Titles in the Church
What do you all think about the use of “titles” in the church? Good? Bad? Indifferent? I have always struggled with the concept of titles, but accepted them because… well… we were supposed to respect our leaders, and submit, right?
I heard a teaching by Graham Cooke a few weeks ago talking about how many “titles” are really ‘job descriptions’ rather than something we should actually call people.
I was reading a post on Battered Sheep about this topic. Go read it for yourself if you’d like, and let me know your thoughts!
Here is just one small quote from the article:
It is important to emphasize that such terms as “elder,” “overseer,” and “pastor” are functional terms, and were never intended to serve as formal titles. In other words, the terminology is descriptive of one’s task; they help to picture a church leader’s function or may even denote one’s spiritual maturity as in the term “elder.” Thus, it is just as foolish and unnecessary to speak of “Pastor Bob” as it is to speak of one who possesses the gift or function of hospitality as “Hospitality Harry”; or one who has the gift of mercy as “Mercy Mary”; or one who has the gift of giving as “Giving George.”
What do you think?
I think I’m rather indifferent. As I was reading through this I realized that i very rarely hear our Pastor being addresses as pastor. We have several Pastors on staff actually and more often than not they seem to be addressed by their first names. Interesting.
Hope you had a great day!
Tam
Funny how I don’t call my attorney, Lawyer Jim,
I don’t call my garbage man, Wasteman Larry
I don’t yell out to my wife, Wife Toree(I think she may kill me for ever doing this)
When my toilet gets clogged I don’t call up Plumber John (forgive the pun)
So why would I call the man who preaches, Pastor Ken or Elder Bill.
I know a man named Jim who defends people from the law, a man named Larry who collects my garbage, my woman named Toree who is my wife, a man named John who works with plumbing and a man named Ken who is a servant and the lowest of all God’s people and a man named Bill who is one of the oldest and wisest men amongst us and who I trust with my life.
From Not Blogger Kevin, but Kevin who likes to read blogs.
My husband asked if I would like an honorific title… I told him nothing too arrogant. Perhaps simply… Supreme Overlord.
I like the simple first name idea.
Jesus told his guys to not fall into the same trap as wanting to be called Teacher, Father or anything else. He said, you are brothers. Even Paul when introducing himself said Paul, an apostle - Never Apostle Paul. (and there was a way to write apostle paul in the greek like they did for King Herod, he just wrote it the other way) So I think titles and all the excuses people give for using them are not what the heart of Jesus was all about.
So…. you are saying that supreme overlord is out? My husband thought it was a bit over the top too. He mentioned supreme underling, so that I can still feel like I do something supremely…ummm, thanks, honey.
Seriously though, Barb, thanks. I do happen to agree.
my pastors are on a first name with us, and I never introduce them to my friends as pastors, usually just my friend/brother…but sometimes I do refer to them as Pastor when it is pastoring that I am in need of…its just something that helps me to seperate from the buddy thing to the “you have been called to lead me..so lead me” thing.
am I totally confusing you? not trying to 
I thought you made perfect sense.
AHHHH!!! I LOVE this!! Sorry, I feel better now
Having found someone else who will actually SAY what most people are only brave enough to THINK.
Titles, as Barb said above, Paul always said he was Paul, an apostle called by God. We have gone through this so many times in our church. Crazy thing is, I am a minister. But I do have Pastors over me. Who decided we must use titles so that others will respect us and not fall into familiarity. Blah! Honor God in me, or nothing at all! Call me Mrs. Temple if you must, because I am a Temple of the Holy Ghost! I hate being called Reverand, (I don’t even know how to spell it! LOL!), it makes me feel as if I should be scrunching my nose and pursing my lips, folding my hands and chanting “holy”. I am a clay pot carrying the same Spirit of God as everyone else, I just have a different JOB, that’s all! Every time I have ever asked God “who” I am, meaning, what title fits me, all He ever tells me is “you are a minister of My love and grace”. And I’m settled with that. That’s enough, it’s so much, it’s more than enough…that I get to carry His love and grace to others! Sorry, I have written a book here
Hi, this is Hisgracie5 again, sorry, my link wasn’t working for my name. I’ve fixed it!
Yeah, but this is the kind of book I love to read!
Thanks!!! I love it!
I have no issue with giving a person a title. Of course I am a Pastor, but I do not expect people to call me this.
I think titles are old fashioned. the only people that ever call me Pastor are older. Younger people just all me Brent. they may introduce me as a Pastor, but I am not spoken to that way. that would be a little weird for me.
I do have issue with those that would require it. that would be arrogance in my opinion.
I think that is where I draw the line… requiring it. I do refer to our pastor as “our pastor” in conversation with others… but I don’t even think to call him that in person. Some have come out of church situations where it was just one more way the leadership held control.
On another note, we had a good friend some years back that thought “pastor” was a first name. She was constantly saying “did you hear what Pastor said today? Pastor is coming over for lunch.” I know this is common in some circles, but I’d never experienced it before and it kinda freaked me out.
matthew 23 tells us NO ONE is ever to be called master, leader, pastor worship leader etc. why don’t people do that word? tradition. ignorance. rebellion too. Jesus says you’re all brothers. he’s #1 everyone else number 2. there are no # threes, or fours etc.