pastoring
- 1Present participle and gerund of pastor.
She has spent twenty years pastoring a small rural congregation.
Pastoring a fast-growing church left him little time for his own family.
Note
A single -ing form doing two jobs: in "she is pastoring" it is the verb in progress, and in "pastoring is hard work" it names the work itself. The underlying verb swings both ways: it can take the congregation as its object (pastoring a small church) or stand alone (he spent years pastoring in the city). Behind it sits the noun, whose archaic sense of shepherd keeps the old image of a flock in view.
pastoring is a form of pastor
pastor, verb: To lead a congregation as its minister, providing worship, teaching, and spiritual care. Full entry
- Spelling
- pastor → pastoring: add -ing
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