The Reverend Gretchen K. Weller, Priest-in-Charge
So, what do we call her?
Since the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church, there has been both controversy and consternation about how to address a female priest. Like her male counterparts, the female priest would be titled The Reverend So-and So, never “Reverend So-and-So.” Thus, Reverend Weller or Reverend Gretchen are not appropriate.
In churches that address their male priests as “Father,” the equivalent title of “Mother” is used for clergy women. If using such a form of address, then Gretchen would be addressed and referred to as Mother Weller or, informally, Mother Gretchen. Nevertheless, Gretchen herself prefers to be addressed as “Gretchen.”
Gretchen explains that what binds us together is our baptism, and it is our baptism that makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. She said, “Gretchen is the name by which I was baptized, and by which I became your sister. We call our brothers and sisters by their first names, not by their titles, and so calling me Gretchen is your acknowledgment that we are members in the one family of Christ.” She added, “This custom of addressing your priest as your sister also extends to children – it is not disrespectful, but is, instead the most respectful name these youngest brothers and sisters could use.”
Since the ordination of women in the Episcopal Church, there has been both controversy and consternation about how to address a female priest. Like her male counterparts, the female priest would be titled The Reverend So-and So, never “Reverend So-and-So.” Thus, Reverend Weller or Reverend Gretchen are not appropriate.
In churches that address their male priests as “Father,” the equivalent title of “Mother” is used for clergy women. If using such a form of address, then Gretchen would be addressed and referred to as Mother Weller or, informally, Mother Gretchen. Nevertheless, Gretchen herself prefers to be addressed as “Gretchen.”
Gretchen explains that what binds us together is our baptism, and it is our baptism that makes us brothers and sisters in Christ. She said, “Gretchen is the name by which I was baptized, and by which I became your sister. We call our brothers and sisters by their first names, not by their titles, and so calling me Gretchen is your acknowledgment that we are members in the one family of Christ.” She added, “This custom of addressing your priest as your sister also extends to children – it is not disrespectful, but is, instead the most respectful name these youngest brothers and sisters could use.”
