Scarf or Stole: What Does It Matter?

http://www.churchsociety.org/publications/leaflets/Leaf_ScarfStole.pdf

[Church Society] 18 Jul 2006--Does it really matter what the clergy wear? - especially in these days of ecumenical experiment and debate? Since 1965 Canon Law has permitted varying kinds of vesture in the Church of England, so surely we do not need to make a fuss over these issues any more? At first glance that seems a reasonable argument, until you recall how much the things we do in worship affect the way we think about it. If such things were not important, why all the reordering of our churches, moving the communion table from the east end to the nave, and removing pews to form ‘worship areas’? Similarly, what the clergyman wears affects people’s understanding of the services and are ‘teaching aids’ of a sort. To wear one form of ministerial dress when the Word of God is read and preached, and a more elaborate form of dress for sacramental services, will say more to the onlooker than many clergy will wish to imply.