Begin your letter with "Dear Pastor" or "Dear Reverend," depending on how you address the pastor in person, and then continue with the pastor's last name. If the pastor holds a PhD, start your letter with "Dear Dr." followed by the pastor's last name. Otherwise, use "Dear Mr." or "Dear Mrs."
End your letter with "Sincerely," or "Yours faithfully," depending on what you mean by "greeting." If you want to show respect for the pastor, use "Sincerely".
If you are writing to more than one pastor, begin each letter with "Dear Pastor" or "Reverend," and end each letter with their last name. If any of them have more than one title, such as "Dr." or "Mr.," use it at the beginning of the letter.
In between these introductions, you can write about what kind of greeting you would like to give the pastor. Do not forget this part of the letter!
You can also include a gift with your letter if you have something that the pastor might like. But remember that people working with churches may have certain rules about what types of gifts they accept. Before you send your letter, ask someone who knows about such things whether there is a policy against accepting this type of gift.
Use the proper salutation within the letter. Address the pastor within the letter as "Dear Pastor." Address an Anglican or Episcopal priest as "Dear Father" and a Roman Catholic priest as "Dear Reverend." If necessary, be specific with your title.
State the purpose of the letter. Explain why you are writing this particular pastor. Do not assume that the recipient will know who you are or what church he or she is.
Ask a question if something isn't clear. For example, if there was no name included on the church letterhead, ask the pastor to send you information about himself or herself.
End the letter on a positive note. Thank the pastor for whatever it is he or she has done for you. Ask him or her to keep up the good work.
On the outside of the envelope, write "The Reverend" followed by the pastor's complete name. This official title is applicable for both Protestant and Catholic Christian groups. If you were inviting the pastor to an event or delivering a formal request, for example, you would address them in this manner. Otherwise, use their first name.
On the inside of the envelope, write the following: "Pastor so-and-so." Use their full name here too if they have one. Envelopes are usually mailed to either a church address or personal address (if they have one). Sometimes pastors will have their office phone number printed on the outside of the envelope instead. If there is no church address or phone number, then send to the latter address listed on their website.
In addition to his or her official role as a preacher, a pastor is also considered a spiritual leader. As such, he or she should be addressed by his or her title plus "Mr." or "Mrs." Even if the pastor is male and does not consider himself married, it is still appropriate to address him as "Mr. So-and-So." When writing to a pastor, it is customary to include his or her signature at the end of the letter. This shows that you have communicated with them personally and should include your message accordingly.
If you want a response from your pastor, include contact information such as an email address or phone number.
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