So... Some people have asked me who Mother Doreen is.. Or why I have used her name in my blog sub heading. I am Mother Doreen - well at least that's what some of my friends call me.
When training for for ordination it was suggested that some of the 'part time' course students had a core group of people to meet with and find support from. This is an important and wonderful thing to do. However, as a 'full time' student we weren't told to do this. Me being me, I decided that I needed a core group... Well an alternative core group! So we formed, 4 friends and I, this group that would meet every few months to chat, share stuff, support each other, eat (a lot), drink (yes we vicar types drink too!), and just generally have some down time. I have had some amazing support from so many people throughout this journey so far, and these girls have enabled me to share my stuff and let my hair down all at the same time - lovely!
Anyway.... Mother Doreen! So about 6 months before ordination the core group met and I was talking to the girls about a conversation I had with my new incumbent (the person who I am now working alongside and learning from this next four years). I was explaining how he had asked me what I want to be called.. Without taking a breath one of the girls shouted out DOREEN! Well once I'd stopped rolling about laughing, I told her that by what I wanted to be called he meant title. Revd, father, mother etc etc. My church is in the higher tradition (we use incense and bells and wear lots of layers of colourful clothing on a Sunday - right up my street!) so it is tradition for women (in the churches that have women ministers!) to be called 'mother'. So after I had explained this we put the two together and the nickname Mother Doreen was born!
When it comes to titles, I am happy with being known as Mother Faye in my church even thought it has taken some getting used to. I will go in to other churches and be called Reverend Faye. My sisters and some others call me Father Faye. Others just call me Faye - that is my name after all. It made me laugh when an old college friend jokingly referred to me as Reverend Mother the other day (he comes from a lower church background than me and there were many jokes in college years about my position 'up the candle').
But when it comes to it, I am happy with people referring to me in the way they are most comfortable for their own traditions. I would not want to put barriers up where there need not be any. People have a lot of respect for the collar and the ministry it represents, and in showing that respect find using titles for their ministers a natural thing to do.
I will happily answer to Mother, Father, Reverend or Faye. But for my core group I will always be Mother Doreen!
When training for for ordination it was suggested that some of the 'part time' course students had a core group of people to meet with and find support from. This is an important and wonderful thing to do. However, as a 'full time' student we weren't told to do this. Me being me, I decided that I needed a core group... Well an alternative core group! So we formed, 4 friends and I, this group that would meet every few months to chat, share stuff, support each other, eat (a lot), drink (yes we vicar types drink too!), and just generally have some down time. I have had some amazing support from so many people throughout this journey so far, and these girls have enabled me to share my stuff and let my hair down all at the same time - lovely!
Anyway.... Mother Doreen! So about 6 months before ordination the core group met and I was talking to the girls about a conversation I had with my new incumbent (the person who I am now working alongside and learning from this next four years). I was explaining how he had asked me what I want to be called.. Without taking a breath one of the girls shouted out DOREEN! Well once I'd stopped rolling about laughing, I told her that by what I wanted to be called he meant title. Revd, father, mother etc etc. My church is in the higher tradition (we use incense and bells and wear lots of layers of colourful clothing on a Sunday - right up my street!) so it is tradition for women (in the churches that have women ministers!) to be called 'mother'. So after I had explained this we put the two together and the nickname Mother Doreen was born!
When it comes to titles, I am happy with being known as Mother Faye in my church even thought it has taken some getting used to. I will go in to other churches and be called Reverend Faye. My sisters and some others call me Father Faye. Others just call me Faye - that is my name after all. It made me laugh when an old college friend jokingly referred to me as Reverend Mother the other day (he comes from a lower church background than me and there were many jokes in college years about my position 'up the candle').
But when it comes to it, I am happy with people referring to me in the way they are most comfortable for their own traditions. I would not want to put barriers up where there need not be any. People have a lot of respect for the collar and the ministry it represents, and in showing that respect find using titles for their ministers a natural thing to do.
I will happily answer to Mother, Father, Reverend or Faye. But for my core group I will always be Mother Doreen!