A Brief History of Pastors

We are all used to the prevailing model of church leadership, which is a pastor over subordinates. Indeed, the church has been structured this way for centuries. 

What is the biblical support for a pastor leading a church? Well, there is none. None at all. There is but a single mention of the word Pastor in the scriptures, Ephesians 4:11:

Ep. 4:11-13 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

Then how did we get pastors? Some time in the late second century, central power began to be consolidated in the leadership via the development of a professional clergy:

According to some historians and scholars The early Christian Church was very loosely organized, resulting in diverse interpretations of Christian beliefs. In part to ensure a greater consistency in their teachings, by the end of the 2nd century Christian communities had evolved a more structured hierarchy, with a central bishop having authority over the clergy in his city, leading to the development of the Metropolitan bishop.

The organization of the Church began to mimic that of the Empire; bishops in politically important cities exerted greater authority over bishops in nearby cities. The churches in Antioch, Alexandria, and Rome held the highest  positions. Beginning in the 2nd century, bishops often congregated in regional synods to resolve doctrinal and policy issues.

Thus the change from the New Testament practices to a hierarchical pyramid began relatively early in church history, and was really cemented in place by Constantine when he decriminalized Christianity in 313 AD. Eventually, this led to Christianity becoming the state church of Rome in 380.

And this is essentially the Catholic church. Central control, a professional clergy, and the construction of substantial structures like cathedrals, are features of Catholicism. 

For the next thousand plus years, a series of popes controlled the church, who handed down edicts via a pyramid of bishops and priests. We are all familiar with the oppression this engendered.

Then, 500 years ago, Martin Luther broke with the excesses and errors of the Catholic church, and this came to be known as the reformation. Unfortunately, the reformation was only partial, since nothing was done about the structural model that protestants inherited from the Catholic Church. It was modified some, in that the professional clergy no longer heard confession or absolved sin, but the priesthood essentially survived intact without being reformed. 

So, the reader might be disturbed to learn that our hierarchical pastor leadership structure is of Catholic origin. 

Then what is the biblical model of leadership? Leadership in the early church looked quite different than what we have now.

Decision by Committee, Acts 15

Here we see a that many were involved in the decision making process of the church. Some believers were insisting that “the Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses. (V. 5) Paul and Barnabas had returned to Jerusalem to get the decision regarding this matter.

There was a lot of discussion, then Peter gave his opinion. (V. 7) Then Barnabas and Paul started telling stories about the things God was doing among the Gentiles. (V. 12). After this, James gave his opinion. (V. 13) He suggested a set of requirements in order that the gentile believers would not be excessively burdened. 

After this, the apostles and elders, with the whole church, decided to choose some of their own men and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. (V. 22) Thus we conclude that the early church was led by a group of apostles and elders.

Elders are Shepherds of the Flock

Peter gives the model for church leadership. They are instructed to be shepherds over the flock. 1Pe. 5:1-2 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow-elder, a witness of Christ’s sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: 2 Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care...

Elders Direct the Affairs of the Church

Paul writes to Timothy with instructions about church leadership, noting that those elders who govern the church, especially those who teach, ought to be held in higher esteem. 1Ti. 5:17 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.

A Quite Different View of Leadership

1Co. 12:28 And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

Paul did not tell Titus to Appoint Pastors 

Tit. 1:5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.

Paul and Barnabas did not Appoint Pastors

Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. Acts 14:23

There are Certain Leaders who Stand Out

While acknowledging the plurality of leadership, nevertheless there are some who stand out in the leadership as being "pillars." This of course is not necessarily the pastor. Ga. 2:9 James, Peter and John, those reputed to be pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me.

We realize this is a very brief analysis. However, when we consider matters of church leadership, we need to understand that the Bible presents a very different scenario, one we should consider closely.