By Byeong
When I worked with the Lay Pastors Ministry in Korea, I became deeply interested in the question of how lay caregivers should be named. Even today, I believe naming is very important. Rev. Melvin Steinbron also addressed this issue in his essay,“What Should PACE Ministers Be Called?” In that essay, he acknowledged that different churches in America use different titles for those who serve in this ministry. However, he emphasized that regardless of the title, the original meaning and concept of the ministry must remain unchanged. As he illustrated, a rose should have the same fragrance wherever it is planted.
Rev. Melvin studied theology in both Methodist and Presbyterian traditions. Although he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church and served three Presbyterian congregations in the United States, he understood that church traditions vary. Nevertheless, he believed that the biblical identity of this ministry should never be compromised.
The original title for those serving in this ministry is Lay Pastor, and the ministry itself is centered on one-to-one pastoral care through PACE. Just as lay people may serve as teachers, missionaries, elders, deacons, or cell group leaders, those who are specially gifted and trained in pastoral care may appropriately be called Lay Pastors. This title does not imply that they are ordained ministers. Rather, it recognizes their unique calling and training in caring for people. Ordained pastors are individuals who have completed theological education, have been examined by the church, and have been ordained for pastoral ministry. Lay Pastors are different. They are gifted lay believers who have received specialized training in pastoral care.
The title Lay Pastor was not chosen by Rev. Melvin alone. While serving at College Hill Presbyterian Church in Ohio, pastors and lay leaders spent several months studying the Scriptures together before deciding on this name. Therefore, the title carries both biblical reflection and practical significance.
One example of adapting the title is Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, one of the largest churches in the United States. When the church adopted the PACE ministry, it chose to call its caregivers Lay Ministers rather than Lay Pastors. This decision was not because they disagreed with the ministry’s philosophy, but because the church had already used the title Lay Minister for many years. Rather than creating a new title, they incorporated the PACE ministry into their existing structure. In a sense, the new wine was poured into an old wineskin.
As a result, many other churches followed Frazer’s example and also adopted the title Lay Minister. While this created little confusion among churches that fully understood the PACE philosophy, other churches sometimes misunderstood the distinction between the original concept of Lay Pastors and the more general title of Lay Ministers. Therefore, we should be careful in choosing names. Every title communicates a theological understanding and shapes people’s expectations.
Of course, the title Lay Pastor also presents challenges. Some people immediately assume that anyone called a pastor must have graduated from seminary and received ordination. This misunderstanding requires careful explanation. Nevertheless, changing the title simply to avoid misunderstanding may also weaken the original identity and purpose of the ministry.
A good example is Hallelujah Church in Korea. Before adopting the PACE ministry, the church had already established a Lay Ministry Academy, using the Korean termPyeongmok(Lay Pastor). Later, through the Lay Pastors Ministry Korea Institute, the church introduced Rev. Melvin’s PACE ministry and intentionally established a PACE Training Center, openly using the title Lay Pastor.
In June 2001, after adopting the PACE ministry, Hallelujah Church held the firstLay Pastors Conference in Korean church history. Through its PACE Training Center, the church trained and commissioned more than one thousand Lay Pastors over the following ten years.
There is also an interesting story behind this naming issue. Pastor Kim Sang-bok firmly believed that the title Lay Pastor accurately expressed the heart and calling of those who served in this ministry. However, many church members felt uncomfortable with the title because lay people were not ordained pastors. Even Pastor Kim’s wife questioned the title repeatedly over many years. Despite these objections, Pastor Kim never gave up using the name Lay Pastor because he believed, just as Rev. Melvin taught, that a title should accurately describe both the identity and the ministry of the person who bears it.
As Rev. Melvin often said, “A rose should have the same fragrance wherever it is planted.” In the same way, the title given to this ministry may vary according to church tradition, denominational background, or theological perspective. However, whatever name is chosen, the original vision, philosophy, and purpose of the ministry should never be lost. Lay Pastor and Lay Minister are not identical terms, and they should not be carelessly mixed or confused. Ultimately, it is the responsibility of the senior pastor and church leadership to prayerfully decide which title will best preserve the original intention of the ministry while serving the church effectively.