A worrying phenomenon: the premature and illegitimate use of the title of pastor
Growing disorder is observed in many evangelical communities, particularly in Haiti and the Haitian diaspora, where young believers without official responsibility in a local church are giving themselves or prematurely receiving the title of pastor. This practice, contrary to biblical teachings on pastoral ministry, weakens the credibility of ecclesial institutions and sows confusion among the faithful.
Theological schools bear a significant part of the responsibility for this carnal disorder. In Haiti in particular, some establishments call their students “pastor” from the first year of theological studies, creating a culture of premature appropriation of the title. Testimonies report that several students, during and after their training, categorically refuse to be called by their first name without the title “pastor”, considering any omission as a lack of respect.
This phenomenon extends to gospel artists and young theologians who, having the capacity and opportunity to preach or lead worship in churches, take on the pastoral title without exercising direct responsibility in a local community.
Even more disturbing, some pastors ordain young “pastors” without giving them any responsibility in their own church and without them having a community to support. This practice empties pastoral ministry of its biblical meaning and transforms ordination into a simple honorary formality.
This situation is gradually destroying confidence in ecclesial institutions, at a time when Christian communities are already strongly impacted by scandals of all kinds. For a large majority, the Church is now seen as a lucrative business rather than an authentic spiritual community. The proliferation of self-proclaimed false pastors reinforces this negative perception and creates widespread distrust.
Faced with this institutional and theological disorder, it becomes imperative to clarify what pastoral ministry really is according to Scripture and Protestant ecclesiastical traditions. The title of pastor cannot be dissociated from the effective exercise of a pastoral charge within a local community.
Pastor without church: legitimacy of the title and distinction with the theologian
The pastorate, a function and not a simple title
The pastor fundamentally exercises a function within an ecclesial community, and not a simple honorary title. In the Protestant tradition, one generally cannot be a pastor without a local church.
Pastoral ministry involves leading religious services, administering the sacraments, preaching and accompanying the faithful. This function is intrinsically linked to a specific community.
The Bible presents ministries as given by God for the building of a community, according to 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4. A pastor without a local church would have no community to serve.
Vocation versus profession
The pastorate is first and foremost a vocation, not a profession in the professional sense of the term. The pastor responds to a call from God which must be recognized by the Church.
However, the pastorate has professional aspects: rigorous theological training (a master’s degree in theology is often added, i.e. 5 years of study), official recognition by ordination, and salary paid by the church. Pastors go through a probationary period called “proposanat” before being fully recognized.
The term “pastor” can be used as a title of civility to address someone who exercises this function. However, it is not an honorary title that one can wear without actually exercising the ministry.
Theologian or pastor: two distinct roles
A pastor should properly be a theologian, but a theologian is not necessarily a pastor. The theologian studies, analyzes and teaches Christian doctrine in an academic manner.
According to Ephesians 4, Paul links “shepherd” and “master,” suggesting that every pastor must also be a teacher and therefore a theologian. Pastors are the primary theologians of their local church.
The training requires a professional Master’s degree in theology (5 years of study) including theoretical studies, practical internship and dissertation. A theologian can practice in university teaching without pastoral responsibilities.
The abusive use of the title by artists
Some gospel artists are legitimate pastors and singers: Moïse Mbiye leads the Cité Bethel church in the DRC, Delly Benson leads the Holysongs church, Hezekiah Walker is pastor of the Love Fellowship Tabernacle in New York, Tye Tribbett is pastor and co-founder of the Live Church Orlando, and many others. These people combine both functions.
A singer cannot legitimately bear the title without a recognized pastoral function in a church. If an artist calls himself a “pastor” without ecclesiastical responsibility, theological training or recognition, this is an abusive use.
The title designates a specific function of teaching, spiritual accompaniment and direction within a community. Use without this function is therefore misleading.
The recent case of Matthieu Koumarianos, pastor of My Gospel Church Paris dismissed in December 2024 for “serious moral misconduct” following accusations of manipulation, control and multiple sexual abuse over ten years, illustrates the possible abuses. The church was dissolved by resignation of all its members who wished to dissociate themselves from these serious actions.
The problem of self-proclamation
Self-proclamation as pastor is contrary to biblical and ecclesiological practices. In traditional Protestant churches, the process involves several steps to avoid this trap.
The pastoral vocation must be confirmed by a Commission of Ministries, a church council and the church community. This process of collective recognition guarantees legitimacy.
The phenomenon of self-proclaimed “false pastors” is particularly worrying in certain evangelical churches where controls are less rigorous. These individuals often exploit the vulnerability of worshipers for financial gain.
The example of Charles Bameko, who proclaimed himself a “pastor” without training or recognition, illustrates the abuses: fraud, abuse of trust and manipulation. This case demonstrates the importance of ecclesial validation mechanisms.
In Africa, the phenomenon of false pastors transforms religion into a lucrative business, exploiting the faith of vulnerable populations. This commercialization of the pastoral title destroys the credibility of ecclesial institutions.
Theological schools and the premature granting of the title
In Haiti, many pastors lead churches of 300 to 800 members with minimal biblical training, often leading them to interpret Scripture without solid foundation. Targeted training programs, such as those at the Bible Training Center for Pastors (BTCP), attempt to address this gap by providing structured Bible training over two years.
However, some Haitian theology schools contribute to the disorder by calling their students “pastor” from the first year of study. This practice creates a premature appropriation of the title without effective exercise of pastoral ministry.
Programs vary widely: some offer a bachelor’s degree in theology in just one year for those with an existing degree in the field, while others require several years of rigorous training. This disparity in training standards contributes to confusion about the legitimacy of the title.
