholic priest "Pastor".
2007-02-21 15:44:19 · answer #8 · answered by Robin 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Father is used in the Catholic Church. Pastor in any church is the one who is in charge of the congregation and the local parish. He could be a Father or just a Reverend as log as he is in charge of a parish he is a pastor.
2007-02-21 15:44:43 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The term Father, is used in Catholic and Episcopal churches.
Pastor is used in many Protestant churches, and Reverend is used in some. We call our pastor "Bob". He doesn't really care for titles, so we just call him by his name.
2007-02-21 15:44:21 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋