The Reverend

The Reverend is an honorary prefix to the names of many Christian clergy and ministers. It is correctly called a style rather than a title or term of address. "The Reverend" is sometimes also used by leaders in non-Christian religions such as Buddhism.

It is considered incorrect to drop the word "the" before "Reverend". When used within a sentence "the" begins with a lower-case letter. The common abbreviations for "the Reverend" are "the Revd", "the Rev" and "the Rev'd".

Although there is no distinct plural form it is not uncommon to find "the Reverends" incorrectly used. (Adjectives cannot generally be pluralised in English.) When a number of clergy are referred to they should be styled individually, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith and the Reverend Mary Brown". In a list of clergy, however, there is sometimes the custom of putting "the Revv." before the list of names.

"The Reverend" is traditionally used with Christian names (or initials) and surname, e.g. "The Reverend John Smith" or "The Reverend J. F. Smith". Use of the prefix with the surname alone ("The Reverend Smith") is considered a solecism in traditional circles (although "The Reverend Father Smith" or "The Reverend Mister Smith" are correct though somewhat archaic uses). So also with the use of the prefix as a form of address: traditionally Anglican priests are addressed as either "Father John" (using the Christian name) or "Mr Smith" (using the surname) unless they have another title, such as Canon, in which case they may be called, for example, "Canon John" (Orthodox and Roman Catholic priests are usually addressed as "Father," whether as "Father John," or "Father Smith"). Clergy are also often addressed by the office they hold, such as "Vicar", "Rector", or "Archdeacon", or as "Padre".

In many Protestant churches, especially in the United States, ordained ministers are often addressed as "Pastor" (as in "Pastor John" or "Pastor Smith").

Note that in all these examples "reverend" is used as an adjective before someone's name in much the same way that "honourable" (as used for public officials) is. As it is not a noun it is not a synonym for an ordained person. Thus, in traditional usage it is incorrect to say that someone is "a reverend" by using the word as the name of a job or role.

In the United States in the 20th and 21st centuries, despite the protests of the traditional, it is very common to find clergy referred to as "Reverend John Smith" (without "the") and / or addressed as "Reverend Smith". Some contend that these are now acceptable due to common use. Others continue to maintain that such useage is incorrect.

Specific cases

Anglican usage is for priests and deacons to be styled "the Reverend" or "the Reverend Father", deans "the Very Reverend" ("the Very Revd"), abbots and bishops "the Right Reverend" ("the Rt Revd"), and archbishops and primates "the Most Reverend" ("the Most Revd"). Archdeacons are commonly styled as "the Venerable" which is abbreviated as "the Ven".

In Roman Catholic usage a transitional deacon is "the Reverend Mister" (permanent deacons are not so called), a priest is "the Reverend Father", priests with various grades of jurisdiction above pastor (vicars general, provincials of religious orders of priests, priors of monasteries, for instance) are "the Very Reverend," abbots of monasteries are "the Right Reverend" and the various monsignors are "the Reverend Monsignor". Bishops and archbishops are styled "the Most Reverend" in the United States. In some other countries bishops are styled "the Right Reverend" and archbishops "the Most Reverend". However, none of these are ever addressed as "Reverend" or "the Reverend" alone. Instead, deacons are addressed as "Deacon," priests are addressed as "Father", prelates as "Monsignor", and bishops and archbishops as "Your Excellency" (or "Your Grace" for archbishops in the United Kingdom and some other countries).

In American Lutheran usage clergy are most typically addressed as "Pastor" (such as "Pastor Smith" in more formal address or "Pastor John" in less formal) rather than using "Reverend"; however, "the Reverend" is also commonly used, particularly in written communication. In other Protestant traditions "Pastor" and "the Reverend" are variously used, with much regional and denominational variation.

In Eastern Orthodox usage a deacon is referred to as "the Reverend Deacon", or whatever his position is (eg Hierodeacon, Archdeacon, Protodeacon), in spoken use the title "Father Deacon" is used; a married priest is "the Reverend Father", a monastic priest is "the Reverend Hieromonk"; a protopresbyter is "the Very Reverend Father"; and an archimandrite is either "the Very Reverend Father" (Greek practice) or "the Right Reverend Father" (Slavic practice). Abbots and abbesses are styled "the Very Reverend Abbot / Abbess". A bishop is referred to as "the Right Reverend Bishop"; an archbishop or metropolitan as "the Most Reverend Archbishop / Metropolitan"; heads of churches are styled differently.

The Moderators of the Protestant Church of Scotland and United Church of Canada, when ordained clergy, are styled "the Right Reverend" during service and "the Very Reverend" after retirement. Church ministers are styled "the Reverend".

The Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University is formally known as "The Reverend the Vice-Chancellor" even if he is not a clergyman.

Some Christians reject using the term "reverend" for human beings, maintaining that it should be reserved for God alone. (See Psalm 111:9 and Matthew 23:5–10.)