The word Pastor derives from the Latin pastour, meaning shepherd. It helps to think of Pastoral work as a shepherd leading a flock, the Shepard acts as a guide and a leader, but they are also human capable of errors. 

A Pastor is a person in charge of leading the spiritual and religious activities of worship. They are the teachers of their faith in their community.

Pastor as a religious leader refers to several Protestant branches, including Baptist, Methodist, Lutheran, Episcopalian, and Presbyterian. 

There may be someone serving as a "lay Pastor" in some churches. That is to say, someone performing a Pastoral role but who is not ordained as a Pastor. 

Beyond their religious and educational duties, Pastors oversee the administration of the church. 

Women may or may not be ordained as Pastors depending on the branch and church to which they belong. It is becoming more common for women to serve as Pastors, but this is still a hotly debated topic within many churches. 

Personality of a Pastor
Beyond a passion for religion and scripture, Pastors need to realize that they are leaders and role models within their church. They need to display the same characteristics of courageous, bold, and charismatic leadership as CEOs or other leaders. 

• Leadership Skills

Pastors are influential leaders of their religious community. They need to have the courage to put themselves out there and hold themselves to a high standard of integrity. 

• Public Speaking Skills

Pastors frequently address large crowds of people. They need excellent oratory skills to be able to hold people's attention. 

• Empathy

People often reach out to Pastors for guidance and advice. They are trusted members of the community, and they need to listen to problems actively. They need to connect not just with people's experiences but the emotions that those experiences bring up. 

• Humility

Pastors are imperfect human beings, just like their followers. They need to be comfortable talking about their strengths, recognizing their weaknesses, and being willing to work on them.