Thankyou for you thoughts, Prof. Clark. The "misunderstanding" problem certainly needs to be tackled. It might come down to the nature of one's ministry, and whether it is more like the traditional parish setting, where there is much interaction in the community.

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Yours sincerely,


"Illum oportet crescere me autem minui."

I often turn towards the idea of clergy dress for many of the reasons expressed in this thread. However being in the PC(USA)there is no directive that I am aware of as regards to certain clergy dress being more appropriate than others.

I wear both a robe and a collar. The robe is only for the pulpit but I wear the collar whenever I am serving formally as elder (church, hospital visits, counseling, etc.).

Its amazing what difference wearing a collar to the hospital makes. People can immediatly identify me as a pastor and I seem to have a lot of opportunites to share the gospel and pray with people (they approach me most of the time). Also, when in the room with a patient and the doctor comes in, he will generally look at me and go out of his way to answer all the patients questions. I have had people request for me to be at the hospital with them when their doctor comes just to help make sure they get the attention they need. All I have to do pretty much is sit there with my collar on.

It is totally different then the days when I wore a tie. The collar is a symbol of ecclesiastical authority. It's my 'uniform'.

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Robert Truelove
Pastor
Christ Reformed Church
Lawrenceville, GA

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Donald Jacobs
Marysville. WA
Cascade Church (CRCNA)

Cum vero infirmor tunc potens sum.

I think it does have to do with the ecclesiology. Catholics, Anglicans, Presbyterians, Methodists, etc. draw more of a distinction between the laity and the ordained, and emphasize the administration of the sacraments by the ordained.

In contrast, Baptists are congregational, emphasizing the priesthood of all believers, and most are not sacramental, preferring the term ordinance instead and holding to the Zwinglian view.

I went to a PCUSA church when I was growing up, and the pastors would wear robes except during the summer, when they would wear coat and tie. It can get pretty hot in California summers.

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[IMGL]http://x79.xanga.com/144c6b7b05d37172179798/w130772988.gif[/IMGL]

[IMGL]http://x18.xanga.com/b8cc2b4341633172177963/w130771430.gif[/IMGL][URL="http://www.harborpc.org/"]Harbor Presbyterian Church[/URL] (PCA)
[IMGL]http://x18.xanga.com/b8cc2b4341633172177963/w130771430.gif[/IMGL]San Diego, CA
[IMGL]http://x18.xanga.com/b8cc2b4341633172177963/w130771430.gif[/IMGL][url]http://www.xanga.com/elnwood[/url]

Though I wear a collar, as I mentioned before; I also wear a robe in the pulpit.

I don't wear the robe primarily because it is historical or swanky (though it is both ). I wear it because it downplays the man. The robe covers the man and the fancy suit and shoes (if I actually had either). When I preach and lead in the liturgy it is not ME that I wish to draw attention to but Christ.

Thumbs up to your previous comments on the practical utility of the collar and robe for identifying the minister, but I cannot go the length of making the clothing symbolic ritualistically. The whole congregation should wish to draw attention to Christ. It is the spiritual nature of the worship itself which accomplishes this. But I do not want to detract from the excellence of your earlier statement. Blessings!

Sorry for being late in response to this. I was just reviewing old threads and came across your comment...

I completely agree with you. I did not intend to convey by saying that my wearing a robe was in an way ritual to draw attention to Christ. I cringe to think any would think me to promote a roman concept of vestments.

Rather, my intent was that the downplaying of the man (via the robe) is conduscive to drawing attention to Christ instead of the man. It is not so much what the robe is doing, but what by its use it is NOT doing.

Reverend Lovejoy wears a robe

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Ryan
1689 London Baptist Confession

Our vicar wears the same as this chap:

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Richard
CofE
UK