[good samaritan]

Originally Posted by Esaias

Pastors are part of the eldership and usually take part in the oversight of the local assembly. A pastor (shepherd) is one who 'teaches', because they 'feed the flock' with the Word, demonstrating it's truths by their examples of godly and faithful living. A local assembly may have several 'pastors', just as it may have several prophets, evangelists, etc.

Pastor is not an office in the assembly, it is a gift, it is how the Spirit operates through a particular individual for the benefit of the assembly. The offices are bishops (overseers) aka elders, and deacons (servants). An overseer (bishop or elder) charged with oversight may be a pastor. Or he may be a prophet. Or he may be an evangelist. Or he may be something else, depending on how the Spirit manifests through him (see 1 Cor 12-14, Romans 12, etc).

Nobody appoints or elects teachers, prophets, evangelists, etc. But, bishops and deacons are appointed. The two classes therefore are not synonymous. What most people call a 'pastor' I would call an elder or bishop/overseer, somebody with oversight of the local assembly.

And the ideal (depending on the situation) seems to be plural eldership in the local assembly.