Conservative political pundits enamored with Mitt Romney have lately begun repeating a mantra in response to concerns about their candidate's Mormonism. In so many words (see, for example, National Review's endorsement editorial and Charles Mitchell's impassioned plea to fellow evangelicals), it says, "We're electing a president, not a pastor."
If this particular pro-Romney chorus had begun after the campaign of former pastor Mike Huckabee gained traction, it might be understandable in context. But, unlike some of Romney's recent campaign ads, this is not intended as a jab at a rival candidate. It is, rather, an effort to overcome a perfectly legitimate concern many voters have. But it is a frivolous effort.
A pastor is the spiritual leader of a local congregation. But the term is apparently being used here in a much broader context which is demeaning to the vocation. There are any number of "spiritual leaders" to whom millions of Christians look for guidance, even on matters of presidential politics (for better or worse). Some of these leaders have theological degrees. Some may even be members of the clergy. But few of them have the day to day duties of the pastor, whose primary responsibility is to tend the flock committed to his charge. Such a humble responsibility is hardly what the pundits have in mind when they attempt to draw a distinction between "president" and "pastor." Unfortunately, the Christian pop culture obsession with "superstar pastors" of "mega-churches" has so blurred the distinction that even the otherwise friendly conservative media can no longer tell the difference.
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