Pastor

== Junior roles ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2022}}
An '''assistant''' or '''associate pastor''' is a person who assists the pastor in a [[Christianity|Christian]] [[Church (building)|church]]. The qualifications, responsibilities and duties vary depending on church and [[Christian denomination|denomination]].

In many churches, an assistant pastor is a pastor-in-training, or are awaiting full [[ordination]]. In many instances, they are granted limited powers and authority to act with, or in the absence of, the [[wiktionary:congregation|congregation]]'s pastor. Some churches that have outreach programs, such as hospital visitations, in-home programs, prison ministries, or multiple [[Chapel|chapels]], will appoint assistant pastors to perform duties while the Pastor is busy elsewhere. Some churches use the title ''brother'' or ''ordained brother'' in place of assistant pastor.  In larger [[Roman Catholic]] parishes, the duties of an assistant pastor can be broken up into duties performed by deacons and non-ordained lay people.