Relationship of Preaching To Pastoral Activity Define the role of the pastor in terms of its function. How would you describe the primary work of the pastor? Read John 21:15–19; 2 Timothy 4:1–5 The term pastor basically means “shepherd or herdsman” and is derived from the Latin verb pascere (“to feed”). The pastor’s responsibility is both to tend and to feed the flock. The Lord Jesus applied both of these functions to the Christian minister when He commanded His apostle Simon Peter