There are many ideas out there of what a priest or presbyter in the church should be. Usually each comes with a different thought about what the church needs or how priests can help accomplish a given task.
The Book of Common Prayer, however, lays out specifically what a presbyter is called to be in "The Ordination of a Priest" service. During the Examination (page 531) of that service, the bishop tells the ordinand that he or she is "called to work as a pastor, priest, and teacher" in this world.
These three roles mark what a presbyter is to do:
- Pastor- "love and serve the people among whom you work"
- Priest- "perform the ministrations entrusted" by the church
- Teacher- "to declare God's forgiveness to penitent sinners"
You can learn more about each of these roles by clicking on the links above.
This is what makes up the role of the priest or presbyter in the church. All other tasks should be in service to and aid of these three roles.