Embracing the Name Reverend

 On Tuesday 27th April we had our monthly MIC meeting, and our theme was “What’s in a Name”? The twelve of us who attended had our own unique perspectives, of what it means to be a OneSpirit Minister and Reverend in the world, and what came up for me was……

….The word or name Reverend to me always coincided with the name priest. For me, they were people who everyone respects and confides in. When I started my Seminary Training, with OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation, I am not going to lie, a part of me did the training because at the end of the training I would have been given the title Reverend by God.  Because of what I achieved, worked hard for, and was committed to.

I have grown up to see men with the title Reverend, Priest, and very few women with that title. In my counselling days, I was inspired by Illanya Vanzant as she referred to herself as a spiritual counsellor and I wanted to be one, not really knowing what it entails. In the process of my training for OneSpirit Interfaith Foundation I was in the process of writing and published 2 books. After ordination, I changed the title of my books to Reverend Dinah Pemberton. A sense of achievement that yes! I have completed and achieved a goal.

I must admit at first, I did boast about having the name Reverend, but later I realised that it means so much more from an inward perspective. The name Reverend has been serving me and helping me to develop my confidence, understanding what the vows I chose really mean. Helping me to look at myself through deeper inquiry, self-realisation, and trusting in the process to the best of my ability. 

How do I want to be in the world? What does it really mean to be of service? These things may seem self-explanatory but to me, it’s not. Being aligned to a sincere channel of reverence, embodying and honouring to be a channel of light, love, and peace has not come easy in some parts of my life. Through deep inquiry, growth, and writing this I have come to realise that the name Reverend has been helping me to own the name, in a way I can’t describe. Apart from it’s like wearing a sacred garment or clothing, where you have to get used to how it fits.

Blessings 

Reverend Dinah Pemberton