Name – Kena Hawkins Newkirk

April 27, 2021April 28, 2021

By Any Other Name

“Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).”

“Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!””
‭‭John‬ ‭20:16 & 28‬ ‭NRSV‬‬

A couple of weeks ago, I received my first piece of mail in which the prefix “Rev.” appeared before my name. It was the first time I had ever seen it written, and it felt surreal.

Becoming commissioned and ordained in The United Methodist Church as an Elder is a challenging process. I love this denomination, but I felt especially challenged because I was not raised a Methodist.

Full disclosure, I was deferred in 2020 primarily due to my lack of theological clarity. I was so upset, but at the time was offered a position as a Local Pastor. In the UMC, a local pastor is a type of clergy with a few differences from Elders. When I was deferred, someone on the board told me not to worry. I’d still be called “Reverend.”

That got me thinking, how important is that particular title to me? How often is one even referred to as “reverend” or “pastor” or “minister.”

I ended up declining the Local Pastor position to focus on my new baby and stay safe during COVID. In retrospect, deferral was such a blessing for my family. I joined a study group of people trying to pass the theology requirement. Funnily enough, none of them had been raised Methodist.

Now that I see the “Rev.” appearing before my name, I’ve started to think about the many names we use for faith leaders. I can recall receiving new clergy and asking them, “what would you like us to call you? Rev. LastName? Pastor FirstName? Doctor? Father? Brother? Minister? FirstName only?

What we call our clergy helps them understand what we want them to do for us. The titles we choose to use conveys how we want that minister (ordained or not) to function in our lives.

Jesus’s disciples called him Rabbi for the vast majority of his ministry. It is the traditional title for a Jewish spiritual leader who operated among the people, which means teacher. At the time, spiritual leaders also had the titles of “Priest” if you worked in the Temple or “Scribe” if you preserved the Holy Texts. There were even a few “Prophets” and “Prophetesses,” and even one “Baptist” that we know of.

When Jesus appeared to Disciple Thomas in John 20, he used a rather unique title, “My Lord and My God,” making explicit what so many already felt in their hearts.

These titles matter because they illustrate the perceived nature of the relationships on behalf the person speaking. Jesus had always been “Lord” and “God” to those who followed him. But it makes an enormous difference to use these terms and recognize Jesus for who he really is!

When addressing unfamiliar clergy, I make sure to use the most formal title available to show respect. I go out of my way to do this for clergy of color or clergywomen, who have been routinely denied the respect they deserve from the church.

I’m thrilled to have “Rev.” appear in front of my name, but I don’t need it. I’d rather people call me whatever they’re comfortable calling me. I’d rather someone use a title or name that helps me understand what role I fill in their life. I am amazed at the power these names and titles hold in shaping our understanding of one another. And, I am in awe of the power in the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord, and my God.

February 28, 2021

Exodus and Wandering – The Name of God

“So now, go (Moses). I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt…This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”

Exodus 3:10, 14

One of the biggest mysteries in the Bible is the name of God. If you pay attention to the letters in your Bible, you’ll notice that the name of God is written in different ways. Sometimes you will see it as LORD with all uppercase letters. The Old Testament is written in Hebrew, and whenever you see all uppercase letters, the Hebrew word is actually Yahweh. Or, to be more specific, the four letters YHWH.

In Exodus 3, Moses is called by God to rescue the Israelites from Egypt. Before he leaves on his mission, Moses asks for a name. He wants to know what to tell the people of Israel about the God who’s coming to rescue them. What’s funny is that God sort of gives Moses a non-answer. He says, “I am who I am” or some translate it “I will be who I will be.” It seems like a bit of a smart-aleck response, but there’s a good reason for this.

At that time, people used the names of gods like magical spells. They would call on the name of a god in order to do their bidding. Also, a god’s name usually had something to do with what the god did. When Moses asked for God’s name, he’s trying to figure out if he’s the God of the sun or the desert or the storms. He’s trying to put the real living God in the right category.

God’s answer resists being put into a box. He’s way bigger than the sun or storms. God will be whatever God wants to be. We cannot control God or define God. We can’t even fathom the depth, the height, or the breadth of God’s power. We can only hope to know some little piece of God through our relationship with the Son of God.

For centuries, Jews have marveled at the power in God’s name so much so that they never say the word Yahweh. Instead, they use euphemisms such as words like “Adonai” meaning “Lord” or “hashem” which just means “the name.” There is so much power and beauty in the name of God. It is important to take time to meditate on it and be lost in wonder.

December 23, 2020December 23, 2020

Love – Called by Name

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name; you are mine. – Isaiah 43:1 (NRSV)

In 2012, an independent film called Beast of the Southern Wild was released. The movie was about a little girl named Hushpuppy trying to survive, mostly on her own, in the bayou of Louisiana. The young actress who played Hushpuppy auditioned for the role at just five years old. In 2013, at age nine, she became the youngest nominee for Best Actress, first African-American child actor to earn an Oscar nomination, and the only person born in the 21st century to be nominated for an Academy Award. Her name is Quvenzhané [Kwa-Vin-Je-Nay] Wallis.

That’s probably not a name you hear a lot. In the middle of her success, Hollywood was having a difficult time making sense of her, and especially, her name. TV Personalities decided to bypass the issue by giving her the nickname “Little Q,” a nickname she did not request.

It may seem harmless, but the message was clear. Despite her enormous success and talent, her name was not worth knowing. She’s not the only actor who’s had a hard time because of their name. Actors James Rodriguez and Ramón Estévez changed their names to sound less Hispanic and be taken more seriously. You may know them by their stage names James Roday and Martin Sheen.

In Isaiah 43:1, God calls out to his people with words of tender love saying “don’t be afraid because I have made everything alright. I am calling you by name, your real name. You are my child and you are worth knowing. The real you, not the mask you put on to make others feel comfortable. I love you as you are.” To call someone by their name seems so ordinary. We do it all the time without thinking. However, when the God of creation stoops down to our level, he takes great care to refer to us by name. Jesus wants us to know that we matter and that we are loved for who we are.

As Christmas draws even closer, you might find your name written on the tags of gifts or in the address line of a greeting card. Whenever you see your name written this week take time to reflect on God’s personal call on your life. You matter. You are loved. You are the recipient of the most wonderful gift, and it’s addressed specifically to you – the gift of salvation wrapped in human skin.

July 19, 2017July 22, 2017

Why I took my husband’s name, but understand why others don’t do the same

I know it’s a long title, but I wanted to get the message across. (Also, in full honesty, the paperwork hasn’t come back yet so legally my name hasn’t changed. )

I’m at a point in my life where a lot of my friends are getting married.

Thankfully, we live in an age that doesn’t assume any real tradition about weddings or marriage. Marriage and weddings used to be so uniform, but today a marriage can freely serve as the creative expression of a couple in living out their respective callings in Christ.

Before I got married, I was grateful for every person who asked me if I intended to change my name. Their questions acknowledge that it was a difficult choice to make, and that it was indeed a choice that could be made. I didn’t have to make the change, and I know many women who have elected not to change their name.

I respect and celebrate any woman who chooses not to change their surname. There are many reasons why someone would choose to keep their “maiden” name. Some element of it is about a woman’s freedom and independence. For some women, they choose to keep their name because so much of their identity is bound up in that title. This identity may be sentimental or it may be financial. A person’s name can become so iconic for them it may prove detrimental to their career to change their name.

My hesitancy was really bound up in my love for my family, and the honor our family maintains. I’ve had the name Hawkins my whole life, and it carries more meaning for me than my first name because it is associated with an extended community unit.

Although I have family who do not share the same surname as I do, there is something unifying about being surrounded by a bunch of people who share your name. Members of the Hawkins clan even wear the family crest in signet rings and pendants in the style of a Game of Thrones dynasty.

I am the first person in my family to lose the Hawkins name, or at least the surname, and that’s hard.

Names are important therefore name changes are also important. I decided to take on my husband’s surname for two reasons.

The first is simple, William asked. He has again and again acknowledged how difficult it is to let go of one name for another, and his honest support has made me view my name change as a beautiful gift I can give to him. As I considered the issue while we were still engaged, I knew it was the best wedding gift I could ever give him, and it would demonstrate my love for him.

The other reason I chose to change my name is because name changes are consistently markers of spiritual change in the Bible. Simon became Peter, Abram became Abraham, Sari became Sarah.*

Perhaps my favorite story of God changing someone’s name is when Jacob’s name is changed to Israel. When Jacob wrested with the divine character in Genesis 32, he was seeking a blessing or good things to come his way. In response, the divine figure both wounded and blessed Jacob, and gave him a new name to reflect his relationship with God. His name went from being Jacob which means “grab by the heal” to Israel which means “wrestles with God.” That name went on to be the title used of all the followers of YHWH in the Old Testament.

In that moment, the relationship between Jacob and YHWH shifted dramatically. The relationship became much more familiar. In a very real sense, the name Israel or “wrestles with God” did not just became a characterization for how Jacob interacted with God, but it reflects how all the faithful people interact with God. The people of God don’t just worship and serve God; they wrestle with God through the good times and bad. They ask for blessings and sometimes feel wounded. They are engaged in a real, honest relationship in which identity is always on the line.

My new surname is Newkirk which means “new church” in Dutch. In a way, our marriage represents the founding of a new community of faith. Our family is a new little church, faithful to God through times of blessing and times of struggle. I decided to change my name as marker of the new spiritual reality that we are entering into together.

*Saul/Paul was not a name change per se but the names used by the apostle when in different ethnic groups, Hebrew/Greek respectively.

April 28, 2014

What is in a Name?

(Originally Drafted Fall of 2013)

I love unique names. Not necessarily my unique name, but I like that names can hold meaning. Whenever I hear a name that I like, whether it’s because it holds sentimental meaning or translates to a beautiful concept, I take special note of the name. I log it into the deep recesses of my brain where it may manifest itself again as the name of a beloved pet.

In regards to names Shakespeare’s star crossed lover Juliet says that “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” Though I hesitate to contradict such an infamous sentiment, I don’t think is quite true. I tend to believe names are more than a symbolic representation of the self.

Take Vivian for example. She is an international student from Malaysia who is a part of our TV production class. Vivian is quiet and sweet and is always apologizing about her poor English. Over the course of the semester we started calling her “Viv” and then eventually “the Viv.” One planning class, the names of all the students were being written on the white board so they’d know what to do for the next class. When Vivian’s name was written on the board in it’s entirety she asked us to change it to Viv. She confessed that it was her first nickname ever, and she really liked it. I guess when you’re half a world away from home a bunch of people calling you Viv can make you feel loved.

Wishing you Grace and Peace,

-Kena