Christianity: Details about 'The Reverend'
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The Reverend is an honorary prefix to the names of many Christian clergy and ministers. It is correctly called a style rather than a title or term of address. "The Reverend" is sometimes also used by leaders in non-Christian religions such as Buddhism. It is considered incorrect to drop the word "the" before "Reverend". When used within a sentence, "the" begins with a lower-case letter. The common abreviations for "the Reverend" are "the Revd" and "the Rev.", although "the Rev'd" is also sometimes found. Although there is no distinct plural form, it is not uncommon to find "the Reverends" incorrectly used. (Adjectives cannot generally be pluralized in English.) When a number of clergy must be referred to, they should be styled individually, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith and the Reverend Mary Brown". "The Reverend" is traditionally used with Christian names (or initials) and surname, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith" or "The Reverend J. F. Smith". Use of the prefix with the surname alone ("The Reverend Smith") is considered a solecism in traditional circles (although "The Reverend Father Smith" or "The Reverend Mr Smith" are correct though somewhat archaic uses). So also with the use of the prefix as a form of address: traditionally priests are referred to as either "Father John" (using the Christian name) or "Mr Smith" (using the surname) unless they have another title, such as Canon, in which case they may be called, for example, "Canon John". Clergy are also often addressed by the office they hold, such as "Vicar", "Rector", or "Archdeacon", or as "Father" or "Padre"; in most Protestant circles, this would be most properly "Pastor" (as in "Pastor John" or "Pastor Smith"). Clergy may be addressed "Reverend Sir" but not "Reverend" alone. Note that in all these examples "reverend" is used as an adjective before someone's name in much the same way that "honorable" (as used for public officials) is. As it is not a noun it is not a synonym for an ordained person. Thus, in traditional usage it is incorrect to say that someone is "a reverend" by using the word as the name of a job or role. In the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries, despite the protests of the traditional, it is very common to find clergy referred to as "Reverend John Smith" (without "the") and/or addressed as "Reverend Smith". Some contend that these are now acceptable due to common use. Others continue to maintain that they are both incorrect. Specific casesAnglican usage is for priests and deacons to be styled "the Reverend", deans "the Very Reverend" ("the Very Revd"), abbots and bishops "the Right Reverend" ("the Rt Revd"), and archbishops "the Most Reverend" ("the Most Revd"). Archdeacons, on the other hand, have the prefix "the Venerable". In Roman Catholic usage a deacon is "the Reverend Mr.", a priest is "the Reverend", various prelates below bishop along with chaplains of His Holiness are "the Reverend Monsignor". Bishops are styled "the Most Reverend" (though in some other countries Roman Catholic bishops are "the Right Reverend" and only archbishops "the Most Reverend"). However, none of these are ever addressed as "reverend" alone. Instead, priests are addressed as "Father", prelates as "Monsignor", and bishops as "Your Excellency". In American Lutheran usage, clergy persons are most typically addressed as "Pastor" (such as "Pastor Smith" in more formal address or "Pastor John" in less formal) rather than employing "reverend"; however, "the Reverend" is also commonly used, particularly in written communication. In other Protestant traditions, "Pastor" and "Reverend" are variously used, with much regional and denominational variation. The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University is formally known as "The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor" even if he is not a clergyman. Some Christians reject using the term "reverend" for human beings, maintaining that it should be reserved for God alone. (See Psalm 111:9 and Matthew 23:5–10.) Dominee
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