The English term "pastor" appears only once in the New Testament (Ephesians 4:11). The root Greek word though appears almost thirty times, and has as its core meaning to "shepherd." While this is one of the elder functions, congregations traditionally have associated the term with those who serve the Lord vocationally. The central purpose given to pastors in Ephesians 4 is to "equip the saints for the work of service." Biblically speaking, it is not the job of pastors to do all the work of the church. Rather, it is their job to prepare all believers to serve the Lord as He has gifted them. At Woodland Park, we believe that pastors must be called of the Lord, and must fulfill the Biblical qualifications for an elder. They are supported financially so as to devote themselves fully to the work of the Lord.