Would you pastors object to being called "brother" instead?

[Fresh Air]

I have no objection to being called Brother Tom or Brother Brennan. But I think Brother Pastor should about do the trick...

 

[praise_yeshua]

"Brother" isn't "southern"..... I'd thought you might have read it before somewhere...... but maybe you're missing the obvious. IT has nothing to do with Hyles or the South. Geesh.....

Of all the things blamed on the south....

I never heard it up north, unless I am around the Midwestern/Hyles group.

Yup. Nearly 54 years on this ball of dirt and have never found it to be commonly heard in Michigan. I know a few people who use the term but it is certainly not the norm. But when my daughter went to Arkansas for school all of the men (staff and students) were called brother whatever. Not what she was used to to say the least.

BTW why would it be an issue to point out? We don't say y'all here either but we don't give the south credit for contractions by saying y'all is a southern linguistic/cultural phrase.

Geesh.... It didn't come from the south. It came from the Scriptures. Whether you "yankees" want to follow it or not...... I has nothing to do with the south.

It originated from the Scriptures..... which is what Mater was referencing. You're all deflecting.

 

[T-Bone]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry...though some do call me Pastor.  I don't spend a whole lot of time worried about what someone calls me.  Although I don't like the term Reverend.

 

[praise_yeshua]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry

You must be from the "south".....  :

 

[T-Bone]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry

You must be from the "south".....  :

Well I am in Arizona...that's Southwest...does that count?

 

[subllibrm]

So far, all I see is "this is what we do."  Someone please answer the QUESTION.

Are you a pastor?  If so, would you object to instructing people to call you "brother" instead of "pastor", and would you object to having all references to "pastor" changed to "brother" (such as in bulletins, etc.)?

It's obvious why nobody wants to answer this question, but I was hoping at least one pastor would man up.

I cannot answer except by example/experience. Since "Jon" doesn't insist upon being called pastor (but will respond when someone calls him such) I doubt very much that he would be upset if someone called him brother Jon (even if it would make me want to sing a French song from grade school). And as I have said previously, he prefers Jon.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

Calling fellow believers brother or sister is, in my experience, a mostly southern cultural 'thing'.
Our Pastors are called 'brother first name' by many older people in our church. And there are a few older people who call us Pastor. Usually we are simply called by our first names.

 

[subllibrm]

"Brother" isn't "southern"..... I'd thought you might have read it before somewhere...... but maybe you're missing the obvious. IT has nothing to do with Hyles or the South. Geesh.....

Of all the things blamed on the south....

I never heard it up north, unless I am around the Midwestern/Hyles group.

Yup. Nearly 54 years on this ball of dirt and have never found it to be commonly heard in Michigan. I know a few people who use the term but it is certainly not the norm. But when my daughter went to Arkansas for school all of the men (staff and students) were called brother whatever. Not what she was used to to say the least.

BTW why would it be an issue to point out? We don't say y'all here either but we don't give the south credit for contractions by saying y'all is a southern linguistic/cultural phrase.

Geesh.... It didn't come from the south. It came from the Scriptures. Whether you "yankees" want to follow it or not...... I has nothing to do with the south.

It originated from the Scriptures..... which is what Mater was referencing. You're all deflecting.

Hey! It is "damned yankees" and don't you forget it.  8)

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

"Brother" isn't "southern"..... I'd thought you might have read it before somewhere...... but maybe you're missing the obvious. IT has nothing to do with Hyles or the South. Geesh.....

Of all the things blamed on the south....

I never heard it up north, unless I am around the Midwestern/Hyles group.

Yup. Nearly 54 years on this ball of dirt and have never found it to be commonly heard in Michigan. I know a few people who use the term but it is certainly not the norm. But when my daughter went to Arkansas for school all of the men (staff and students) were called brother whatever. Not what she was used to to say the least.

BTW why would it be an issue to point out? We don't say y'all here either but we don't give the south credit for contractions by saying y'all is a southern linguistic/cultural phrase.

Geesh.... It didn't come from the south. It came from the Scriptures. Whether you "yankees" want to follow it or not...... I has nothing to do with the south.

It originated from the Scriptures..... which is what Mater was referencing. You're all deflecting.

No, the concept didn't originate in the south, but the practice of doing so seems to be centered in the south. Nobody is arguing that point but you.
And NO, I have NO problem being addressed as Brother or by my given name, which is how our church family addresses me in the first place. But, down here, most churches follow the same practice.

 

[ALAYMAN]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry...though some do call me Pastor.  I don't spend a whole lot of time worried about what someone calls me.  Although I don't like the term Reverend.

And this answer aptly deals with the nature of the passage in the OP.  The humility that is required to be inherent to the function of shepherding would  mean that a haughty attitude, like one who demands to be called by a title, be avoided.

 

[subllibrm]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry...though some do call me Pastor.  I don't spend a whole lot of time worried about what someone calls me.  Although I don't like the term Reverend.

And this answer aptly deals with the nature of the passage in the OP.  The humility that is required to be inherent to the function of shepherding would  mean that a haughty attitude, like one who demands to be called by a title, be avoided.

But the MOG needs his ego stroked with a title of all powerful awesomeness! And how else will people know who is in charge and who to ask what color car to buy?  ;D

 

[ALAYMAN]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry...though some do call me Pastor.  I don't spend a whole lot of time worried about what someone calls me.  Although I don't like the term Reverend.

And this answer aptly deals with the nature of the passage in the OP.  The humility that is required to be inherent to the function of shepherding would  mean that a haughty attitude, like one who demands to be called by a title, be avoided.

But the MOG needs his ego stroked with a title of all powerful awesomeness! And how else will people know who is in charge and who to ask what color car to buy?  ;D

I see that tongue in cheek emoticon , but the humor in your post points to the truth that you also know, that a person who is such an authoritarian nimrod has either pride, ignorance, or control issues (all of which aren't in the pastoral qualifications of Titus and Timothy ).

 

[FSSL]

Geesh.... It didn't come from the south. It came from the Scriptures. Whether you "yankees" want to follow it or not...... I has nothing to do with the south.

If you are going to address me, then do so properly! I am to be called "Damn Yankee!"

It originated from the Scriptures..... which is what Mater was referencing. You're all deflecting.

Why  force a title of "brother" on everyone? Does Mater call his daddy, ABBA?

On a related note, I am not sure I like Abba's music or Queen's music better, but that is for another discussion!

 

[subllibrm]

I have been called Brother Tony for all 35 years of ministry...though some do call me Pastor.  I don't spend a whole lot of time worried about what someone calls me.  Although I don't like the term Reverend.

And this answer aptly deals with the nature of the passage in the OP.  The humility that is required to be inherent to the function of shepherding would  mean that a haughty attitude, like one who demands to be called by a title, be avoided.

But the MOG needs his ego stroked with a title of all powerful awesomeness! And how else will people know who is in charge and who to ask what color car to buy?  ;D

I see that tongue in cheek emoticon , but the humor in your post points to the truth that you also know, that a person who is such an authoritarian nimrod has either pride, ignorance, or control issues (all of which aren't in the pastoral qualifications of Titus and Timothy ).

Absolutely. It is also why those types of men keep themselves surrounded by poorly trained congregants that they can manipulate.

Much of the hue and cry about all of this comes from those who were duped by such a one.

 

[praise_yeshua]

"Brother" isn't "southern"..... I'd thought you might have read it before somewhere...... but maybe you're missing the obvious. IT has nothing to do with Hyles or the South. Geesh.....

Of all the things blamed on the south....

I never heard it up north, unless I am around the Midwestern/Hyles group.

Yup. Nearly 54 years on this ball of dirt and have never found it to be commonly heard in Michigan. I know a few people who use the term but it is certainly not the norm. But when my daughter went to Arkansas for school all of the men (staff and students) were called brother whatever. Not what she was used to to say the least.

BTW why would it be an issue to point out? We don't say y'all here either but we don't give the south credit for contractions by saying y'all is a southern linguistic/cultural phrase.

Geesh.... It didn't come from the south. It came from the Scriptures. Whether you "yankees" want to follow it or not...... I has nothing to do with the south.

It originated from the Scriptures..... which is what Mater was referencing. You're all deflecting.

No, the concept didn't originate in the south, but the practice of doing so seems to be centered in the south. Nobody is arguing that point but you.
And NO, I have NO problem being addressed as Brother or by my given name, which is how our church family addresses me in the first place. But, down here, most churches follow the same practice.

Except for all those people who live outside the "south" doing it.....

 

[praise_yeshua]

Geesh.... It didn't come from the south. It came from the Scriptures. Whether you "yankees" want to follow it or not...... I has nothing to do with the south.

If you are going to address me, then do so properly! I am to be called "Damn Yankee!"

It originated from the Scriptures..... which is what Mater was referencing. You're all deflecting.

Why  force a title of "brother" on everyone? Does Mater call his daddy, ABBA?

On a related note, I am not sure I like Abba's music or Queen's music better, but that is for another discussion!

I didn't see it as being forced. Its a matter of acceptance.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

It's funny how you guys are trying to make it out like YOUR church assembly refers to the "pastor" as "brother" instead.  Wow, you guys have the most unique assemblies!!

Google "church signs", "baptist church signs", or "church pastor signs" and look at the pictures.  Wherever you see a reference, it's always pastor, pastor, pastor.  It's "our pastor", "the pastor", or "pastor so-and-so".  Naturally, you see fewer references to "pastor" if you simply google "church signs", but wherever you DO see a reference, it's always "pastor". 

Google "baptist church bulletins".  Pastor, pastor, pastor, pastor, pastor. 

Google "church brother signs" and look at the pictures.  Not a single "our brother", etc., in reference to the "pastor".

 

[FSSL]

Except for all those people who live outside the "south" doing it.....

Blacks are known to call each other "brother."

It is all a cultural thing. It is not a biblical thing. If I lived in Jerusalem, then it would be a different thing.

 

[FSSL]

It's funny how you guys are trying to make it out like YOUR church assembly refers to the "pastor" as "brother" instead.  Wow, you guys have the most unique assemblies!!

Google "church signs", "baptist church signs", or "church pastor signs" and look at the pictures.  Wherever you see a reference, it's always pastor, pastor, pastor.  It's "our pastor", "the pastor", or "pastor so-and-so".  Naturally, you see fewer references to "pastor" if you simply google "church signs", but wherever you DO see a reference, it's always "pastor". 

Google "baptist church bulletins".  Pastor, pastor, pastor, pastor, pastor. 

Google "church brother signs" and look at the pictures.  Not a single "our brother", etc., in reference to the "pastor".

Why change the culture? It is a non-starter, biblically.

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

It's funny how you guys are trying to make it out like YOUR church assembly refers to the "pastor" as "brother" instead.  Wow, you guys have the most unique assemblies!!

Google "church signs", "baptist church signs", or "church pastor signs" and look at the pictures.  Wherever you see a reference, it's always pastor, pastor, pastor.  It's "our pastor", "the pastor", or "pastor so-and-so".  Naturally, you see fewer references to "pastor" if you simply google "church signs", but wherever you DO see a reference, it's always "pastor". 

Google "baptist church bulletins".  Pastor, pastor, pastor, pastor, pastor. 

Google "church brother signs" and look at the pictures.  Not a single "our brother", etc., in reference to the "pastor".

Unfortunately, our assembly is the only church for which I could answer your question in your OP.  Our church family refers to me and our other pastors by our first names as a rule. A few individuals call me brother, a couple of older people call me pastor. I answer to whatever I am called.

We use Pastor on the church sign or on our web site like the NT uses it....as a descriptive term.