Did Mitt Romney misspeak last night on being a pastor in the Mormon church?

Yes, we have a lay ministry and the proper term for Mitt's position was that of a bishop, which is administering to the needs of one congregation, similar to what a pastor does in a protestant church. Therefore, he used a term that others would relate to rather than confusing them by saying he was a bishop which some might equate to a Catholic bishop which is more like our Stake Presidents. He did not have time to explain the LDS priesthood heirarchy, so he simplified the term. Besides, our 6th article of faith does use the term pastor. So he was not actually wrong.

While we don't have a calling in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints officially titled "pastor," the single most equivalent calling is traditionally understood to be that of bishop, which Mitt Romney surely had reference to. He has served as a bishop, also as a stake president.

From the popular reference book "Mormon Doctrine," written by the late apostle Bruce R. McConkie (his own work, not officially endorsed by the Church) is the following under the entry "PASTORS:"

"A pastor is not an ordained office in the priesthood. Anyone serving as a bishop, branch president, stake president, or even quorum president - being called to feed his flock with knowledge and understanding - might properly be called a pastor."

They do not name them pastors in the mormon church. The leader of a congregation is called a bishop. I suspect Romney used the term "Pastor" considering that it might most thoroughly describe his role in phrases most comprehensible to non-mormons. In different church buildings, a bishop, is a much higher role than it is in the mormon church.

Romney was a Bishop, the "equivalent" of a Catholic Priest or Protestant minister. The entire church, except for the very top leadership, is lay, or unpaid ministry. We don't have an official title "pastor", but that same function is filled by other designations.

I am sure he was using the term "pastor" to give non-Mormons a term they'd understand for what his role was in his church. I don't feel he misspoke, but that he used a term people outside of the LDS church would understand.

I've never heard mormons use the word 'pastor' to describe any of their leaders - so chances are he was trying to equate it to something that non-mormons could relate to.

there are no "pastors" , but there are bishops and stake presidents and teachers that have an elevated status among the congregation, with little to no real training to govern people.

while l am not a Morman he did not miss spoke about being a Pastor in the church.

He's a bishop.

He deliberately didn't use that term for political reasons.

Show how much he values his own faith doesn't it? Just like all Xtians - it's every one else that should follow the rules.

Shows to go you just how demented the poor man is