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

[ecumethodist]

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 had a fairly clean break with the Episcopal Church when it happened, so I am still friends with many of the people from there]). 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.)

[Nine_Two]

From what I've seen, the norm is to address them by whatever title they use.

[JonNC]

Originally Posted by ecumethodist

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 had a fairly clean break with the Episcopal Church when it happened, so I am still friends with many of the people from there]). 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 ().

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

[tabycat]

Welcome Home!

[JonNC]

Originally Posted by Nine_Two

From what I've seen, the norm is to address them by whatever title they use.

What title is typically used to address Orthodox priests, Nine?

Jon

[tabycat]

Originally Posted by Nine_Two

From what I've seen, the norm is to address them by whatever title they use.

I agree.

[JharekCarnelian]

http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx

[JonNC]

Originally Posted by JharekCarnelian

http://orthodoxinfo.com/praxis/clergy_etiquette.aspx

Thanks Jharek.

Jon

[rfournier103]

Originally Posted by JonNC

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 ().

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

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.

[JharekCarnelian]

Originally Posted by JonNC

Thanks Jharek.

Jon

I tend to refer to clergy and ministers from other Churches by the title they prefer for courtesy. In the Ireland of my father's era when growing up it was common for Catholic to refer to Protestant clergy as Mr. to show respect but also establish a difference between Catholic and Protestant clergy and ministers.

[JonNC]

Originally Posted by JharekCarnelian

I tend to refer to clergy and ministers from other Churches by the title they prefer for courtesy. In the Ireland of my father's era when growing up it was common for Catholic to refer to Protestant clergy as Mr. to show respect but also establish a difference between Catholic and Protestant clergy and ministers.

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

[Roy5]

Different Protestant traditions have different traditions - and they may vary within denominations, from congregation to congregation.

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.

[SaintPatrick333]

Originally Posted by rfournier103

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 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

[JharekCarnelian]

Originally Posted by SaintPatrick333

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

When you refer to her uncle whom you are referencing?

[LegoGE1947]

Originally Posted by JharekCarnelian

When you refer to her uncle whom you are referencing?

My protestant history the clergy were referred to as "Pastor So-and-so" or "Brother Whatever" example "Pastor Chuck" or " Brother Jones"