Definitions

Minister -- This term refers to a person who has been authorized by a religious endorsing body through ordination, consecration or equivalent means (as determined by the person's religious endorsing body and attested by the appropriate office of the person's religious endorsing body) to exercise specific religious leadership and service within and on behalf of the religious endorsing body which furthers its purpose and mission and which is supported by a covenant with a local religious body which will oversee his/her work in ministry.

Pastoral Counselor -- This term refers to a person who practices pastoral counseling at an advanced level which integrates religious resources with insights from the behavioral sciences.

Pastoral Counseling -- This term refers to a process in which a pastoral counselor utilizes insights and principles derived from the disciplines of theology and the behavioral sciences in working with individuals, couples, families, groups and social systems toward the achievement of wholeness and health.