How do we address non-Catholic Christian clergy (title-wise)?

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ecumethodist

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I am a recent convert into the Catholic Church (Deo Gratias!), and I was wondering how we address clergy from Protestant Denominations (any of the denoms is good to look at, but I was especially wondering about the Episcopal Church *). I know that they do not have valid apostolic sucession, and therefore do not have valid Holy Orders; so I figured it would be incorrect/(wrong?) to address a Protestant minister as “Father” or “Rev.” (and with the advent of female clergy in many of the Protestant denominations it gets even more confusing), but then there’s the issue of courtesy. What is everyones’ take on it?

(My guess would be it is ok for addressing Eastern Orthodox clergy by their titles, seeing as they have valid sucession.)*
 
From what I’ve seen, the norm is to address them by whatever title they use.
 
ecumethodist said:
I am a recent convert into the Catholic Church (Deo Gratias!), and I was wondering how we address clergy from Protestant Denominations (any of the denoms is good to look at, but I was especially wondering about the Episcopal Church *). I know that they do not have valid apostolic sucession, and therefore do not have valid Holy Orders; so I figured it would be incorrect/(wrong?) to address a Protestant minister as “Father” or “Rev.” (and with the advent of female clergy in many of the Protestant denominations it gets even more confusing), but then there’s the issue of courtesy. What is everyones’ take on it?

(My guess would be it is ok for addressing Eastern Orthodox clergy by their titles, seeing as they have valid sucession.)*

Common courtesy dictates one refers or addresses them by the title they prefer. I have a very good friend who is a Catholic priest. I refer to him as Father _______.
My lutheran pastor prefers Pastor _______.
Years ago I had a close association with an Episcopal parish and school. The rector there preferred Mr. _________. That is how I referred to him.
There was an Anglican clergymen in town some years back who preferred Father ______.
That’s what I called him.
My dad was a Luheran pastor who had a doctorate in sacred theology. Some referred to him as Dr. _________, but Pastor was more common. I referred to him as Dad (:D).

Reverend is usually a title, but not in the sense of the way one might address him.

Referring to an Anglican priest as Father, or a Luther clergyman as Pastor is not a compromising of your Catholic belief that protestant clergy are not in apostolic succession. It is simply good manners.

Jon
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JonNC said:
Common courtesy dictates one refers or addresses them by the title they prefer. I have a very good friend who is a Catholic priest. I refer to him as Father _______.
My lutheran pastor prefers Pastor _______.
Years ago I had a close association with an Episcopal parish and school. The rector there preferred Mr. _________. That is how I referred to him.
There was an Anglican clergymen in town some years back who preferred Father ______.
That’s what I called him.
My dad was a Luheran pastor who had a doctorate in sacred theology. Some referred to him as Dr. _________, but Pastor was more common. I referred to him as Dad (:D).

Reverend is usually a title, but not in the sense of the way one might address him.

Referring to an Anglican priest as Father, or a Luther clergyman as Pastor is not a compromising of your Catholic belief that protestant clergy are not in apostolic succession. It is simply good manners.

Jon
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I grow more and more staunch in my Catholic faith and beliefs by the day, but that has not, nor will it ever change my own belief that the only respectful thing to do is to refer to ALL men and women by their title, or whatever title they prefer. I certainly think Christ wants us to be respectful of all, regardless of their office or affiliation.

Your Holiness, Father, Pastor, Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss., Your Royal Highness, Msgr., Your Majesty, etc…

I am not a subject of The Queen of Great Britain, but if I ever met her, I would address her as ‘Your Majesty,’ even though she has absolutely NO authority over me, personally. It’s just the right thing to do. The same holds true for clergy of other Christian faiths.
 
I grew up in a town with lots of Lutherans and Catholics. My dad regularly wore his clericals, and Catholics were often say hi to him, “Hi Father”. Dad never blinked, and would say hi in return. He knew that was their practice, and respected it.
Respect, courtesy, manners, one to another, is always the best practice. 👍

Jon
 
Different Protestant traditions have different traditions - and they may vary within denominations, from congregation to congregation.
Code: 
 If the minister has a doctorate, Dr. always is appropriate, of course.

 Lutherans normally are Pastors. Episcopalians often are Fathers, but not always. That was an issue in my hometown. Some Episcopalian laity favored it, others did not.

 Methodists often are pastors. But they usually aren't offended if they are called Reverend, though this is not correct if one wants to be fussy.

  I recall one incident that goes back many years. An elderly Methodist pastor from Puerto Rico was called Father by a child who was passing by, even though the pastor never wore a collar. I was nearby at the time. The minister responded by saying in a grandfatherly manner: "Young man, I hope you have a wonderful father at home, and you certainly have a wonderful Father in heaven, but I am neither." He went on to suggest using Pastor. 

  Some Congregationalists use Mr. rather than a title. Ditto for Presbyterians. But Pastor or Reverend is probably more common.

  In most mainline Protestant churches today, the Pastor is called by his or first name by adult members of their congregations today. Children and youth use a title, and sometimes older members do, too. 

  In some evangelical circles Brother may be heard. Occasionally Preacher or Parson, old titles less heard today.
 
rfournier103 said:
I grow more and more staunch in my Catholic faith and beliefs by the day, but that has not, nor will it ever change my own belief that the only respectful thing to do is to refer to ALL men and women by their title, or whatever title they prefer. I certainly think Christ wants us to be respectful of all, regardless of their office or affiliation.

Your Holiness, Father, Pastor, Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss., Your Royal Highness, Msgr., Your Majesty, etc…

I am not a subject of The Queen of Great Britain, but if I ever met her, I would address her as ‘Your Majesty,’ even though she has absolutely NO authority over me, personally. It’s just the right thing to do. The same holds true for clergy of other Christian faiths.
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I hope Christ would forgive me but I’ll never refer to the queen as your majesty. Not after she screwed Ireland out of a united nation all because of bad blood she got over her uncle. But I’m biased on that subject, being Irish, so there ya go
 
My protestant history the clergy were referred to as “Pastor So-and-so” or “Brother Whatever” example “Pastor Chuck” or " Brother Jones"
 
ecumethodist said:
I am a recent convert into the Catholic Church (Deo Gratias!), and I was wondering how we address clergy from Protestant Denominations (any of the denoms is good to look at, but I was especially wondering about the Episcopal Church *). I know that they do not have valid apostolic sucession, and therefore do not have valid Holy Orders; so I figured it would be incorrect/(wrong?) to address a Protestant minister as “Father” or “Rev.” (and with the advent of female clergy in many of the Protestant denominations it gets even more confusing), but then there’s the issue of courtesy. What is everyones’ take on it?

(My guess would be it is ok for addressing Eastern Orthodox clergy by their titles, seeing as they have valid sucession.)*

ecumethodist.

In my church (methodist) we address the pastor by his first name. He encourages that.

If you dont know his name then the generic Sir would be appropriate. Pastor is fine too. I think Rev is way too formal and holy roly. If you dont like him, call him Rev.

Rob
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submariner2 said:
ecumethodist.

In my church (methodist) we address the pastor by his first name. He encourages that.

If you dont know his name then the generic Sir would be appropriate. Pastor is fine too. I think Rev is way too formal and holy roly. If you dont like him, call him Rev.

Rob
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Even female clergy can be called Pastor. With most of them that I’ve met they think that’s okay. Or as in the case of televangelist Joyce Meyer people call her “Joyce”
 
ecumethodist said:
I am a recent convert into the Catholic Church (Deo Gratias!), and I was wondering how we address clergy from Protestant Denominations (any of the denoms is good to look at, but I was especially wondering about the Episcopal Church *). I know that they do not have valid apostolic sucession, and therefore do not have valid Holy Orders; so I figured it would be incorrect/(wrong?) to address a Protestant minister as “Father” or “Rev.” (and with the advent of female clergy in many of the Protestant denominations it gets even more confusing), but then there’s the issue of courtesy. What is everyones’ take on it?

(My guess would be it is ok for addressing Eastern Orthodox clergy by their titles, seeing as they have valid sucession.)*

I address them by the title they claim, the Anglican (don’t tell him that though, he insists he’s Catholic not in Communion with Rome!) Priest at my university I address as Father, the Methodist Minister by his first name (I addressed him as Pastor and Father on two separate occasions and he was quick to correct me), the Muslim Imam as Imam etc.

In charity we address all by their given title (e.g the Ecumenical Patriarch as ‘Your Holiness’), or how they request to be addressed.
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What if someone required that you address them as the Paraclete, like a modern day Montanus? or as apostle?
 
ecumethodist said:
I am a recent convert into the Catholic Church (Deo Gratias!), and I was wondering how we address clergy from Protestant Denominations (any of the denoms is good to look at, but I was especially wondering about the Episcopal Church *). I know that they do not have valid apostolic sucession, and therefore do not have valid Holy Orders; so I figured it would be incorrect/(wrong?) to address a Protestant minister as “Father” or “Rev.” (and with the advent of female clergy in many of the Protestant denominations it gets even more confusing), but then there’s the issue of courtesy. What is everyones’ take on it?

(My guess would be it is ok for addressing Eastern Orthodox clergy by their titles, seeing as they have valid sucession.)*

I use ‘sir’ in all cases.
Click to expand...
 
submariner2 said:
ecumethodist.

In my church (methodist) we address the pastor by his first name. He encourages that.

If you dont know his name then the generic Sir would be appropriate. Pastor is fine too. I think Rev is way too formal and holy roly. If you dont like him, call him Rev.

Rob
Click to expand...
Personally I grit my teeth, when a pastor wants to be called by their first name, it breeds disrespect. Everyone at my church always addresses his last name Pastor…
 
I have no problem addressing them as reverend or pastor but not Father. Call me conservative, but I cannot bring myself addressing a non-Catholic clergy as Father. It is not a matter of disrespect; it just a conscience thing and to say it would only make me uneasy. I would rather true to myself. It’s tricky, sure to be honest, and where does respect end and reality begins? I think reverend is quite close, after all our priests also do have the title reverend too.
 
Some protestant faiths will only refer to their preacher by his name. The same is true for their church leaders or deacons. The qualification for deacons in some of those churches is that they have some sort of skill to contribute, like lawn work, carpentry, etc. They never refer to other faith tradition titles. A Catholic priest would be Mr. So-and-So. The same would be true about a Catholic Bishop. The only exception would be if they hold a doctorate degree. Then it would be Dr. So-and-so. Other Protestant faith leaders are merely referred to by Mr. or Dr., but never Rev., Fr., Pastor, Deacon, etc.

It gets uncomfortable with certain people in some faiths. Rabii, Reverend (protestant only), Father, Deacon., Bishop, Mother, Sister, Brother, Mister, Miss, Mrs.
 
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