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Pastor vs Rector - What's the difference?

pastor | rector |

As nouns the difference between pastor and rector

is that pastor is a shepherd; someone who tends to a flock of animals while rector is in the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.

As a verb pastor

is to serve a congregation as pastor.

As a proper noun Rector is

an English surname; derived from the German surname Richter.

pastor

English

Alternative forms

* pastour (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A shepherd; someone who tends to a flock of animals.
  • Someone with spiritual authority over a group of people
  • *http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pastor
  • A Muslim imam
  • * 1983 , Meridel Rawlings, Fishers and hunters , page 272
  • * 2005 , Beth Moore, Voices of the Faithful , page 120
  • A minister or a priest in a Christian church.

    • Derived terms

    * pastorage * pastorate * pastoral * pastoress

    Coordinate terms

    * imam, guru, rabbi, sangha

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (Christianity) To serve a congregation as
  • * {{quote-news, 2009, January 21, Shaila Dewan, Epic Campaign Divided Family, Then United It, New York Times citation
    • , passage=As they pastored churches in Georgia and Texas, they supported talented black politicians who were unable to win statewide office. }}

    See also

    * cleric * father * minister * parson * priest * vicar * reverend

    Anagrams

    * ----

    rector

    English

    Alternative forms

    * rectour (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • In the Anglican Church, a cleric in charge of a parish and who owns the tithes of it.
  • * , chapter=10
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector' s face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
  • In the Roman Catholic Church, a cleric with managerial as well as spiritual responsibility for a church or other institution.
  • A headmaster in various educational institutions, e.g. a university.

    • Related terms

    * rectorate * rectorial * rectory * rectrix