This is Father…
I’m at the hospital. And given that the person I’m visiting is not a parishioner but the de-churched friend of a parishioner who grew up in a more formal and liturgical tradition I’m wearing the collar. I tap on the hospital room door and ask if I can come in. The patient is sleeping but his brother is sitting at the bedside. I introduce myself. We chat for a minute or two. Another family member enters the room and the brother introduces me. “This is Father…I mean…Mother…no that can’t be right either. What do we call you?” I introduce myself, “Pastor Kathryn or just Kathryn is fine.” “Yes of course Father. I mean Mother…”
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