Reformed Baptists affirm the office of pastor/elder as a valid and necessary ministry in the church, held exclusively by qualified men, while categorically rejecting any sacerdotal or priestly function for church leaders. The pastor is not a priest offering sacrifices on behalf of the people; rather, he is a shepherd, teacher, and overseer who serves under Christ, the head of the church. The 1689 Confession emphasizes that all believers constitute the priesthood of believers, having direct access to God through Christ without intermediaries.

Pastors (elders) must meet specific qualifications outlined in 1 Timothy 3:1-7 and Titus 1:5-9: they must be spiritually mature, hospitable, apt to teach, not prone to violence, and of sound reputation. They are called and set apart by the congregation for the work of preaching, teaching, prayer, and administering the ordinances. Deacons assist with practical ministries and serve as officers of mercy in the congregation. Both positions are ordained office, yet they are not a separate caste; they are believers exercising particular functions within the body.

Reformed Baptists categorically reject female ordination to any office. The prohibition of women teaching authoritatively in the church (1 Timothy 2:12) is binding across all times and places. This is not a cultural accommodation but a transcultural principle grounded in creation order and apostolic authority. Women have essential roles in the church — evangelism, teaching children, hospitality, prophecy (in the sense of exhortation) — but not the office of elder.