Minister, Revenend, Pastor and Bishop-Differences

[81alphaeagle]

Ok, church folk, please tell me the difference in these terms.  While growing up the minister at our church was called Reverend.  Now adays these terms seem be used loosely.  Individuals seem to elevate themselves almost to gods.  Notice I didnt say God.  So, could you church folk, please explain the differences as you see it.

[JBROB]

I think Pastors and Reverends are ordained.  Ministers are licensed.  I'm Baptist so I'm not familiar with Bishops.   

[lew9ball]

I think Pastors and Reverends are ordained.  Ministers are licensed.  I'm Baptist so I'm not familiar with Bishops.   

JBROB, I'm slightly confused. Bishop Eddie Long is the minister at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

[y04185]

i thought he was the pastor.

who made him bishop.

[lew9ball]

i thought he was the pastor.

who made him bishop.

Your quess as good as mine. From all the readings his title is bishop.

[EPJr]

Reverend is a prefix like Mr. and Mrs.
most folks actually use it incorrectly
It's is supposd to be:
The Reverend Mr. Smith or The Reverend Dr. Jones

Pentecostal Church of God
In 2002, the general convention of the Pentecostal Church of God came to a consensus to change the title of their overseer from General Superintendent to Bishop. The change was brought on because internationally, the term Bishop is more commonly related to religious leaders than the previous title.

The title Bishop is used for both the General (International leader) and the district (state) leaders. The title is sometimes used in conjunction with the previous thus becoming General (District) Superintendent/Bishop.

[edit] Others
Some Baptists have begun taking on the title of Bishop.[3]

In some smaller Protestant denominations and independent churches the term bishop is used in the same way as pastor, to refer to the leader of the local congregation, and may be male or female. This usage is especially common in African American churches in the USA. In the Church of Scotland, which has a Presbyterian church structure, the word "bishop" refers to an ordained person, usually a normal parish minister, who has temporary oversight of a trainee minister. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the term bishop is an expressive name for a Minister of Word and Sacrament who serves a congregation and exercises "the oversight of the flock of Christ."[20] The term is traceable to the 1789 Form of Government of the PC(U.S.A.) and the Presbyterian understanding of the pastoral office.[21]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop

[Cats4ever]

Reverend is used as a prefix to the names of many Christian clergy and ministers.
A pastor is assigned to a local church, or congregation.
A minister does all the things a pastor does but is not assigned to a local church.
A bishop is the primary clergy and in charge of governing the church.

[Jay_Thomas]

i thought he was the pastor.

who made him bishop.

Eddie   

[lew9ball]

Reverend is a prefix like Mr. and Mrs.
most folks actually use it incorrectly
It's is supposd to be:
The Reverend Mr. Smith or The Reverend Dr. Jones

Pentecostal Church of God
In 2002, the general convention of the Pentecostal Church of God came to a consensus to change the title of their overseer from General Superintendent to Bishop. The change was brought on because internationally, the term Bishop is more commonly related to religious leaders than the previous title.

The title Bishop is used for both the General (International leader) and the district (state) leaders. The title is sometimes used in conjunction with the previous thus becoming General (District) Superintendent/Bishop.

[edit] Others
Some Baptists have begun taking on the title of Bishop.[3]

In some smaller Protestant denominations and independent churches the term bishop is used in the same way as pastor, to refer to the leader of the local congregation, and may be male or female. This usage is especially common in African American churches in the USA. In the Church of Scotland, which has a Presbyterian church structure, the word "bishop" refers to an ordained person, usually a normal parish minister, who has temporary oversight of a trainee minister. In the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the term bishop is an expressive name for a Minister of Word and Sacrament who serves a congregation and exercises "the oversight of the flock of Christ."[20] The term is traceable to the 1789 Form of Government of the PC(U.S.A.) and the Presbyterian understanding of the pastoral office.[21]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bishop

Thanks EPJr for the clarity. Good information.

[lew9ball]

i thought he was the pastor.

who made him bishop.

Eddie   

[RedBuddha]

What about calling your self prophet or prophetess?

[Ivan]

.........................or "apostle"?

[Jaimac]

i thought he was the pastor.

who made him bishop.

Eddie    

New Birth was no longer New Birth Missionary Baptist Church but New Birth Cathedral.  There was a name change when the new facility was built.  Long dissolved the Deacon board which is a staple in the Black Baptist Church and they began following the Full Gospel ministry.

[JBROB]

I think Pastors and Reverends are ordained.  Ministers are licensed.  I'm Baptist so I'm not familiar with Bishops.   

JBROB, I'm slightly confused. Bishop Eddie Long is the minister at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.

Like I said I'm Baptist, I'm not familiar with Bishops.  In my experience Baptist Churches are autonomous and independent by definition and the Pastor is the head of the local church.  I have not seen Bishops in traditional baptist churches.

I thought Bishops were over groups of churches.

[EPJr]

.........................or "apostle"?

A number of successful pioneering missionaries are known as Apostles. In this sense, in the traditional list below, the apostle either first brought Christianity to a land or a people, or spread the faith in places where a few struggling Christian communities did already exist.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostle_(Christian)