Our culture is funny. I've been trying to figure out what I should teach my children to call different adults. I really don't like all the formality in our culture. I don't like the mister, missus, doctor or pastor so and so stuff. I think that it is a little pretentious when people think that they deserve or insist on these special titles. In a way, these titles force people into different categories. If I'm doctor so and so and you're just missus so and so then I illicit more respect then you. In reality we're all on the same plane. God doesn't view you or I as somehow more valuable then someone else.
The question of what to have my children do still remains. I think what I'll do is have them ask the person how they would like to be addressed and will do that for them while they are young. I think that that would teach them to treat people with respect but let them know that no one is automatically in a special category just based on some position they are in life.
What really ticks me off is those pretentious and pompous religious titles that "clergy" love to adorn their names with.
Check this out:
http://www.churchinfocus.org/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=12