A
a_cermak
Guest
So, I was walking by the Dutch Reformed Church in my local home town and saw the cleric was having some difficulty trying to carry groceries in (they run a food pantry), so I walked up and offered to help, “father.” My main exposure to Christianity has been in the Catholic and Episcopalian traditions, so to me, Christian clerics are addressed as Father (even women). So I help him, then we have an odd conversation.
Him: “thank you for your help”
Me: “Oh sure, Father, any time”
Him: “You know, I’m not Catholic, I’m not called Father”
Me: “Oh, sorry, I’m not Catholic either”
Him: “Oh (perhaps grasping around for another group of Christians who call their clerics Father), are you Orthodox?”
Me: (wondering how he could mistake me for an Orthodox Jew), “Oh no, Fa–Reverend, I’m Reform”
Him: “Reformed?” (wondering then why I am calling him father), “you mean you’re a member of this Church?”
Me: (finally starting to understand), “No Fa–Reverend, I’m a Jew, from the Reform branch”
We had a bit of a laugh over that one.
Him: “thank you for your help”
Me: “Oh sure, Father, any time”
Him: “You know, I’m not Catholic, I’m not called Father”
Me: “Oh, sorry, I’m not Catholic either”
Him: “Oh (perhaps grasping around for another group of Christians who call their clerics Father), are you Orthodox?”
Me: (wondering how he could mistake me for an Orthodox Jew), “Oh no, Fa–Reverend, I’m Reform”
Him: “Reformed?” (wondering then why I am calling him father), “you mean you’re a member of this Church?”
Me: (finally starting to understand), “No Fa–Reverend, I’m a Jew, from the Reform branch”
We had a bit of a laugh over that one.