Letters to the Editor

Dear Editor,

Several years ago the East Tennessee Episcopalian started calling all male clergy "Father." I wasn't charmed with the Anglo-Catholic sound of it, and thought the female clergy were slighted by having no set title for themselves. Now the paper has started calling the female clergy "Mother." Do the clergy like Mother and Father? I don't. I have a mother and father and I don't desire the clergy to take their places.

Sincerely,
Bonny Stanley

Dear Editor,

For some time I have been composing this letter and do so in a spirit of love and affection for your. You fulfill your job as editor of The East Tennessee Episcopalian in a very good way. I thank you for it.

There is one thing that grates on my nerves and it is the misuse of the word "reverend" when referring to clergy in the Episcopal Church. Also there is often a grammatical error in the diocesan newspaper, including the last edition. I even read it in articles that have been submitted from others. I quote from The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage, p.287.

"Rev. The Rev. Lee A. Bildots. For most Protestants the later reference is Mr., Mrs. Or Miss. For Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians and those Episcopalians who prefer it, use Father in later references: Father Bildots. Lutheran ministers, in later reference, are normally called Pastor: Pastor Bildots. (For an exception, see PASTOR.) Never use the Rev., (or just Reverend) with a surname alone, as in Reverend Bildots is coming to dinner. Do not omit the in front of Rev., except in a headline. And whenever Rev. is used, even in a headline, it must be followed by a given name or initials: Rev. Lee A. Bildots." (Emphasis in bold print is mine.)

Obviously, I do have a passion about this, and when I see it in our diocesan newspaper, let alone the many others I receive, I am disheartened. There is absolutely no excuse for any ordained minister in our church to be called "Reverend Smith." Dr., Mr., Mrs, Ms., Miss, Father, Mother or Deacon would be better. I think you get my gist.

Thanks for letting me vent my strong feelings about this matter.

Yours Faithfully,
+Bob (The Rt. Rev. Robert G. Tharp, Retired)

Dear Editor,

I would also like to call into question a part of the front-page article in the current issue. Your paper states that "the next date for Tennessee is not for a few years." In fact, the National Cathedral pays tribute to each state ANNUALLY, a long-standing tradition. The large-scale celebrations are a rather new thing. The National Cathedral does only a handful each year on a rotating basis, so it's a decade or more wait between large-scale celebrations. However, the annual "State Days" still go on. The next Tennessee Day is coming up on October 27. And we're taking a large group (approx. 50 singers and another 50-60 parishioners) up to sing the Choral Prelude for the main service. We have even commissioned a new choral work for the occasion.

I also note that the one time this fact made it into your paper (the November issue), it was reported in past-tense, implying that we had already gone (though the dates were indicated as 2002). I had a fun time answering questions about that one--I didn't know that we could travel through time also.

I realize how hard a job it is to edit and keep mistakes out of any publication, but please redouble your efforts-- it's a reflection upon all of us!

Paul Cunningham, Parish Musician
All Saints' Church
Morristown, TN

Letters to the editor should be sent to: editor@etdiocese.net