Pastorate \Pas"tor*ate\, n. [Cf. F. pastorat. See {Pastor}.] The office, state, or jurisdiction of a pastor.
He had the packed sanctuary of his longtime pastorate, the historic Marble Collegiate Church, rolling with intermittant gales of laughter, applause and concentrated listening.
We noticed the subtle jabs, quiet jokes, knowing winks, the exasperated looks and the overall "survival" approach to getting along in the pastorate.