What is the difference

[marthaolivia]

What is the difference between a reverend, a pastor, and elder , an apostle and a bishop? I have heard some ministers called by more than one title. Are they elevated to a different title by someone above them or do they just apply the title themselves? Just curious...

[bishoph]

Originally Posted by marthaolivia

What is the difference between a reverend, a pastor, and elder , an apostle and a bishop? I have heard some ministers called by more than one title. Are they elevated to a different title by someone above them or do they just apply the title themselves? Just curious...

Good question!

The short answer is that those who are his peers or his overseers confer most of these titles on a minister of the Gospel. Unfortunately, many men are just adding a title to their name these days, which has really diminished the honor given when someone "earns" the distinction properly.

Reverend = Title recognized by society as a minister

Elder = Title which used to be reserved for ministers who had years of experience under their belt, now it is loosely used by many organizations to acknowledge a licensed minister.

Apostle = Title used in error most of the time; Apostle in simplest terms means one who is sent

Bishop = Title used by some organizations to acknowledge an office of leadership much like a superintendant etc. This term is increasingly being used also to describe a senior pastor who may still oversee the ministry and or several works.