Is an assistant or associate pastor really a pastor?

Of course. But strict Waltherians disagree. This came out on another forum in the comments on an unrelated article Read all about it from this comment and on down.

Once again, praise God for the conserving nature of the liturgy, in this case the liturgy for the rite of ordination which makes clear that Jesus created the ministry into which the Church (clergy and laity together) place fit candidates.