CHURCH TITLES

Writing of clergymen, follow this style: the Rev. Dr. John J. Blank, Dr. Blank, the Rev. Mr. Blank. Never Rev. Blank or the Rev. Blank.

Bishops of the Catholic, Anglican or Episcopal communions use the prefix Right Reverend, abbreviated Rt. Rev.

Bishops of the Methodist church NEVER use the prefix Rt. Rev. They make no claim to apostolic succession. The usage of Methodism is to write, for example, "Bishop Theodore Somers Henderson, of the Methodist Episcopal area of Detroit."

In the Methodist church an episcopal division is denominated, Area; in the Catholic and Anglican communions, Diocese.

Deans of the Catholic and Anglican churches use the prefix Very Rev.

Under no circumstances call priests of the Roman Catholic church ministers. Call them either priests or pastors.

The denominational usage in the Methodist church is to call clergymen preachers. In the Congregational and Presbyterian churches it is in accord with denominational usage to call clergymen ministers.

Archbishops of the Catholic church carry the prefix Most Rev.; cardinals, His Eminence; as, His Eminence, James, Cardinal Gibbons.

Invariably the word Rabbi should be placed before the name of a Jewish pastor. It should be written, Rabbi Leo M. Franklin, of the Temple Beth El; never Dr. Leo M. Franklin, rabbi of the Temple Beth El.

Never use indiscriminately the prefix Dr. in the case of a clergyman. Clergymen of any denomination are not entitled to the prefix Dr. unless the degree of Doctor of Divinity has been conferred on them by some recognized college or university.

Write a priest's name, the Rev. Fr. Blank, or Fr. Blank.