There is ecclesiology in titles. They are very telling when it comes to a person’s understanding of the existence of the clergy-laity divide or what it means to be an elder. That is why it is so meaningful that the great Scottish Reformer is known to us as “plain Mr Knox”.
Mister is an honorific title and a form of address. Americans shorten it to “Mr.” because, being classless, they treat abbreviations and contractions the same. The British, with a liking for distinctions, prefer “Mr”. Either way, when prefixed to a surname, it is the most general way of showing respect when addressing a man, whether in person or in writing. Given names[1] are for use among family and friends; and, unless one shares rooms with a consulting detective, it is probably best to avoid calling people by their surnames.
Reverend (Rev., Revd, or Rev’d) is not a title. Despite what some dictionaries might say – no doubt having put common usage above etiquette – Reverend is an honorific style which is added to a title: The Reverend Mister Knox. Alternatively, one might speak of The Reverend John Knox, but, not of The Reverend Mister John Knox. Being a style, it is how one is formally addressed. Other than on one’s letterhead, it is not how one speaks of oneself.
So, having been introduced as The Reverend John Knox, he would be spoken to as Mr Knox. He would sign his name as John Knox, Minister of the Gospel. Reverend has to do with the office, not the man.
On the other hand, signing The Reverend John Knox, Minister of the Gospel, is like signing Dr Richard Roe Ph.D. Redundancy is the least of its problems.
Pastor is not a title, but a job description. For Presbyterians, it is a job description shared by ministers and ruling elders alike. If used as a title, it is best left to those whose ecclesiology equates elder and minister. Similarly, the use of elder as a title should belong only to the clean-cut travellers from Utah.
TE and RE (teaching elder and ruling elder) before names reflect the position of a subgroup of Presbyterians who hold to a version of what is called the two-office view. Let it be their distinctive.
The use of Mister is a mark of parity. In the first instance, “plain Mr Knox” is not part of an episcopal hierarchy. In the second, the Moderator’s use of Mister to address members of a church court is an expression of the parity of voice and vote shared by both ministers of the word and ruling elders in that context.
Mister disposes of the clergy-laity divide. Reverend recognises the office of minister of the gospel.
[1] Strictly speaking, the term “Christian name” reflects a particular understanding of baptism and confirmation.