How to Address an Envelope to a Pastor & His Wife

Whether you wish to invite a pastor and his wife to your wedding or want to thank the couple for attending an event at your home, doing so with a handwritten letter is appropriate. Before you get to the letter itself, you must ensure that you address the envelope correctly to convey proper etiquette. Correctly addressing a pastor and his wife is straightforward but requires that you're certain of his specific religious title.

Check the pastor's official title by looking on his church's website or contacting the church office. He might use "pastor," "reverend," "rector" or another specific title, based on the branch of Christianity he preaches.

Write "The Reverend and Mrs.," followed by the pastor's first and last names on the middle of the envelope. If the pastor has a doctorate, write "The Reverend Dr. and Mrs.," followed by the pastor's first and last names. This approach is the traditional way of addressing a pastor via the written word; use it unless your pastor uses a different form of address. The Protocol School of Washington advises using "reverend" to address your pastor; if he goes by a different term, make the necessary adjustment in your envelope.

Include the name of the pastor's church on the next line and the church's mailing address on the following line. For example, the envelope could read: The Reverend and Mrs. David Smith Ascension Baptist Church 100 Oak St., Anywhere, FL, 33256 or The Reverend Dr. and Mrs. Davis Smith Ascension Baptist Church 100 Oak St., Anywhere, FL, 33256

Start your letter itself with "Dear Pastor" or "Dear Reverend," depending on how you address the pastor in person, followed by the pastor's last name. If the pastor has a doctorate, begin your letter with "Dear Dr." and the pastor's last name.

Toronto-based journalist William McCoy has been writing since 1997, specializing in topics such as sports, nutrition and health. He serves as the Studio's sports and recreation section expert. McCoy is a journalism graduate of Ryerson University.

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