Mister/Rev./Fr./Pastor (Was!: Re: New Lang: Igassik0

Nik Taylor wrote:
-->> I find this thread quite intriguing.  I never realized such variation
>> existed just within the English-speaking world, or even just within the
>> US, as some of the posts have related to other regions of the US.
>>
>> For me, addressing a pastor by his/her first name just seems
>> disrespectful, *especially* if it's in a church environment.
>
><aargh!> <shock!> That's just *absurd* to me! :-)>
        It may not even be regional, but personal.  (Maybe denominational as
well)
My experience is limited to RC and Episcopalian clergy, all of whom I would
call Father LastName, unless they were close personal friends, in which case
it would be FirstName, maybe Fr. Firstname when talking about them.
Reverend would cover everyone else, including those Episcopalians who don't
like "Father".  Pastor, for some reason, I associate with Lutherans.
Obviously in a social setting, if someone in civilian clothes is introduced
as John Smith, I"ll call him John; if in clerical garb, I'll say Father, and
let him correct me if necessary.
    Here in TinyTown, the local Episc. priest is referred to as Fr.
Firstname-- but that's often said with an inward smirk, because many find
him pompous ass.