Protestant churches either follow the Bible or they follow the example of Catholicism, the mother church who gave birth to her Protestant daughters. If a Protestant group wants to get big, they tend to follow this very successful Catholic model of church growth. Protestants have different doctrinal beliefs to the Catholics (and to other Protestant groups ) but they mostly agree on the method of church control by the centralization of power in the hands of one man, who is called pastor, the Protestant version of the priest. The pastor is the head of the church and basically rules the church. Very efficient, but is it Scriptural?
What does the Bible say about pastors? Not much in the New Testament. The word
pastor is only mentioned once.

This man, who coveted more than his due, and
lorded it over God’s heritage, ruled the flock
and usurped a one-man power over them.
Who bans people from his church and pulpit
today? The pastor.
Who has the pre-eminence in the church today?
Pastors.



11 And he gave some, apostles; and
some, prophets; and some,
evangelists; and some, pastors and
teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for
the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4 : 11-12

A five-fold ministry is needed to guide the
believers among whom pastors are mentioned fourth.
This is not a high ranking position. Does this
entitle the pastor to dominate a church? Certainly not. Where is the five-fold ministry today? No-one is allowed to preach unless they agree with the pastor. Disagree with the pastor and he closes his pulpit to that ministry. Thus the pastor acts as a Catholic bishop, controlling the other four ministries.
The pastor also controls the tithes so any independent thinking by the other four ministries is financially throttled. Just as the Catholic emperor Constantine subsidized the churches to make them obedient to him so that he was then able to bend them to his will, the pastors only subsidise the ministries that agree with them. The congregations are only exposed to ministries that the pastor approves of. Thus many pastors develop into a pre-eminent “one-man show” . One man who can do it all : preach, teach, evangelise, rule the church, subject the church to his beliefs etc. The congregation benefits from his strong points but are also subject to his weak points and errors.


9 I wrote unto the church: but
Diotrephes, who loveth to have the
preeminence among them, receiveth
us not.
10 Wherefore, if I come, I will
remember his deeds which he doeth,
prating against us with malicious
words: and not content therewith,
neither doth he himself receive the
brethren, and forbiddeth them that
would, and casteth them out of the
church .
3 John 1 : 9-10


“The chief seats”. How many modern church
buildings have seats in front for the important
people to sit in? Who are these important
people? Usually pastors or visiting pastors. No ministry will sit there if that man disagrees with the pastor. Pastors do not welcome opposition.

Just as pope Leo did his best to get rid of
Martin Luther. The man in charge is always
right, the person who disagrees is always
wrong. That thinking is called Churchianity, the subtle enemy of Christianity.

7 And greetings in the markets, and to
be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi.
Matthew 23 : 7

How often do you hear the title “Pastor” being
mentioned? “Who is your pastor?” . This unscriptural question is one of the first to be asked. The early church never spoke like that.

8 But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is
your Master, even Christ; and all ye
are brethren.
Matthew 23 : 8

“All ye are brethren”. We are all supposed to be equal. A teacher is not called Teacher Smith, just brother Smith. But pastors insist on being called Pastor Smith. William Branham didn’t ask to be called prophet Branham. He was happy to be brother Branham. We should address men as brother, not some other title which implies that they are above us in some way.

Too long and disjointed.

However, the topic and the thesis statement captured your point.

It is a misnomer for the Pastor to assume 'Ownership' of the church but he is the 'Leader'. Where any claims to owned the church, then that church is not different from a manufacturing company.

My dear op, in every organization, there is stratification and the church is not left out. That is not to say the pastor owns the church no! But leadership is one aspect of every establishment which Christ provided for His disciples while on earth which also we follow!!

The problem today is that many so called pastors are more interested in their stomach ie to say they called themselves and even those called of God, many do miss the mark.

Go read about Samuel, he was wearing the priestly cloths yet did not know God!!!(1Sam 3:7)