A pastor is usually an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, the term may be abbreviated to "Pr" or "Ptr" (singular) or "Ps" (plural). A pastor also gives advice and counsel to people from the community or congregation. It is derrived from the Latin word, "pascere", meaning fed or grazed.

The word "pastor" derives from the Latin noun which means "shepherd" and relates to the Latin verb - "to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat". The term "pastor" also relates to the role of elder within the New Testament, but is not synonymous with the biblical understanding of minister. Many Protestant churches call their ministers "pastors".

Present-day usage of the word is rooted in the Biblical image of shepherding. The Hebrew Bible (or Old Testament) uses the Hebrew word ("raah") which means shepherd. It occurs 173 times and relates to the feeding of sheep, as in Genesis 29:7, or to the spiritual feeding of human beings, as in Jeremiah 3:15, "Then I will give you shepherds after My own heart, who will feed you on knowledge and understanding" (NASB). English-language translations of the New Testament usually render the Greek noun ("poimen") as "shepherd" and the Greek verb ("poimaino") as "to shepherd". The two words occur a total of 29 times in the New Testament, most frequently referring to Jesus. For example, Jesus called himself the "Good Shepherd" in John 10:11. The same words in the familiar Christmas story (Luke 2) refer to literal shepherds.

Answer the following questions:
1. What is a pastor?
2. Of what?
3. Would would you abbreviate it?
4. What about a plural abbreviation?
5. What does a pastor usually do?
6. To who?
7. What word is it derrived from?
8. What language does it come from?
9. What does it mean?
10. Is it an adjective?
11. What verb does it relate to?

Numbered answers:
1. an ordained leader
2. a Christian congregation
3. Pr
4. Ps
5. gives advice
6. to people from the community
7. the word pascere
8. Latin
9. fed
10. No
11. Latin verb - "to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat"