[Tax-chick]

A number of denominations use “Reverend” as a courtesy prefix for clergy: “The Reverend Mr. Lastname” or “Reverend Father Lastname” are the equivalent of elected officials’ being “The Honorable Representative Lastname.” The titles are used in the addressing of letters, and that’s about it.

You call your congresscritter “Congressman” or “Representative” or “Mister,” in every other usage, and most people call their clergy “Father” or “Deacon” or “Mister” or “Pastor.” Baptists seem to me to be more likely than other groups to address a pastor as “Reverend,” in speech, as in “Reverend Graham,” but I’ve never heard any use “reverends” in this way as a plural noun. They would say “pastors” to identify a group of church leaders.

[seemoAR]

So?

[Ed Condon]

I agree, I agree!!!

Reverend is an adjective, and your reference to politicians
is fine. You wouldn’t address your Senator by saying,
“Well Honorable, I disagree with you.”

[Graybeard58]

Baptists seem to me to be more likely than other groups to address a pastor as “Reverend,” in speech, as in “Reverend Graham,”

I'm 65, Baptist my entire life and have known many Baptist Pastors and have never met a Baptist Pastor who wanted to be addressed by the title "Reverend".

I've never met Sharpton or Jackson and don't even know if they claim to be Baptist.

News people refer to them as Reverend.

[Graybeard58]

My current Pastor has an earned doctorate, (As opposed to an honorary one) and prefers to be called brother Bobby.