Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So and So
 

I had a question, in the UPCI, is the titles Brother and Sister reserved only for the Pastor and his wife, or does everyone call one another Brother So and So and Sister So and So. I ask because whenever I introduce myself at church as Brother_____ the person always responds with just their first name. I guess I am just use to introducing myself as Brother ____ versus just my first name in a church setting. Your thoughts.....thanks...

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Uh, when I was UPC this was common but among my peer group and younger we stopped doing this. Personally, I would never introduce myself as "Brother ____" just as I wouldn't introduce myself as "Mr. _____". Times are changing and this is one tradition that won't be around for long.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I just call everyone "Bruce".

....or "Vern", as in "Ya know what I mean Vern?".

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I had this conversation a while back... turns out I am just disrespectful and rebellious since I don't use titles... if you aren't willing to be on a first name basis with me then I don't really see why I should waste any time in any given relationship... I will say Mr. or Mrs. to old people (especially strangers) just because I know they expect it, but that is about the only time I do so...

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I think the usage is phasing itself out for the most part, but it should still be used as a term of initial respect, unless the other person gives permission to use his/her first name.

I don't think it is mandatory, but since many Christians do see it as disrespect if you don't use brother or sister, then it is simply polite to use it. Much like calling a doctor "Dr. _____" unless he says, "You can call me ______."

I have seen instances where folks who were upset with a pastor or fellow Christian would deliberately call them by their first name OR would say "Mr. _____" showing they didn't view them as a brother or sister. No excuse for that, IMO.

Elders especially should be referred to in a respectful manner.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I find it presumptious when people do call me "brother"... so you can't win! :D

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

More likely, it's just that people don't want to offend you. :) Just say, "Call me 'Brad'" and set them at ease.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

It's an older tradition in the UPC to call most everyone "Brother ____".

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

It's also a tradition of your typical lodge. "I now yield the floor to Brother Kramden.)

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I prefer to be called by my first name only. I don't like to be called sister. That's just my personal preference.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I don't like to be called brother either, unless it is by my brother. I prefer Pastor John. Most people at church refer to me that way. Some just call me by my first name. I could care less what they call me. I'm not into titles. I know who I am. :D

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

:toofunny

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Friar John.:D

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Ha! That's a good one. Can't say I've been called that one, yet.



How 'bout Bro. MOW? :ursofunny

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

When people call me SISTER Margie, I know they mean that in a kind way. So I don't say anything. But what I want to say is, "I'm sorry, but do I look like a nun?"

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Most people call me Bro.Scott,even co-workers and people in town which is fine with me.
If people call me Scott I'm cool with that too.
Cause that is my name.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I use titles of brother/sister only for people that I think would expect it or for elders. I really don't like being called sister, especially out in public when I run into someone in a store. Around here, if you are called sister, people think you are a nun.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Outside of Pentecostalism, calling someone Sister So & So is looked upon as strange. I am just Sherri and I like it that way. Most everyone here calls my husband Pastor Eddie or just Pastor. Some just call him Eddie, but that's mostly new people.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

:ursofunny

I don't think I could do that.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I could not call my Pastor by his first name. And I do call elders in the church brother or sister. Just out of respect, and that is how I was raised. But most all just call me Cindy.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

WOW. Outside of Pentecostalism? Not so..........Seventh Day Adventist, Baptist and even Jehova Witness call one another Brother and Sister So and So. All my life thats all I have ever heard growing up in church. I am starting to think its a cultural thing because accross all black denominational circles, Brother and Sister is what we call one another............

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I reserve Bro and Sis for ministerial staff and the older saints in our church. Everyone else we ate on a first name basis with. I always introduce myself by my name. One if my pet peeves is when minister spouses refer to their spouse as Bro so n so.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I've always wondered at the proclivity of ministers to refer to each other by their initials, i.e. N.A.Urshan, or T.F. Tenney, and that sort of thing. What's up w/that?

I realize that in academia this is done to remove sex from a person's name to avoid gender bias, thus A.M. Johnson could be a man or woman. But why do preachers do it? I've always thought that was a little pompous.

I refer to elders as Bro. So-and-so, but not peers when I'm around UPC folk. In my evangelical circles it's first name basis only, even w/pastors about half the time. Sometimes it's Pastor Mark, others times it's just Mark. So far I haven't run into a pastor that cared either way.

But I do remember when I was UPC that I'd get a little offended (very slightly) when someone would refer to my pastor by his first name, especially from the pulpit. It was usually his Bible school buddies and such that did that. I'd always have to remind myself that I was stupid for not liking it because it's just tradition. But it sounded strange at the time. Which could be a topic of discussion cuz I wonder if doing so somehow impersonalizes that person and makes them less 'normal' than us.

Funny thing, it's been awhile since I was refered to as "Pastor Pomo". So when somebody called me that the other night it sounded kinda weird to me. When somebody calls me "Bro. Pomo" I look behind me to see if my Dad is in the room cuz it feels really weird to be called that now. It's REALLY weird when I'm in conversation w/my Mom and she'll refer to my Dad as "Bro. Pomo" or "Pastor". She does it w/out thinking and then she'll catch herself and apologize and say "You know, DAD!". :)

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I never could get used to the brother/sister thing. To me, it was just a way of excluding or including people. I did do it when I was in the UPC, but I never liked it. My husband and I just recently started calling people we used to know in the UPC by their first names when we talk to each other. Well....that's who they ARE!!

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

No one at the Baptist church I attend sometime say Brother and/or Sister. They don't even call the pastor "pastor". They call him his first name Michael and that's it.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I am most sure that was NOT a black church............its almost appeared rude to call a black pastor of any denomination by his first name...trust me on that........again, I think its a cultural thing.....

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I really seriously think my pastor's wife would do a double, even triple take, if I ever called her Sister D. lol I *do* however, refer to her as Miss D to my children.

I rarely call my pastor, pastor. I call him by his first name most of the time. But, he's my friend, my mentor, my teacher, and becoming more and more my adopted dad as time goes on.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

IN the circles that I travel in it is Brother or Sister so and so. The pastor and his wife are always referred to by brother or sister last name, no first names here, very, very, very disrespectful.

If I am introducing myself to someone new and it has to do with the church I introduce myself as brother or pastor last name. If is is personal business I introduce myself as Mr. last name.

My first name is for family and close friends. And even they don't use my first name at church or in front of church people. My wife call me Brother last name in front of church people and I call her sister last name in front of them.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

We sometimes use the Brother Sister designation, & we sometimes use the first name-only with peers.

I would never call my Pastor, another Minister, or an Elder by his/her first name.

I guess I am old fashioned!

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

This is true I have a cousin who is a Baptist preacher and they still use brother and sister.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

LOL!! Well there ya go! :toofunny

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I believe the name brother and sister derived from the scripture wherein Ananias calls Saul, "Brother Saul" in Acts 9:17.

We used to live in a society in which we addressed adults as Mr. and Mrs., transferring that to Brother and Sister in the church.

Now, that we have become a much more lax society, in manner and dress, we are addressing each other by first name. I still respect the elderly as Brother or Sister because, in the church, it sounds weird to call them Mr. or Mrs.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Every Apostolic church I've attended does this, not just UPCI.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I have always found that quite amusing when people do that.

You should see my pastors wife when the pastor comments from the pulpit "*insert wife's first name here* asked me to marry her X years ago and I know she's so happy I accepted her proposal--she got herself a hunk of a man. "

I don't know if I've ever heard them refer to each other by anything other than their first names unless they were saying something to one of the small children about the other one. Train up a child to respect the pastor & his wife... I don't have a problem with that. Of course almost everyone else refers to them as Pastor & Sis P...

People call me Sis *insert last name* -- and I correct them in a hurry... requesting to be called by my first name only!

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

You and your pastor are OBVIOUSLY backslidden Charismatics!!!!!!!:ursofunny

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I agree...

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

Notice new testament accounts have first names spoken, not last.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I agree Tina!

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

We had an evangelist one time that was telling a story about he and his wife talking and he said, "....and I turned to my wife in bed and said, Sister So & So......."

We still laugh about that, because in reality, he probably did actually call her "sister" in bed.

Re: Title Usage In The UPC: Brother & Sister So an
 

I would have kicked him out of bed - :ursofunny