A chief pastor or supreme spiritual leader; a high-ranking clergy member with authority over other pastors.
From arch- (meaning 'chief') plus pastor (from Latin pastor, 'shepherd'). Used in religious contexts to denote the highest pastoral authority, similar to archbishop.
While 'archbishop' became the standard term, some regional churches used 'archpastor' to emphasize the pastoral (shepherd) role rather than the episcopal (bishop) role—a subtle theological difference hidden in the name.
'Pastor' historically carried masculine authority in religious institutional contexts, though modern churches vary; 'arch-' amplifies this.
Use 'chief pastor' or 'senior religious leader' with awareness of tradition; explicitly include all genders in role descriptions.
["chief pastor","senior religious leader","principal shepherd","arch-minister"]
Women clergy and religious leaders have expanded pastoral roles across denominations; language should reflect this evolution.
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