Reverend
The term Reverend is used as an honorary prefix to the names of many Christian clergy and ministers.
The prefix is correctly called a style rather than a title or form of address. It is sometimes also used by leaders in non-Christian religions such as Buddhism.
Usage in common speech
In traditional English usage 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 abbreviations for "the Reverend" are "the Revd", "the Rev." and "the Rev'd".
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 are referred to they should be styled individually, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith and the Reverend Hank Brown". In a list of clergy, however, "the Revv." is sometimes put before the list of names.
"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 old-fashioned uses). So also with the use of the prefix as a form of address: in some countries Anglican priests are often addressed by the title of their office, such as "Vicar", "Rector" or "Archdeacon". They may also be addressed simply as "Mr Smith". In many Protestant churches, especially in the United States, ordained ministers are often addressed as "Pastor" (as in "Pastor John" or "Pastor Smith"). Some titles, such as Canon, may be used together with the Christian name or both names, for example, "Canon John" or "Canon John Smith". Orthodox and Roman Catholic priests are usually addressed as "Father", whether as "Father John" or "Father Smith". This latter practice has been introduced into the Anglican Church since the Oxford Movement began; naturally the appellation does not apply to women clergy. Some female clergy in the Anglican Communion use and prefer the style "Reverend Mother" or "Mother."
Note that in all these examples "reverend" is used as an adjective before someone's name in much the same way that "honourable" is (in reference to public officials, particularly judges). As the word 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 20th and 21st centuries, despite the protests of the traditionalists, it is increasingly common to find clergy referred to as, for example, "Reverend John Smith" (without "the" preceding "reverend") and / or addressed as "Reverend Smith", particularly in the United States.
Ecclesiastical status
The term "Reverend" may be modified to reflect ecclesiastical standing and rank. Modifications vary across Christian denominations. Thus:
Anglican Churches
- Priests styled "the Reverend" or "the Reverend Father" or "the Reverend Mother" (even if not a religious)
- Deacons: "the Reverend" or "the Reverend Mr" or "the Reverend Miss / Mrs" or "the Reverend Deacon"
- Heads of women's religious orders: "the Reverend Mother" (even if not ordained)
- Deans: styled "the Very Reverend" ("the Very Revd")
- Archdeacons: styled as "the Venerable" ("the Ven.")
- Abbesses, abbots, and bishops: styled "the Right Reverend" ("the Rt Revd" or "the Rt. Rev.")
- Archbishops and primates: styled "the Most Reverend" ("the Most Revd" or "the Most Rev.")
Catholic Churches
- A transitional deacon: "the good Reverend Mister" (permanent deacons may also be so called)
- Priests: "the Reverend Father"
- Priests with various grades of jurisdiction above pastor (vicars general, provincials of religious orders of priests, priors of monasteries, deans, episcopal vicars for instance) are "the Very Reverend"
- Abbots of monasteries are "the Right Reverend"
- Monsignors are "the Reverend Monsignor"
- Bishops and archbishops are styled "the Most Reverend" in the United States and Ireland. In Great Britain and some countries of the Commonwealth, bishops are styled "the Right Reverend" and archbishops are styled "the Most Reverend".
However, none of these are ever addressed as "Reverend" or "the Reverend" alone. Instead, deacons are addressed as "Deacon"; priests are addressed as "Father"; prelates as "Monsignor"; bishops and archbishops as "Your Excellency" (or "Your Grace" for archbishops in the United Kingdom and some other countries).
American Lutheran Churches
- "Pastor" (such as "Pastor Smith" in more formal address or "Pastor John" in less formal) rather than using "Reverend"; however, "the Reverend" is also commonly used, particularly in written communication. In other Protestant traditions "Pastor" and "the Reverend" are variously used, with much regional and denominational variation.
Eastern Orthodox Churches
- A deacon is referred to as "the Reverend Deacon", or whatever his position is (e.g., Hierodeacon, Archdeacon, Protodeacon), in spoken use the title "Father Deacon" is used; a married priest is "the Reverend Father", a monastic priest is "the Reverend Hieromonk"; a protopresbyter is "the Very Reverend Father"; and an archimandrite is either "the Very Reverend Father" (UK practice) or "the Right Reverend Father" (American practice). Abbots and abbesses are styled "the Very Reverend Abbot / Abbess". A bishop is referred to as "the Right Reverend Bishop"; an archbishop or metropolitan as "the Most Reverend Archbishop / Metropolitan"; heads of churches are styled differently.
Presbyterian Churches
The Moderators of the General Assemblies of the Church of Scotland, the Presbyterian Church in
Ireland and
Oxford University
The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University is formally known as "The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor" even if he or she is not a member of the clergy.
Judaism
Most Jewish ministers of religion have the title rabbi, which denotes that they have received semicha. However, it is not essential to be a rabbi to practise as a Jewish minister. In particular, few chazzanim, or cantors, are rabbis, but many are empowered to perform such functions as witness marriages. In this case, they often use the title Reverend or Rev.
Theological controversy
Some Christians, particularly members of the Churches of Christ and some Baptist groups, reject using the term "reverend" for human beings, maintaining that it should be reserved for God alone. (See Matthew 23:5–10.) The word "reverend" is used only once in most translations of the Bible, in Psalm 111 verse 9: “[God] sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant forever: holy and reverend is his name.” [italics added] Churches of Christ typically refer to their preachers as "ministers" or "evangelists" and some Baptists use the term "Minister" or "Pastor". Some Christians object to the use of "Father" as a form of address by Catholic and Episcopal priests, and to the use of "Rabbi" by Jewish religious leaders, citing Jesus' teaching (Matthew 23:8,9).
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