Question
Dear Gramps
If the Mormon Church believes in the same organization that existed in the primitive church namely apostles, prophets, (pastors), teachers evangelists, then why does the church not have pastors?
R Mank
Answer
Dear R Mank
We must be careful when trying to impute modern definitions of English words that are used in the English translations of the Bible. The word, pastor, as used in the King James version of the Bible, was translated from the Greek poimen. However, it was translated as pastor only once, Eph 4:11, but it was translated as shepherd 15 times. Some churches have picked up on the word pastor to use it to designate the minister of the their congregations. But there is no reason to copy the ways of the world in identifying the clergy of the Mormon Church, but rather we should follow the words of the Savior, to whose Church we belong. All the offices of the Mormon Church are consistent with the offices of the Church as organized in the Savior’s time, and as revealed by the Lord to the prophet Joseph Smith.
Gramps
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