sdesocio
Puritan Board Freshman
Over the summer Im going to be conducting an experiment to see how my ministry is affected by wearing a clerical collar. I wrote up my rationale over at my blog. - A Pastoral Experiment « DeSoc.io
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So you want to be more formal, why not wear a suit or a tie and jacket?
Well there are a few reasons. First, Pittsburgh is experiencing a great shift at the moment. Outside of downtown, the only people that wear suits are reality agents, developers and bankers. While I have nothing against people in these professions, sometimes these industries are tied to the idea of gentrification, a serious issue right now in the east end. I’m more concerned with someone on the street mistaking me for yet another developer, than I am about someone thinking I’m a Lutheran, Anglican or Catholic.
once a guest pastor wore a genevan robe at a reformed church here in Québec. 3 people walked out because it felt too Roman Catholic. I'd be curious to see how people react to a collar
I would never wear a collar
My husband read your blog piece last night and said that he thinks that another possible benefit is that people will feel comfortable coming up to you and sharing things/asking for help.
Inside the church, I'd expect mostly more distance.
I've been impressed with how comfortably the priests wear their roles, without either the awkward "I'm just a guy" self-deprecation or the cheesy salesman extroversion of many evangelical ministers. They really see themselves as office bearers.
Oh how great is the priest! . . . If he realized what he is, he would die . . . God obeys him: he utters a few words and the Lord descends from Heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host. Without the sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for the journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest -- always the priest. And if the soul should happen to die (as a result of sin) who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again the priest. After God, the priest is everything! Only in heaven will he fully realize what he is. ~ St. John Vianney (patron saint of priests)
If I saw a PCA guy in a collar that would probably be the first assumption I would make. I would also probably have a guilty until proven attitude towards the individual as well. I do not think that is what you are doing at all, but I have had to many run ins with the "we are trying to get more in touch with our catholic roots" types all of which likes collars on their pastors.If I told people I was a Presbyterian, and they knew anything about modern Presbyterian, it would appear that I was a Federal Vision guy or a liberal PCUSA.
Collars on pastors are cool... Black collars with spikes, especially.
There are worse things in this world that being thought Anglican, Lutheran or Roman Catholic. If someone sees a pastor wearing a business suit, they might assume he is trying to sell them something or do business with them.
There are worse things in this world that being thought Anglican, Lutheran or Roman Catholic. If someone sees a pastor wearing a business suit, they might assume he is trying to sell them something or do business with them.
I would rather be seen as a business man. Business is a lawful calling- and a suit is not only associated with business. In LA, at least, many people wear suits.
As for prelates- it's an unlawful calling. I'd rather be misjudged a business man than misjudged a prelate.
Jus divinum.
There are worse things in this world that being thought Anglican, Lutheran or Roman Catholic. If someone sees a pastor wearing a business suit, they might assume he is trying to sell them something or do business with them.
I would rather be seen as a business man. Business is a lawful calling- and a suit is not only associated with business. In LA, at least, many people wear suits.
As for prelates- it's an unlawful calling. I'd rather be misjudged a business man than misjudged a prelate.
Jus divinum.
I do agree that more than just business men wear suits.
Maybe I am just being a little slow here today but why the insults to the many faithful Anglican and Lutheran pastors of the past and present? Here is how I understand the word prelate: a bishop or other high ecclesiastical dignitary. (New Oxford American Dictionary)
Wasn't the Geneva gown the historical attire for scholars? It was not like the reformers picked something to make it a special ministerial robe, it would seem that they picked something respectable yet common, the 1500s equivalent to a suit. I feel that the retaining of the Geneva gown in reformed circles can almost appear to make the gown a vestment, something many of the reformers were against in the first place. I feel the gown it still an appropriate choice of attire but I feel like the attitude expressed by some (but not necessarily you) that all reformed ministers should wear the gown is slightly unhealthy.Now that I know a little history about the gown, it makes me wonder why more dont wear such a gown.
I've been impressed with how comfortably the priests wear their roles, without either the awkward "I'm just a guy" self-deprecation or the cheesy salesman extroversion of many evangelical ministers. They really see themselves as office bearers.
Of course he doesn't see himself as "just a guy." He see himself as an "alter christus." Maybe that has something to do with having no problems wearing the collar.
Oh how great is the priest! . . . If he realized what he is, he would die . . . God obeys him: he utters a few words and the Lord descends from Heaven at his voice, to be contained within a small host. Without the sacrament of Holy Orders, we would not have the Lord. Who put him there in that tabernacle? The priest. Who welcomed your soul at the beginning of life? The priest. Who feeds your soul and gives it strength for the journey? The priest. Who will prepare it to appear before God, bathing it one last time in the blood of Jesus Christ? The priest -- always the priest. And if the soul should happen to die (as a result of sin) who will raise it up, who will restore its calm and peace? Again the priest. After God, the priest is everything! Only in heaven will he fully realize what he is. ~ St. John Vianney (patron saint of priests)
No, thanks.