Doctor, Doctor 

No, this is not a post about doctor jokes. Nor is it a post about whether doctors are a joke. 

Instead, it’s a post about whether people with a doctorate should insist on being called by their title. 

And it’s about whether other people should call folks with a doctorate by their title. 

Some Background 

Jerry Davich is a metro columnist for the local paper (Post-Tribune out of NW Indiana). Jerry (Mr. Davich?) and I are far apart on the political spectrum and on the theological/religious spectrum. Nonetheless, I probably read about half of Jerry’s columns. He’s a creative writer and pretty thought-provoking. 

I’ve never blogged about any of his articles. I do so today, but it’s not a post about deep religious, political, or theological issues. His article addressed whether someone with a doctorate (other than a medical doctor) should be addressed verbally and in print by the title, “Doctor.” 

What I Ask of People 

Now, lest you think I’m taking this personally, I’ve never been hung up about people knowing I have a doctorate, much less that they call me, “Doctor Kellemen.” 

In the classroom setting, when students ask, I encourage them to call me whatever they are comfortable calling me. They can call me “Bob,” or “Doctor Bob,” or “Doc. K.” (somehow that became the norm and, while it’s not something I initiated, it was cool), or “Doctor Kellemen.” 

In non-classroom settings, most people are clueless that I have a doctorate, that I’ve written a bunch of books, or that I’m a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor. My neighbors don’t typically know. Even my fellow church members often don’t know. 

For example, I had been attending Cornerstone Community Church in Hobart, Indiana for over a year when I first preached there. No one but our pastor knew that I had pastored several churches, had a Ph.D. in Counselor Education, chaired a seminary graduate program for two decades, or published books and articles. 

So, when I finished preaching, an older couple in the church came up to me and said, “You’re really good at speaking. Have you ever thought about doing it more often?” I thanked them and chuckled to myself, without giving them a lecture on the alphabet soup after my name. 

The next week they came up to me sheepishly, having read in the church bulletin the bio that our pastor put there. “Why didn’t you tell us you train pastors and all that!?” 

My point…I’m not worked up about or worried about whether people use some title when they address me. “Bob” is just fine with me. 

Jerry’s Perspective (Or, Should It Be, “Esteemed Columnist, Radio Host, and Author, Mr. Jerry Davich”?) (Just Being Playful)

Jerry begins his column by saying, “The local school superintendent couldn’t understand why I didn’t write his name beginning with the impressive title of “Dr.” 

Does there seem to be a tad bit of sarcasm in Jerry’s use of “impressive”? 

Jerry went on to explain journalistic procedures. Then he noted that, “I hinted to him, aren’t such titles more about our ego, depending on the situation?” 

Hmm. Can we truly discern the motives of someone’s heart and that ego is the culprit? 

I would imagine that Jerry has been around the education field enough to know that this is the type of work situation where titles are, indeed, important and valid. They are important for employment. They are important for tenure. They are essential for accreditation. 

I wonder if a superintendent did not have an earned doctorate, if we might be reading a column from Jerry about unqualified educational leaders? 

Then Jerry concluded this part of his column with: 

“During my conversation with that school superintendent, I purposefully kept calling him by his first name not by ‘Dr.’ as he’s typically referred to. This is something I routinely do with most public officials, movers and shakers. He didn’t like it one bit. After I hung up the phone, I thought of a more appropriate title for him. But I’m not allowed to write that in the newspaper either.” 

Again, hmm… 

Just as Jerry can’t read the mind or discern the heart of this superintendent, so I can’t read Jerry’s heart. But the apparent anger (name-calling, though I assume Jerry was also just being playful) and consistent disregard for customary titles in another person’s own work place (non-title-calling) seems like it could indicate…perhaps…jealousy? A little class envy? Ego even? Just sayin’…

I’m really not sure. But it came across as a different kind of article than Jerry usually writes. Even when I disagree with him, he’s typically pretty fair-minded. But the intentional slight highlighted in this article seemed almost…childish. “I’ll show you Mr. Mayor by not calling you ‘Mr. Mayor.’” “I’ll show you Dr. Superintendent by not calling you ‘Dr. Superintendent’ even when I’m interviewing you about a position that requires higher education.” You just have to wonder what is going on when a person without a doctorate or title purposefully slights a person with one… 

My Own Practice 

While I don’t require or expect people, even in educational settings, to address me as, “Dr. Kellemen,” I do typically address pastors, elected officials, and people with doctorates by their titles. Even my pastor, who I am very close friends with, was always “Pastor Steve” to me out of respect. When he asked me to please just call him, “Steve,” I did. But even now if I am addressing him in public or from the pulpit, it is “Pastor Steve.” It’s a show of respect. 

Interestingly, almost all of my students, especially in the educational setting, do choose to address me as “Dr. Kellemen” or “Doc. K.” Even in their emails years later, it remains like that. Like my pastor, once I really beg them to just call me “Bob,” many do. But some will still say, “‘Doc’ is a term of respect and endearment that you’ve earned. I like calling you that.” I don’t quarrel or quibble with that. 

Again, in the grand scheme of life, this issue of titles is not a big deal to me. But Jerry’s column sparked some thoughts for me and I hope my post sparks some thoughts for you.

Join the Conversation 

What do you think? 

• Should mayors be called “Mr. Mayor”? Should pastors be called “Pastor Smith” or “Pastor Bill”? Should a superintendent, when being interviewed and referenced about his educational work/setting, be called “Dr. So-and-So”? 

• If you have a title and/or degree, what is your preference as to how people address you? Does the setting matter? Does the type of relationship with the person make a difference? 

• Why do you think that some people prefer to be called by their title when addressed in their work setting? 

• Why do you think some people don’t like to call people by their title in the person’s work setting? 

• How do you address people with titles in their work setting? 

RPM Ministries: Equipping You to Change Lives with Christ’s Changeless Truth