Parson

Pastor is a term used in Christian churches, but also in non-Christian (eg, free religious ) communities term for a person who is with the leadership of worship, of pastoral care and entrusted usually also with the leadership of a church community. In the Catholic Church can not be pastor of a church only a priest. Instead of running a municipality, a pastor may, however, also another special service (see below) take over. The two major churches in Germany and the Independent Evangelical Lutheran Church govern the rights and obligations of the minister by church law ( pastor service law ), which is largely based on the state civil service law and to the careers of student councils.

Etymology

The word pastor comes from the older parish " Amtsbezirk a priest" back, which was borrowed from the church Latin par ( r) ochia " diocese ", which παροικία ultimately Greek, Paroikía "neighborhood, living in a foreign land " to παρά " in the near, close to " and οἶκος " house, home " is based. " Pfarrin " designated a pastor's wife in the 19th century.

Tasks

A priest dressed normally a parish. In central and northern Germany, the priest is also called Pastor ( not to be confused with the label in free churches ).

The position and duties of a priest are different in the Christian confessions: In the Protestant Churches and the Old Catholic Church the priest is selected from among the tenured at the respective church clergy either by the community or appointed by the parent church leadership. In the second case must be made by the parish council on the appointment of the vocation. In rare cases the pastorate but is also occupied by presentation by a patron.

In the Protestant churches one is ordained a priest. A candidate is thus entrusted with the public proclamation of the Word of God and administering the sacraments (especially baptism and communion ). In the ordination of the priest promises pastoral secrecy and the safeguarding of the confessional. A pastor can lead a church or spiritual fulfill tasks in another area. Most Protestant churches ordain women and men exclusively into a parish and place for special parish offices, a practice time in a parish ahead.

In the Roman Catholic Church, an ordained priest is appointed by the diocesan bishop to the priest after he has passed the appropriate examinations. In addition to the administration of the sacraments and the proclamation of the Word of God in worship and pastoral care to the classic a parish always include the management of a community, such as the care of the church books and to the administrative supervision of the employees.

In order to become a minister can, a candidate must have studied theology and examinations taken after the church orders. Usually there is an academic and practical preparation phase for the pastoral ministry. In the Catholic Church stand in front of the ordination of academic and practice for a time as chaplain in a parish the practical exams ( exams parish ). A parish is awarded after a priest has proven some years in the ministry.

The introduction of a pastor in his office or in his community is done as part of a solemn Holy Mass designed. This is to strengthen in the community and the applicant the belief that God calls him into his service.

In addition to the impact area within a local church ( parish, and in Austria: Parish ) working pastor in other institutions: university chaplain, hospital pastor, prison chaplain, head of charitable institutions, Studenten-/Hochschulpfarrer, Director of Studies at academies, Economic and Social pastor, operating chaplain, military chaplain, police minister, TV minister, media pastor, priest or circus showman priest. Catholic clergy in such functions receive the title " pastor " by episcopal decree.

Priests were occasionally active in earlier times and in all other areas, such as mathematicians, engineers, and inventors, for example, René -Just Haiiy, Jacob Christian Schäffer, Michael Stifel, Friedrich Christoph Oetinger, Franz Senn and Philipp Matthäus Hahn ( more here ). Politically active pastor were or are Carl Sunshine, Peter Hintze and Joachim Gauck.

Catholic priests is forbidden since 1983 by the Church right to assume public offices which entail a participation in the exercise of secular violence.

Canon Law

In the Roman Catholic Church the priest officiates while under the authority of and in the name of the bishop, he has but once possession of his office seized ( investiture ), then it is not without its consent, specific grounds or his resignation from office to enable the bishop. Except for the power of attorney, the hl. To grant ordination (ordination ) and to donate the confirmation, he is entitled to the full jurisdiction in his parish. However, it is the bishop possible to relieve the pastor of the Office. The official duties in his parish leads the priest free up to a certain degree, but is bound by the requirements of the diocese and (church council, parish council, parish board, parish council and committees ) rely on the cooperation with the pastoral staff and volunteers in councils.

A special place in the Roman Catholic Church takes the moderator. Although he is ordained priest, and can be entrusted with the management of a parish, he can but for some reason the title of " pastor " do not carry around because as religious priests not directly subordinate to the Diocese but the leadership of his order, or because he is not a national that country has in which it operates. The moderator can also be added at any time, without his consent and without resignation. Otherwise, he leads his parish with the same rights and duties as a priest.

In the Lutheran churches, the Church Municipal Code requires, that the churches of the parish council (or presbytery ) and pastor led jointly. The members of the Church Council are hereafter obliged to cooperate according to the measure of their gifts and powers. The Church Council consists of elected members and ex officio members (ie the pastor and the parish priests ). Chairman and Vice Chairman shall be provided by an elected member and a member by virtue of office. In the Württemberg Evangelical Church the priest is relieved in administrative matters by the church wardens, who is ex officio a member of the church council and to work as an employee of the parish wide range of administrative tasks has ( settlement of revenue and expenditure, bookings, budget, construction projects, personnel matters ). Pedagogical tasks or those of social work may be entrusted to a deacon in the Protestant churches. In this way the priest will gives more space for its core activities in the spiritual community work.