This is something I've been mulling over recently, and the preaching of Bill Darlison (might take a while to load, but worth listening to, as always) has prompted me to say it out loud.
Bill says, 'Clergy titles are wonderfully ironic in the light of Christ's teaching.... this is all ballony!... Even Unitarians are not free from it. Why do we covert the title Reverend? We really should have nothing to do with this stuff.'
I've got to say I agree with him. Titles are awkward things for all of us I think. Are women Miss, Ms, Mrs - why do they have to be anything? Why does it matter to anyone what anyone's marital status is? Is there actually any function to any title, other than for people to think that they are better than others?
But in the religious life especially I am suspicious of titles. I'm increasingly Anabaptist these days and think that the testimony of equality is deeply important. That's not to say that there isn't a place for leadership. But leaders are not inherently more holy than others, and the title Reverend for me suggests they are. I think one of the fruits of a genuine spirituality is humility.
One of the greatest temptations on the spiritual path is pride in spiritual achievement. That's why Jesus spoke about it so much. It's very easy to get big headed as a preacher. I'm very guilty of that myself. I don't need any more encouragement, I don't need to be called reverend by anyone. That's spiritual unhealthy for those called reverend and those who aren't. Calling someone Reverend gives away too much of your sacred worth, being called Reverend gives you the thought that you are worth more than others. Both deny a sense of equality, a sense of inherent worth, divine incarnation in all of us.
I'm not actually sure I'm allowed to not be a Reverend as a minister, and I honestly haven't spoke about it to many people. Mainly because its difficult to say without sounding like you're insulting other ministers. But I think I'm going to try. I don't want to be reverenced. Reverence yourself.
Here's a bit more history and theology about this if you want.
Bill says, 'Clergy titles are wonderfully ironic in the light of Christ's teaching.... this is all ballony!... Even Unitarians are not free from it. Why do we covert the title Reverend? We really should have nothing to do with this stuff.'
I've got to say I agree with him. Titles are awkward things for all of us I think. Are women Miss, Ms, Mrs - why do they have to be anything? Why does it matter to anyone what anyone's marital status is? Is there actually any function to any title, other than for people to think that they are better than others?
But in the religious life especially I am suspicious of titles. I'm increasingly Anabaptist these days and think that the testimony of equality is deeply important. That's not to say that there isn't a place for leadership. But leaders are not inherently more holy than others, and the title Reverend for me suggests they are. I think one of the fruits of a genuine spirituality is humility.
One of the greatest temptations on the spiritual path is pride in spiritual achievement. That's why Jesus spoke about it so much. It's very easy to get big headed as a preacher. I'm very guilty of that myself. I don't need any more encouragement, I don't need to be called reverend by anyone. That's spiritual unhealthy for those called reverend and those who aren't. Calling someone Reverend gives away too much of your sacred worth, being called Reverend gives you the thought that you are worth more than others. Both deny a sense of equality, a sense of inherent worth, divine incarnation in all of us.
I'm not actually sure I'm allowed to not be a Reverend as a minister, and I honestly haven't spoke about it to many people. Mainly because its difficult to say without sounding like you're insulting other ministers. But I think I'm going to try. I don't want to be reverenced. Reverence yourself.
Here's a bit more history and theology about this if you want.
Comments
Nothin' to do and no where to go-o-oh I don't wanna be reverenced
Just get me to the church put me in a pew
Hurry hurry hurry before I blow a fU*Use
I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain
Oh no no no no no
Forty-forty-forty eight hours to go I don't wanna be reverenced
Just put me in a walker, get me in a pew
Hurry hurry hurry because I'm a U*U
I can't control my fingers I can't control my brain
Oh no no no no no
Forty-forty-forty eight hours to go I don't wanna be reverenced
Nothin' to do and no where to go-o-o I don't wanna be reverenced
Just put me in a wheelchair get me to the show
Hurry hurry hurry before I go loco
I can't control my fingers I can't control my toes
Oh no no no no no
Forty-forty-forty eight hours to go
Just put me in a wheelchair...
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba
I don't wanna be reverenced
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba
I don't wanna be reverenced
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba
I don't wanna be reverenced
Ba-ba-bamp-ba ba-ba-ba-bamp-ba
I don't wanna be reverenced
The church notice board or newsletter or order of service or The Inquirer or whatever can just describe you as 'Stephen Lingwood'. You don't need to publicise your degrees or theological diplomas either.