I asked my AI and it answered this:

Yes, there are ideological differences, particularly rooted in Christian denominational theology.

Priest carries the connotation of a mediating role with special sacramental authority. In Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican traditions, priests are ordained to perform rituals like administering the Eucharist, hearing confessions, and performing other sacraments. The term implies a distinct clerical status with spiritual powers granted through ordination—someone who stands between the congregation and the divine in certain respects.

Minister emphasizes service and pastoral care. The word derives from Latin for “servant.” Protestant denominations, which rejected the hierarchical sacramental system of the Catholic Church, preferred “minister” to emphasize that clergy are fundamentally servants of the congregation rather than mediators with unique spiritual powers. This aligns with the Protestant concept of the “priesthood of all believers”—the idea that all Christians have direct access to God without needing clerical intermediaries.

That said, the terms aren’t used with perfect consistency. Some denominations use both (Anglican priests may be called ministers in some contexts). And modern usage sometimes treats them as synonyms simply for the sake of variety. But historically and ideologically, choosing one term over the other does signal something about how one understands the role of ordained clergy and their relationship to divine authority.

If you’re asking in a specific context where you’ve noticed the distinction being made, that context might clarify which of these theological frameworks is relevant.