In Christianity, the office of the man who preaches in the church and makes sure that the church is operating as it should is held by the head pastor. In the Bible, this term is referred to often as elder or bishop, but means the same thing as pastor. The word pastor is merely the term we use today.

Not just anyone can be a pastor though. Pastor's are supposed to be an example to all Christians as well as have the leadership skills it takes to make sure the church functions every service and even outside of formal church activities. Therefore, God has placed certain rules as to who may be a pastor.

1 Timothy 3:2 - A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behaviour, given to hospitality, apt to teach;

Already, there is a lot. A pastor must be blameless (not someone be dragged to court every weekend), have only one wife (many believe this includes not marrying after divorce), vigilant or cautious, sober or serious, has good behavior, is eager to help others and let them visit his home, and able to teach others.

3 - Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;

He must not be a drunkard, a fighter, or a miser. He must be patient.

4-5 - One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?)

He must be able to keep his home under control. If a person can not lead their family, God asks how can we expect them to lead the church?

Luke 16:10 - He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

6 - Not a novice, lest being lifted up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the devil.

He should not be someone who just got saved a week ago. While he may begin training to be a pastor, it would be unwise to let someone who is still young and weak spiritually to hold a place of leadership in a church.

7 - Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

Even the unsaved should have an overall good image of the pastor. If the unsaved think of the pastor as a selfish, unkind, or wicked man, that could lead to lots of problems for the pastor and the church.

Now, something of controversy is are women allowed to be pastors? According to the Bible, women may teach other women, but they are not allowed to teach men in a church setting. This is in some ways to give honor to men for being created first, but another reason is that it is part of the punishment brought onto women by Eve, such as pain in childbearing. (As a side note, not only women were punished at Creation. Men and Satan were both punished alongside her.)

1 Timothy 2:11-13 - Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach, nor to usurp authority over the man, but to be in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression.

This chapter in the Bible was specifically written to teach us how to behave in church, so we know this does not talk about other areas of life like work and government - the Bible even mentions some women who held positions of authority positively - , but it does apply to church. May a woman be a street preacher then, as that is not a church setting? That, I believe, is more debatable, but the Bible is clear that women should not teach or lead in the formal church service.

All this aside, we can see that the office of a pastor is an extremely important one. Christians should pray greatly if they feel God's call or if their church is trying to find a pastor.