From Bishops, to Super-Pastors, to Gig Eva Personalities.

Rev. Chris Gordon, Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan, and Rev. Adam Kaloostian discuss the historical and theological development of the pastoral office, tracing its evolution from the biblical model of a humble, serving presbuteros and episkopos to the centralized authority of the Pope and now the “Super-Pastor”. The hosts contrast this historical overreach with the Reformation's recovery of the local pastor's essential role: a minister who is accountable to the elders, serves the congregation in trials and tribulations, and faithfully catechizes the youth. They warn against the modern phenomena of "Big Eva" and the rise of the "Gig Eva" pastor who eschew biblical church government and personal pastoral care for public speaking and wider influence, ultimately urging listeners to recognize the true greatness in the humble, effective ministry of the local church. 00:00:00 - Topic: From Bishop to Super Pastor 00:01:15 - Called to be servants, not building the church around a celebrity 00:05:30 - The interchangeable use of presbuteros and episkopos 00:08:20 - Exceptional gifts concentrating power vs. dignity of office 00:10:50 - Early church and Ignatius on the bishop's role 00:11:15 - The bishop was not a direct successor of the apostolic office 00:13:40 - Peak of papal power: Pope Agatho and Pope Boniface VIII 00:16:45 - The quest for religious certainty 00:18:45 - Serious moral corruption in the 16th-century Catholic Church 00:19:50 - The Conciliar movement 00:21:10 - Recovering the role of the personal Pastor, not the untouchable Pope 00:22:00 - The local pastor is accountable to the elders 00:25:00 - Reformed view: all ministers are equal 00:26:00 - De facto hierarchies and influence vs. voting power 00:28:55 - Biblical illiteracy in the modern church 00:30:45 - The neglect of pastoral care and the rise of the Super Pastor 00:33:20 - Why church government is a "last barrier" 00:35:35 - Downplaying the local pastor with no glory 00:36:00 - Big Eva is dying and moving to Gig Eva 00:36:50 - The Gig Eva Pastor can't visit you in the hospital 00:37:00 - Successful speakers should express a biblical ecclesiology 00:40:45 - Conferences should be a gateway back to the local church 00:42:30 - A Super-Pastor avoids challenging elders 00:43:00 - Ministry should look like the Son of Man: TO serve Rev. Adam Kaloostian - Pastor, Church Planter Rev. Adam Kaloostian was ordained to the Ministry of the Word & Sacraments in the United Reformed Churches in North America (URCNA) in 2001. He was born and raised in Pasadena, California, took his bachelor’s degree in English from Biola University in La Mirada in 1997, and his Master of Divinity degree in 2000 from Westminster Seminary California in Escondido. Adam and his wife Lena were married in 2000, and welcomed their happy surprise, a son, John, in 2010. After Adam graduated seminary, he served as an intern then outreach pastor of the URCNA congregation in Ontario, California for three years; then from 2004 until 2021 served as the Senior Pastor there. Adam was called and sent by the URCNA congregation in Pasadena to be the church-planting pastor in Ventura in Spring of 2021. Pastor Dan Borvan - Cohost & Teacher Rev. Dr. Daniel Borvan is pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church. Daniel earned his Master of Divinity degree from Westminster Seminary California in 2011. As a student at Westminster Seminary he learned that all study of Scripture, theology, and church history is put into practice in the worship and work of the church. The goal is to glorify Christ by serving His church. At Westminster Seminary he also earned a Master of Arts degree in Historical Theology. His thesis paper was on Faustus Socinus. Daniel is chairman of the Heidelberg Reformation Association. Some of his published articles are on the Heidelblog website. Daniel was installed as pastor of preaching ministry at Christ Reformed Church, September 29, 2023, having served four years at Grace Torrance United Reformed Church in Torrance, California as minister of Word and sacrament. Daniel is married to Marcy and they have two daughters and a son. People Mentioned: Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Pope Agatho, Leo X, Pope Boniface VIII, Leo XII Works Mentioned: Sixth Ecumenical Council (Constantinople III, 680), Unam Sanctum Terms Mentioned: presbuteros, episkopos, Conciliarism ABOUNDING GRACE RADIO: ❤️ DONATE: https://agradio.org/donate 🔗 Website: https://agradio.org 📩 Newsletter: https://agradio.org/newsletter 👤 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aboundingrac... 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aboundinggr... ✖️ X: https://x.com/agradio1 #superpastor,#bishop,#presbuteros,#episkopos,#churchgovernment,#popalpower,#reformation,#lo