There are many different titles used for Lay Pastors. The original name is Lay Pastor, but depending on a church’s situation, tradition, and theology, churches may call them by different names.
Our respected founder, Dr. Melvin Steinbron, addressed this issue in one of his thirteen monographs, titled “What Shall We Call Them?” He recognized that local churches in the United States use many different names for people involved in this ministry. However, he emphasized that even if different names are used, “the rose should give off the same fragrance.” In other words, the title may be different, but the identity, purpose, and spirit of the ministry should remain the same.
For example, one of the large churches involved in LPM in the United States is Frazer Memorial Church in Montgomery, Alabama. The church adopted this ministry many years ago, but instead of calling the participants Lay Pastors, they called them Lay Ministers.
Of course, these two names are not exactly the same. Nevertheless, the church adopted a title that was slightly different from the original name, and some other churches later followed a similar practice. In that particular situation, there was no serious problem because the church understood clearly the meaning of PACE and the purpose of the ministry.
However, I believe that we should still be careful about how we name these people. A different title can sometimes create unnecessary confusion, especially when the same title is already used for another ministry or position within the church. The name Lay Minister, for example, may already have a different meaning in another church structure.
Of course, I understand that there may also be some concern about using the title Lay Pastor. Many people believe that a pastor must be someone who has graduated from a seminary and has been officially ordained. Therefore, they may feel uncomfortable calling a layperson a pastor.
Nevertheless, the importance of naming should not be ignored.
In Korea, Hallelujah Church adopted the PACE ministry many years ago and practiced it very successfully. The church even established a PACE Training Center and equipped more than 1,000 Lay Pastors. Senior Pastor David Kim strongly supported the use of the title Lay Pastor.
In fact, Pastor David Kim and his wife discussed—and sometimes argued about—this naming issue for many years. Pastor Kim consistently insisted that they should be called Lay Pastors, while his wife felt uncomfortable with the title because many people questioned whether it was appropriate to call laypeople “pastors.” She heard these concerns repeatedly and often discussed them with her husband.
However, Pastor David Kim did not give up.
He understood, as Dr. Melvin Steinbron also emphasized, that a name is important. A name can influence the way people think about themselves. It can shape their identity, their attitude, and even their understanding of their calling.
Pastor David Kim understood the meaning of this ministry clearly. He believed that calling someone a Lay Pastor was not simply giving that person a title. It was helping that person understand who he or she was called to be.
Therefore, the question is not merely, “What shall we call them?” The deeper question is, “Who are they, and what is their calling?”
The title itself may differ from church to church, but the heart and purpose of the ministry must remain clear. As Dr. Melvin said, whatever name we use, the rose should still give off the same fragrance.