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

[Brad Murphy]

I think some people get so into their persona's that they really think of themselves that way...

[OneAccord]

Family of God
Words and Music by William J. Gaither
© 1970



Chorus
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

You will notice we say "brother and sister" 'round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.


Chorus
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but PRAISE GOD! I belong!


Chorus
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God

My brother is my brother so I call him Brother. My sister is my sister, so I call her Sister.

[jaxfam6]

Brother & Sister So and So


I met Bro and Sis So and So a while back. They were at one of those thingamajigs. Yeah, they were having a whatchamacallit over at the domahickie.

Really nice people they were

[tamor]

Originally Posted by Tina

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 can see him saying that!! And I can imagine her expression when he does!!

[Sweet Pea]

Originally Posted by jaxfam6

Brother & Sister So and So


I met Bro and Sis So and So a while back. They were at one of those thingamajigs. Yeah, they were having a whatchamacallit over at the domahickie.

Really nice people they were

I have never heard anyone but my family use that term.... and I know we are not related. Have gotten some very funny looks when I used it.

In answer to the OP's question.... I am just plain old (insert first name here). Brother & Sister is a matter of respect for my elders and ministry. Pastor is "Pastor Last Name".

[mfblume]

My wife once commented that while she worked in a retail store she was feeling odd about saints coming in and calling her "Sister". The others working there thought it sounded like she was a nun.

[My Own Eyes]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

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.

I have run into this problem in trying to figure out how to address my ex-pastors, when basically every form of address seems inappropriate.

For example purposes, lets say my Ex-Pastor's name is John Doe.

I can't call him Pastor Doe, because the title is inaccurate, he is not my pastor.

It seems too formal to call him Mr. Doe, and the fact that he is actually a year younger than I, and it's not a common address in my generation.

However, I don't feel comfortable calling him John. It seems too informal, and a bit in your face, like "you are not my pastor and I will not refer to you as such! mwahahaha"

I have never been one for the whole brothering and sistering thing, so that leaves out Bro. John or Bro. Doe.

So I am reduced to one alternative, in that I simply refer to him as "Doe". and will often refer to my old church as "Doe's Church". (This is usually only when conversing with close friends or family.)

On the few occurances when I run into him, or a member of his church, I try my best to avoid using any address at all.


I suppose it seems like a stupid thing to think about. But the stubborn part of me won't allow me to address someone with the title "Pastor" when he is not my pastor, but the polite part of me won't allow me to address him in anyway that could be construed as disrespectful.

[tamor]

Originally Posted by My Own Eyes

I have run into this problem in trying to figure out how to address my ex-pastors, when basically every form of address seems inappropriate.

For example purposes, lets say my Ex-Pastor's name is John Doe.

I can't call him Pastor Doe, because the title is inaccurate, he is not my pastor.

It seems too formal to call him Mr. Doe, and the fact that he is actually a year younger than I, and it's not a common address in my generation.

However, I don't feel comfortable calling him John. It seems too informal, and a bit in your face, like "you are not my pastor and I will not refer to you as such! mwahahaha"

I have never been one for the whole brothering and sistering thing, so that leaves out Bro. John or Bro. Doe.

So I am reduced to one alternative, in that I simply refer to him as "Doe". and will often refer to my old church as "Doe's Church". (This is usually only when conversing with close friends or family.)

On the few occurances when I run into him, or a member of his church, I try my best to avoid using any address at all.


I suppose it seems like a stupid thing to think about. But the stubborn part of me won't allow me to address someone with the title "Pastor" when he is not my pastor, but the polite part of me won't allow me to address him in anyway that could be construed as disrespectful.

I understand what you're saying but he is A pastor even if he's not yours. How would you address a doctor that you don't go to? You would still say Dr Doe, wouldn't you?

[My Own Eyes]

Originally Posted by tamor

I understand what you're saying but he is A pastor even if he's not yours. How would you address a doctor that you don't go to? You would still say Dr Doe, wouldn't you?

I wasn't in church but 7 or 8 years, and the majority of it was in the north. And where I lived, we never referred to the Pastors of other churches as Pastor. They were usually referred to as Brother.

As in, "my pastor is Pastor Doe, but Ruth attends Brother Smith's Church"

So the term pastor to me was always a title given by you to the other, implying that you agreed to put yourself under their authority. And so to willingly call someone pastor implies (to myself) that I am recognizing them as a spiritual authority over me. I never really realized that before.

Wow, this is like therapy

[tamor]

Originally Posted by My Own Eyes

I wasn't in church but 7 or 8 years, and the majority of it was in the north. And where I lived, we never referred to the Pastors of other churches as Pastor. They were usually referred to as Brother.

As in, "my pastor is Pastor Doe, but Ruth attends Brother Smith's Church"

So the term pastor to me was always a title given by you to the other, implying that you agreed to put yourself under their authority. And so to willingly call someone pastor implies (to myself) that I am recognizing them as a spiritual authority over me. I never really realized that before.

Wow, this is like therapy

I'll PM ya my address for you to send your check to!