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4 Reasons Why What You Wear when You Preach Does Matter
I may be wrong, but I suspect that some of my readers won’t like today’s post. It’s about pulpit attire—a topic that many of us have had to face as churches try to reach younger generations. Here are some of my thoughts on why clothing matters when we’re preaching.... Read More
For Anglicans the vestments we wear may hinder guests from hearing the message. For example, I attended a small Anglican church in a western Kentucky community in which very few, if any pastors, wear a black Genevan gown, much less cassock and surplice or alb and chasuble. Most pastors wear street clothes. Our supply priest wears full regalia the two Sundays of the month that he preaches a sermon and administers the sacrament of Holy Communion. He describes himself as "Low Church" but his choice of attire and the gestures, ceremonial, and supplemental texts he uses contradicts this claim. While most of the congregation has no problem with what he wears, says, and does, he may be scaring off the occasional visitor. His own church is quite small.
Was it Wesley who said, "The gown hideth a multitude of bad tailoring?" I was saddened to see the publication of an article suggesting that a number of Anglicans have chosen to abandon simple vestments in favour of "street clothes." Of course, I must bear the burden of "living in the fifties" which is probably an unpardonable sin for thirty-five year olds. But experience has taught me the value of such things as uniformity and tradition, so before abandoning them I might ask those younger Anglicans to reconsider their young opinions.
ReplyDeleteI personally find "street clothes" far more distracting than a simple gown or surplice. I find the trendy dress of some, who think they will attract more worshippers by dressing like soap stars, nothing but a cheap gimmick - on a par with offering Starbucks coffee or Dunkin donuts in the church. An ill fitting suit or a flashy tie, much less tee shirts and sneakers, can send a message far more deleterious to true worship than our "popish rags." A three-day growth of beard and a Guyabera shirt says far more about the person than it does the Christ - and that, after all, is the goal of effective ministry. Of course, in the spirit of true inconsistency, I realize that most modern vestiture is determined not by tradition but by the Wippell's/Almy catalogues and I thank God for polyester, Velcro, and permanent press. Nevertheless, I would be delighted if the same bishops who have allowed their young clergy to abandon vestments would in turn abandon their ridiculous, ubiquitous use of red chimeres. Their desire to resemble an Anglican College of Cardinals by wearing the more photogenic red instead of the proper (dare I say "traditional") black says more about prelacy than a mountain of theological position papers. I can still remember the reaction of my senior warden's wife on seeing "eucharistic vestments" worn by Anglican clergy for the first time. In her well practiced East Tennessee accent, she announced (loudly) "Loordy, how gawdy!" It might indeed bode well for the success of the once and future Church to adopt civilian dress, not sporadically but universally. But I still cannot help but think that Wesley was on to something way back when.
Charles, you make a good point. I am posting an article today in which I make a suggestion or two on what to consider in deciding whether to wear street clothes during church services. If a pastor does choose to wear street clothes,he needs to be aware of the impression that he is making. Dressing casually to set a congregation of unchurched people at ease does not mean dressing sloppily. We are our selves a part of the message.
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