(ordained minister). A title used by Seventh-day Adventists to designate an ordained minister, although “pastor” is more often used. However, “pastor” is also applied to licensed ministers. Believing that “reverend” belongs properly only to God ( Ps. 111:9 ), SDA s do not address their ministers by this title. “Elder” as used in the Bible did not necessarily mean an old person, but one who has attained maturity and experience. In the OT the title was used for those of certain official rank and position, such as heads of families, households, or tribes ( Gen. 50:7 ; Ex. 3:16 ; 2 Sam. 5:3 ). The NT applies presbuteros (“elder”) also to church leaders ( see Church Elder ).
SDA s of the late 1840s and early 1850s did not use “elder” in referring to their own ordained ministers, preferring to call them “brother.” They did, however, refer to non- SDA ministers by “elder.” With the rise of church organization and the need for a fully qualified ministry, “elder,” referring to an ordained minister, came into general use among Seventh-day Adventists in North America. In recent years “elder” has declined in popularity somewhat, but continues as an alternative for “pastor.”